Implantation, placentation and establishment of basic body plan Flashcards
What is the first step in implantation?
Disappearance of the zona pellucida
What do trophoblastic cells do when implantation starts?
Trophoblastic cells over the embryoblast pole being to penetrate between the epithelial cells of the uterine mucosa on about the 6th day
What are the mediators of initial attachment of the blastocyst to the uterus?
*L-selectin on trophoblast cells
*Its carbohydrate receptors on the uterine epithelium
What is the endometrial receptivity window?
The 6-10 day period after fertilization during which implantation must occur.
What happens during Week 2 Day 8?
The blastocyst is partially embedded in the endometrial stroma. The trophoblast and embryoblast differentiate into their two layers.
What two layers does the trophoblast differentiate into?
1) Cytotrophoblast: an inner layer of mononucleated cells
2) Syncytiotrophoblast: an outer multinucleated zone without distinct cell boundaries
What two layers does the embryoblast differentiate into?
1) Hypoblast layer: a layer of small cuboidal cells adjacent to the blastocyst cavity
2) Epiblast layer: a layer of high columnar cells adjacent to the amniotic cavity
What are the two new cavities formed during implantation?
Blastocyst cavity and amniotic cavity
What happens during Week 2 Day 9?
Blastocyst is more deeply embedded in the endometrium. The penetration defect in the surface epithelium is closed by a fibrin coagulum.
What occurs during the lacunar stage?
Vacuoles (lacunae) appear in the syncytium
When does the Heuser membrane originate from the hypoblast?
Week 2 Day 9
The blastocyst cavity is also known as…
Exocoelomic cavity or primitive yolk sac
What happens during Week 2 Days 11 and 12?
Blastocyst is completely embedded in the endometrial stroma. Surface epithelium almost entirely covers the original defect in the uterine wall. There is establishment of the uteroplacental circulation.
What is the extraembryonic mesoderm?
- A new population of cells derived from the yolk sac
- Located between the inner surface of the cytotrophoblast and the outer surface of amnion and the exocoelomic membrane
What is the extraembryonic/chorionic cavity?
Large cavity that develops in the extraembryonic mesoderm
What are the subdivisions of the extraembryonic mesoderm?
- Connecting stalk (which becomes the umbilical cord in the future)
- Extraembryonic somatic mesoderm
- Extraembryonic splanchnic mesoderm
What occurs on Week 2 Day 13?
Bleeding occasionally occurs at the implantation site as a result of increased blood flow into the lacunar spaces.
This bleeding occurs near the 28th day of the menstrual cycle and can be confused with menstrual bleeding.
What is the trophoblast characterised by in Week 2 Day 13?
Villous structures
What is the chorionic plate?
The extraembryonic mesoderm lining the inside of the cytotrophoblast
When does gastrulation occur?
Week 3
What is gastrulation?
The most characteristic event in embryogenesis which establishes the three germ layers; ectoderm, mesoderm and endoderm.
What does gastrulation begin with?
Formation of the primitive streak on the surface of the epiblast (visible in a 15-16 day embryo)
How is endoderm formed?
When epiblast cells migrate through the primitive streak into the primitive node and reside in the hypoblast. They replace the hypoblast cells and become a newfound endoderm.
How is mesoderm formed?
Epiblast cells migrate to the region between the endoderm and epiblast and will become the mesoderm.
How is ectoderm formed?
Cells that remain in the epiblast form the ectoderm.
What are the oropharyngeal and cloacal membranes?
Cranial and caudal ends with no mesoderm apparent.