Lecture 2 Flashcards
Embryonic development proceeds from 0 to ____ weeks
eight (8)
Fetal development continues from 9 to ____ weeks
thirty-eight (38)
Where does fertilization occur?
In the Ampulla Region of the fallopian (uterine) tube
When does each ovary produce an egg?
Ovaries alternate between the left and the right to each produce eggs bimonthly
Mature eggs are released from _____ that form on the surface of the ovary
blisters
The cilia inside of the fallopian tube sweep thin ____ and ___ towards the _____.
mucus; fluid; uterus
Of the 200-300 million spermatozoa deposited in the female reproductive tract, only ___ to ___ reach the oocyte in the ampulla
300 to 500
What is the smallest cell in the human body?
A sperm cell
What is the lifespan of a sperm cell swimming thru the female reproductive tract?
Days
What is the protective cellular layer surrounding the oocyte?
Corona radiata
What is the name of the protective glycoprotein “shell” under the corona radiata?
zona pellucida
What are the two layers that surround the egg?
Corona radiata (outer); zona pellucida (inner)
The corona radiata can be described as ______ and ______, while the zona pellucida is a _______ membrane.
porous, sticky; gelatinous
What is the name of the lysozome at the tip of the sperm cell?
acrosome
What is inside an acrosome?
Lytic enzymes that can break down proteins.
Enzymes released from the acrosome trigger the ______ reaction. These enzymes also trigger the _____ reaction, which is a rapid, calcium mediated change in the _____ _____.
Acrosome (reaction). Zona reaction (happens very fast); zona pellucida.
What is the major function of the acrosome reaction? What is a major function of the zona reaction?
To break open a sperm entry point in the zona pellucida. To prevent additional sperm from entering (polyspermy)
How many chromosomes will be in an embryo formed by two sperm entering one egg? Is such an embryo viable?
Sixty-nine (69) chromosomes. Such an embryo would be (almost always) non-viable.
When does an oocyte complete its Meiosis II? When does a spermatozoa complete its Meiosis II?
The oocyte completes its Meiosis II after fertilization. The spermatozoa complete Meiosis II even before fertilization.
Initially, a pronucleus is _______. However, before the first cell division the pronuclei swell and each ______ its DNA.
haploid (1n); duplicate
How many hours after fertilization does a deep furrow appear on the zygote and gradually cleave the cytoplasm into two parts?
30 hours
Is the first cleavage of the zygote a mitotic or meiotic division?
Mitotic. Mitosis occurs from here on
What is each cell of the 2-, 4-, and 8-cell stage called?
Blastomere
What is a solid ball of sixteen (16) blastomeres called?
Morula
Does the overall size of the embryo change before it becomes a blastocyst?
The overall size of the embryo remains relatively constant.
What is the Latin translation of a Morula?
A little mulberry
How many days does it take for an embryo to become a morula?
About 3 days
What role does the cytoskeleton play in the early stages of a embryonic cell division?
The cytoskeleton generates the force to pull and push the cells apart.
What protein is the cytoskeleton primarily composed of?
Actin, in the shape of fibers such as microfilaments, intermediate filaments, and microtubules.
Where can actin fibers of the cytoskeleton attach to on the dividing blastomeres?
Can attach to myosin proteins on the blastomeres. Cell junctions such as desmosomes, plaque anchors in the cell membrane.
Early blastomeres are ______-potential. Splitting these cells can produce fully functional ______ twins.
Pluri(-potential). Identical
With each mitotic division, blastomeres become smaller or bigger?
Smaller
After what stage does compaction take place in an embryo?
8-cell stage
What is compaction?
The development of many tight junctions that maximize contact between cells.
Why is compaction important?
Compaction develops the gap junctions and surface cell receptors that allow cells to communicate with each other and begin to coordinate the process of differentiating the embryonic cells into embryonic tissues.
What are cytokines?
Cytokines are molecules released by cells for cell-signaling to self (autocrine) or to nearby cells (paracrine)
What is the main difference between a morula and a blastocyst?
A morula is a solid ball of cells, while a blastocyst is fluid-filled (or cystic)
What is the inner cell mass of the blastocyst called?
Embryoblast