Principles - Embryology 01 - Intro Flashcards
What is embryology?
The study of the development of a fertilised egg to a baby
Up until the end of week 3, a developing fertilised egg is called a…
conceptus
Up until the end of week 8, a developing fertilised egg is called a(n)…
Embryo
After week 8, a developing baby is called a(n)…
Foetus
What term is used to refer to the formation of gametes?
Gametogenesis
Oocytes are formed by…
Oogenesis
Sperm are formed by…
Spermatogenesis
What is meant by fertilisation?
Fusion of the sperm and oocyte to make a zygote
What is meant by cleavage in embryology?
Rapid stage of cell division
Why does the embryo not increase in size during cleavage?
Zona pellucida means that cells cannot expand outwith this cavity
What is gastrulation?
Formation of the germ layers which occurs in week 3 of development
Which germ layers are formed during gastrulation?
Ectoderm, Mesoderm, Endoderm
What does the ectoderm give rise to?
Skin
What does the endoderm give rise to?
GI tract
When in development do the heart and neural tube begin to form?
Around week 3
What happens during embryonic folding?
Skin and GI tract form
When in development does embryonic folding occur?
Week 4
What is the formation of organs and organ systems called?
Organogenesis
What developments occur during the fetal period?
increase in weight, CNS forms, overt sexual differentiation
Which anatomical terms are used to describe a foetus?
Cranial/Caudal, Ventral/Dorsal
Name the 6 primary processes which occur during embryological development.
Cell division, Differentiation, apoptosis, cell attachment, cell migration, induction
Name the 2 secondary processes which occur during embryological development.
Axis formation, folding/rotation
State the 3 factors which control embryological development.
Genetics, Epigenetics and environmental factors
What is meant by epigenetics?
Preference of expression of either the maternal or paternal form of the gene
