Specials - Early Human Development Flashcards
What is the function of embryogenesis?
To carry out patterning, define major axis, define three germ layers, form the rudiments of major organs
What is patterning in embryogenesis?
the process where cells acquire identity in space and time (laying down 3 main germ layers)
What are the major axis defined in embryogenesis
anterior (head), posterior (tail), dorsal (back), ventral (belly)
What process produces the three germ layers?
Gastrulation
What colour is the ectoderm on a fate map?
Blue
What colour is the mesoderm on a fate map?
Red
What colour is the endoderm on a fate map?
Yellow
What is the ectodermal germ layer?
Outside
Will give rise to the tissues on the outside of organs
Eg epidermis (Skin), spinal cord and brain
What is the mesodermal germ layer?
Between ectoderm and endoderm
Gives rise to all internal structures
Eg: Skeletal, CVS, lymphatic, kidneys and dermis
What is the endodermal germ layer?
Inside
Gives rise to the gut, reproductive cells and glands
What is fertilisation defined as?
The fusion of the nucleus of the sperm and nucleus of the egg to form a zygote
What is the process of fertilisation?
Sperm penetrates egg
Sperm and egg are both haploid, once fertilisation occurs, the nuclei fuse and form a zygote
Millions of sperm are released, but only approx 200 reach the egg
As sperm swim through female reproductive system, they undergo capacitation
What is capacitation?
A process which takes off inhibitory molecules present on the sperm, encourages them to swim harder and faster towards the egg
Due to what cues is the sperm able to move towards the egg?
Chemoattractant and thermotatic cues released by the corona radiata
This is how the sperm knows which Fallopian tube to enter into (every month an egg is released from alternating sides of the Fallopian tube and hence the sperm does not waste any energy going from one side to to the other)
What is the head of the sperm covered by?
The acrosome
What is the function of the acrosome?
Contains enzymes which allows the sperm to penetrate the layers surrounding the egg
Ie the corona radiata and zona pellucida
What does the mid piece of the sperm contain?
Many mitochondria, provides lots of energy for sperm to swim to egg
What is the corona radiata?
First layer of cells surrounding the egg which the sperm must penetrate
What is the purpose of the corona radiata?
Releases hormones which act as a chemoattractant (mentioned previously)
What is the role of zona pellucida?
To prevent multiple sperm penetrating the egg
What is the path of the sperm cell?
Corona radiata —>
Zona Pellucida —>
Plasma membrane —>
Cytoplasm of oocyte
What happens on day 0?
Fertilisation
what happens of day 1?
A process called cleavage
What is cleavage?
It is defined as rapid mitotic division which occurs post fertilisation.
It divides the embryo into smaller and smaller blocks so in the next stage it can cause some interesting patterns and shapes (lego block analogy)
What happens on day 2?
The zygote divides to produce two smaller cells called blastomeres
On what day are blastomeres formed?
Day 2
What happens on day 3?
The blastomeres divide again forming a total of 4 cells
What happens on day 4?
By day 4, a loosely packed ball of small cells called the morula are produced
What happens on day 5?
By day 5, a densely packed ball of cells called the blastocyst is formed
On what day are blastocysts formed?
Day 5
How is the blastocyst cavity formed?
Sodium pumps in the cells pump sodium ions into the blastocyst which causes water to follow by osmosis
This forms the blastocyst cavity
When is the morula formed?
day 4