Week 1 - Pregnancy + Development of the Foetus Flashcards
What are the 8 stages of life?
- Germinal
- Embryo
- Foetus
- Neonate
- Infant
- Child
- Adolescent
- Adult
When does the GERMINAL stage of life occur?
From conception to 2 weeks (14 days)
Occurs up until IMPLANTATION during which the Zygote begins to rapidly divide.
When does the EMBRYO form?
Between the 2nd week - 8th week
When does the FOETUS form?
From the 8th week - Birth
What is a neonate?
A neonate is a baby that is 1 month old (after birth)
What is an infant?
An infant is a baby between the age of 1 month - 2 years old
What is a child?
A child is aged between 2 and up until they hit PUBERTY.
What is an adolescent?
When someone has hit puberty - 20 years old
What is the definition of growth?
The physical element. It is the increase in size. From 2 single cells to one big cell which can multiply and produce many.
What is the prenatal period?
From Fertilization to Birth
When is the postnatal period?
From Birth to Death
What is the definition of pregnancy?
The presence of a developing offspring in the uterus. It tends to last around 38 weeks and is divided into trimesters that last around 3 months each!
What is Fertilisation?
- The union of a secondary oocyte and a sperm cell
- Results in a new cell called a Zygote
- Located in the UTERINE TUBE
When does Fertilisation occur?
Between 12 and 24 hours after conception
What are the stages of Fertilisation (conception)?
- An egg is typically ovulated each month and enters the fallopian tube
- After sperm deposition into the vagina, it moves through the uterus and into the fallopian tube
- The PROSTAGLANDINS in semen stimulate the lashing movement of the sperm tails for swimming, causing muscular contractions of the uterus and fallopian tubes. This aids sperm movement (making it a shorter journey).
- Under influence of EOSTROGEN, a women’s uterine secretions go from being mucousy and acidic - watery and allow easy sperm transport through female tract.
- Sperm reaches the upper portion of the fallopian tube within 1 hour.
- Many sperm may reach the egg, but only one can fertilise it.
- With the aid from the ACROSOMAL ENZYMES in the sperm head, sperm erod the CORONA RADIATA (layer surrounding the oocyte).
- Sperm bind to the ZONA PELLUCIDA (membranes directly surrounding the oocyte) and digest a specific protein.
- Only the 1st sperm head is allowed to puncture the egg cell membrane
- Following PENETRATION, hardening of the ZONA PELLUCIDA, prevents the entry of additional sperm cells
- The sperm cells NUCLEUS, swells and becomes the MALE PRONUCLEUS.
- The secondary oocyte completes MEIOSIS ll and its nucleus becomes the FEMALE PRONUCLEUS.
- PRONUCLEI of EGG and SPERM unite, completing Fertilisation.
- Fertilisation results in the formation of a ZYGOTE.
What is the correct order of the developing foetus, starting from conception and ending with the foetus?
Oocyte - Zygote - Morula - Blastocyst - Embryo - Foetus - Baby
When does Fertilisation end?
When the Zygote is produced (24 hrs after conception).
When does the Embryonic Stage occur?
The period between fertilization and the 8th week.
What happens during the embryonic stage?
The placenta forms, major organs form, and external structures appear.
What is the period of CLEAVAGE (Mitosis)?
- The period of cleavage takes place during the embryonic stage.
- Takes place 30 hours AFTER Zygote formation
- Mitosis begins (aka cleavage)
- Cells divide rapidly, become smaller and smaller with each division as the Zygote moves down the fallopian tube to the uterus.
What happens during the Embryonic Period (Part 1)?
- 30 hours after Zygote formation, Mitosis occurs. This is also known as cleavage because cells divide rapidly, becoming smaller and smaller with each division as the Zygote moves down the fallopian tube to the uterus.
- The trip down the fallopian tube takes about 3 days; by then the mass has developed into a solid ball of 16 cells called a MORULA.
- The Morula stays in the uterine cavity for approximately 3 days, unattached.
- The morula then forms a hollow mass, called a Blastocyst.
- The Blastocyst implants into the endometrium of the uterus by the end of the 1st week.
- At this point, the cells are PLURIPOTENT stem cells, which can give rise to more stem cells and several types of specialized cells, eg. liver.
What happens during the Embryonic Period (Part 2)?
- During implantation, certain inner cells of the blastocyst organize into the inner cell mass (embryoblast), which gives rise to the embryo proper, the body of the offspring.
- The cells of the wall of the Blastocyst develop into the Trophoblast, which becomes supporting structures of the embryo.
- Trophoblast cells send out extensions, microvilli, which invade the endometrium.
- Endometrial growth surrounds the blastocyst, resulting in implantation into the lining of the uterus.
- The Trophoblast secretes the hormone human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) which maintains corpus luteum for the production of hormones during early pregnancy.
- The Trophoblast enzymes breakdown the tissue of the endometrium, obtaining nutrients for the embryo.
- The chorionic villi develop, irregular spaces called LACUNAE form around between the villi, and fill with maternal blood.
- Embryonic blood vessels extend through the connecting stalk, attaching the embryo to the developing placenta.
What happens during the Embryonic Period (Part 3)?
- As the placenta forms from the CHORION, another membrane develops around the embryo, called the AMNION.
- The Umbilical cord forms and connects the umbilicus stalk between the embryo and mother.
- The Yolk sac and Allantois (2 additional membranes) form during development.
What is the Chorion Membrane and its function?
- The outermost foetal membrane
- It develops from an outer fold on the surface of the yolk sac, which lies outside the zona pellucida.
- Function: protect and nurture the embryo
What is the Amnion and its function?
- Starts forming in the 2nd week
- It attaches around the edge of the inner cell mass or embryonic disc
- Amniotic fluid prevents compression of the embryo, it cushions the embryo from the mother’s movements and maintains a stable temperature.
What is the Umbilical Cord?
- Forms from portions of the Amnion, enveloping tissues on the underside of the embryo, mainly the connecting stalk between the embryo and mother.
- The umbilical cord connects the umbilicus of the embryo to the placenta.
Function: Is to exchange blood between the embryo and the placenta.
What are the 2 additional membranes that form during development?
Yolk Sac: Forms during the 2nd week, produced blood cells, and gives rise to cells that will develop into sex cells.
The Allantois: Forms during the 3rd week, produces blood cells and umbilical blood vessels.
What is the placenta?
The placenta is an organ that develops in the uterus when pregnant. It functions in gas exchange and delivery of nutrients from the mother to the embryo.
Where does the placenta form from?
An area where the chorion is in contact with the uterine wall.
The embryonic part consists of chorion and chorionic villi
the maternal part consists of decidua basalis of the uterine wall, where the villi are attached.
What is the function of the placental membrane?
Separates the embryonic blood from the maternal blood
Performs the exchange of nutrients, O2, wastes, and CO2 between the embryonic and maternal blood.
What is the definition of Gastrulation?
- The movement of cells in the embryonic disk that form multiple layers
- It is the period of time where the birth and development of organs occur
What are the layers of the embryonic disc?
Outer Ectoderm and Inner Endoderm
What is the name of the layer formed when the Ectoderm and Endoderm fold?
The middle layer - known as the Mesoderm
What is Organogenesis?
Organogenesis is the phase of embryonic development that starts at the end of gastrulation and continues until birth. During organogenesis, the three germ layers formed from gastrulation form the internal organs of the organism.
What is the name given to a 2-week old embryo that has all 3 primary germ layers?
A Gastrula
What are the 3 primary germ layers?
Ectoderm, Mesoderm and Endoderm
What is the function of the Ectoderm layer?
- Gives rise to the Nervous System
- Portions of special sensory organs, the Epidermis and Epidermal accessory organs and the linings of the mouth and anal canal.
What is the function of the Mesoderm Layer?
- Forms all types of muscle tissue, bone tissue, bone marrow, blood, blood and lymphatic vessels, internal reproductive organs, kidneys, connective tissues and epithelial linings of the body cavities.