The State University of Medicine and

Pharmacy “N. Testemitanu”

Chief of departament of Histology, Cytology and Embryology

Lilian Saptefrati
Vice Chief of departament of Histology, Cytology and Embryology
Tatiana Globa
Theme Nr.5

NOTIONS OF HUMAN EMBRYOLOGY. BASIC

STEPS OF HUMAN DEVELOPMENT. BIOLOGYCAL
SIGNIFICANT. GERM CELLS. FIRST WEEK OF
DEVELOPMENT: FERTILIZATION, CLEAVAGE.
BLASTOCYST. TROPHOBLAST DIFFERENTIATION
AND IMPLANTATION.
 Human embryology
Embryology:
Is a fundamental biological science which studies:
 the laws and mechanisms of normal embryonic
development
 diseases of embryo and fetus
 critical periods and the factors which can disturb
normal development during them
 early diagnosis of severe embryonic and fetal
pathologies (interruption of pregnancy if these
pathologies are incompatible with life)
Antenatal period consists from 2 phases:

1. Embryonic period (from fertilization till the end

of 8th week of embryonic age)
2. Fetal period (from the begin of 9th week of
embryonic age till birth)

Embryonic age is smaller than Gestational age

because it begins at fertilization, whereas the
gestational age begins at last menstruation.
 Embryonic period consists from 4
subperiods which followed one by another.

Subperiods in chronological occuring

 Fertilization
 Cleavage
 Gastrulation
 Histo- and Organogenesis

During this time embryo has growth from a

single cell into nearly 1 billion cells which form
over 4000 distinct anatomic structures.

At the end of this period embryo possesses more

than 90% of structures found in adults.
 Sperm cells

Are specialized cells of male

reproductive
system that form in the testes. Are the
smallest
cells from human body.

Consists from 3 main parts:

• Head (nucleus and acrosome)
• Neck (centrioles)
• Tail (middle, principal and end
pieces)
Sperm cells
Oocyte
Structure of the male and famale
germ cells.
Fertilisation
Cleavege – a regular series of mitotic divisions,
but this divisions aren’t accompanied by cell
growth. They are equal and in the beginig are
asynchrounous.
Result of this divising are blastomeres.
 Blastocyst -
this is the first of four cavities to be formed during
the embryogenesis.
It is beginning at the 32-64 cell stage in humans,
marks the fist differentiation event.
Implantation (7h-9h days)
Implantation (7 -9 days)
h h

A. attachment
B. invadation
 As the blastocyst implants, more trophoblast
contacts the endometrium and differentiates into:

• The cytotrophoblast- a mononucleated

layer of the cells that is mitotically active
and forms new cells that migrateinto the
increasing mass of syncytiotrophoblast,
where they fuse and lose their cell
membranes.
• The syncytiotrophoblast- a rapidly
expending, multinucleated mass in which
no cell boundaries are discernible.
Produces hCG.
Spermatozoa of a mouse.
Oocyte of a cat .
Cleavage of a frog.