Common Embryological Terms

Terms related to developmental stages

Embryology
It is the science which studies the prenatal (before birth) development of embryo and fetus;
however, the term can also refer to postnatal development. Embryology includes both
embryogenesis and organogenesis.
Embryogenesis (general embryology)
It refers to the early stages of development (from Gametogenesis to placentation).
Organogenesis (special embryology)
It refers to later stages of development in which different organs and system will be formed.
It involves the following morphological changes;
cell division (proliferation), hypertrophy (increase in size = growth), splitting (delamination =
separation), migration, adhesion, and apoptosis (local programmed cell death), differentiation.
Teratology
It is a division of embryology which deals with abnormal development (birth defects or
anomalies).
Oocyte (= ovum or egg)
It is the female gamete which produced in the ovaries. It carries the half of the chromosomes
(haploid, 1N).
Sperm (= spermatozoon)
It is the male gamete which produced in the testes. It also carries the half of the chromosomes
(haploid, 1N).
Zygote
Cell results from the union of an oocyte and a sperm after fertilization. It carries the full
chromosomes (diploid, 2N).
Cleavage
Series of mitotic cell divisions of the zygote that results in the formation of early embryonic cells
which called blastomeres.
Morula
It is a solid mass of approximately 8-32 blastomeres (according to species) which is formed by
cleavage of the zygote.
Blastocyst
It is the morula when a fluid-filled cavity, develops inside it. In birds, it is called blastoderm
which is disc shape.
Blastula
It is the embryo during blastocyst formation (has only two layers, bilaminar embryo).
Implantation
The process during which the blastocyst attaches to the endometrium and subsequently embeds
in it (in mammals only).
Gastrulation
Formation of the three germ layers (ectoderm, mesoderm, and endoderm) from the bilaminar
(two layers) embryo.
Gastrula
It is the embryo during and after gastrulation (has three layers, trilaminar embryo).
Neurula
The early embryo when the neural tube is developing. It is the first appearance of the nervous
system and the next stage after the gastrula.
Embryo (embryonic period)
It is the time from fertilization to the earliest (primordial) stages of organ development (about 30
days in dog, cat, sheep, pig; almost 60 days in horse, cattle, human).
Fetus (fetal period).
It is the time after the embryonic period and until birth in which differentiation and growth of the
tissues and organs formed during the embryonic period occur.
Summary

Sperm
Sperm(1N)
(1N) Oocyte
Oocyte(1N)
(1N)

Fertilization
Fertilization

Zygote
Zygote(2N)
(2N)
Cleavage
Cleavage

Morula
Morula
Cleavage
Cleavage
Blastula
Blastula(bastocyst
(bastocyst// blastoderm)
blastoderm)
Gastrulation
Gastrulation
Gastrula
Gastrula
Neurulation
Neurulation
Neurula
Neurula
Differentiation
Differentiation
Fetus
Fetus

NB:
Periods of development {prenatal (1-3) and postnatal (4-8)}
1. Period of the ovum: from maturation of the oocyte to fertile ooocyte.
2. Period of the embryo: from cleavage of the fertilized oocyte to body with all species-specific
tissues and organs.
3. Period of the fetus: from growth/differentiation of tissues to birth.
4. Period of the new-born
5. Period of the juvenile
6. Period of the adolescent
7. Period of the mature adult
8. Period of the senescent
Terms related to direction of embryo body
Ventral (=inferior): Describes the belly of the body.
Dorsal (= superior): Describes the back of the body.
Cranial (= anterior = rostral): Denotes relationships to the head.
Caudal (= posterior): Denotes relationships to the tail.
Lateral: Refers to structures that are farther from the median plane of the body.
Medial: Refers to structures nearer to the median plane of the body.
Median section: Is a vertical section that passes longitudinally through the body dividing it into
right and left halves.
Sagittal section: Is any vertical section passing parallel to the median one.
Frontal (coronal or horizontal) section: Is any vertical section that intersects the median one at
a right angle and divides the body into ventral and dorsal parts.
Transverse (cross) section: Refers to any section that is at right angles to both the median and
frontal sections and divides the body into cranial and caudal parts.

Significance of developmental anatomy in veterinary medicine

The knowledge of the basic principles of development will assist the student in understanding
relationships taught in gross anatomy, histology, and pathology courses, and will later serve the
clinician in diagnosing certain conditions and in counseling owners of animals that have
congenital malformations.
Cell division (proliferation)
Cell division starts with nuclear division (mitosis and meiosis) and then followed by cytoplasmic
division (cytokinesis) (see genetic book for more details).
Mitosis
- This type of cell division occurs in all somatic cells and results in two new (daughter) diploid
(2N) cells similar to each other and to their parent.
- Contains four phases (Prophase, Metaphase, Anaphase and Telophase) which all are preceded
by Interphase.
Meiosis
- It takes place in germ (sex) cells only.
- It results in formation of haploid (1N) gametes (sperms and oocytes).
- It leads to formation of daughter cells not genetically identical due to exchange of genetic
material between non-sister chromatids (crossover).
- There are two successive meiotic divisions (meiosis I and meiosis II).
- The first meiotic division (meiosis I) has four phases (Prophase I, Metaphase I, Anaphase I and
Telophase I).
- The second meiotic division (Meiosis II) has four phases (Prophase II, Metaphase II, Anaphase
II and Telophase II)
- Meiosis II follows the first division without a normal interphase (i.e., without a step of DNA
replication).
- In Meiosis I and II four haploid cells formed from a single diploid germ cell.
- Numbers of chromosomes in diploid (2N) human and animal cells as the following:
Species Number of
chromosomes in
pairs
Chicken, dog 39
Horse 32
Cattle, goat 30
Sheep 27
Human 23
Pig, cat 19

A to D, Stages of prophase of the first meiotic division. The homologous chromosomes approach
each other and pair; each member of the pair consists of two chromatids. Observe the single
crossover in one pair of chromosomes. E, Metaphase. The two members of each pair become
oriented on the meiotic spindle. F, Anaphase. G, Telophase. The chromosomes migrate to
opposite poles. H, Distribution of parental chromosome pairs at the end of the first meiotic
division. I to K, Second meiotic division. It is similar to mitosis except that the cells are haploid.