2ND & 3RD WEEK : EARLY DEVELOPMENT

CHANGES IN SECOND WEEK OF DEVELOPMENT

CHANGE IN TROPHOBLAST
2 layers  Inner cytotrophoblast

 The cytotrophoblast is mitotically active.

 The new cells migrate to the syncytiotrophoblast.

 Outer syncytiotrophoblast

 The cells don’t divide and the new cells are formed from the
cytotrophoblast.

 Erodes maternal tissues

Lacunae (cavities)  Spaces (cavities) called lacunae appear in the syncytiotrophoblast.

 Filled with maternal blood from eroded capillaries of

endometrium.

Establishment of lacunae become continuous with the blood capillaries of the mother.
uteroplacental
circulation
Primary chorionic villi  cells of the cytotrophoblast extend into the syncytiotrophoblast
forming the primary chorionic villi.

 The spaces between the villi are called intervillous spaces which
are filled with maternal blood.

CHANGE IN INNER CELL MASS

Bilaminar germ disc  Epiblast: the superior layer, formed of columnar cells.

 Hypoblast: the inferior layer, formed of cuboidal cells facing the

blastocyst cavity.

Amniotic cavity  Amniotic cavity appears in the epiblast. It has:

 Amnioblasts = roof of amniotic cavity.

 2ND & 3RD WEEK : EARLY DEVELOPMENT

 Epiblast = floor of amniotic cavity.

Primary yolk sac cavity  A thin membrane called exocoelomic (Heuser’s) membrane is
formed the margin of the hypoblast.

 It surrounds a new cavity called the primary yolk sac.

Extraembryonic Formed from the exocoelomic membrane and fills the space between
mesoderm the cytotrophoblast and the exocoelomic membrane.

Extraembryonic coelom  Cavities appear in the extraembryonic mesoderm, which fuse to

form a single cavity called the extraembryonic coelom.

 It surrounds the yolk sac & the amniotic cavity except at the
connecting stalk (the future umbilical cord).

 2 layers:

 Extraembryonic somatic mesoderm: covering the amnion.

 Extraembryonic splanchnic mesoderm: covering the yolk sac.

Chorion  It is formed by:

 The trophoblast.
 The lining extraembryonic somatic mesoderm.
 Chorion is formed of 3 layers:
 Syncytiotrophoblast: outer layer.
 Cytotrophoblast: middle layer.
 Extraembryonic somatic mesoderm: inner layer.
Secondary yolk sac Hypoblast cells migrate along the inner surface of the exocoelomic
membrane surrounding a new cavity
 2ND & 3RD WEEK : EARLY DEVELOPMENT

CHANGE IN THIRD WEEK OF DEVELOPMENT

GASTRULATION
 Bilaminar plate becomes trilaminar with the formation of the 3 germ layers

 Formation of the:-

 Prechordal plate

 Primitive streak.

 Primitive node (Hensen’s node).

 Notochord.

 Formation of the 3 germ layers:

 Ectoderm, endoderm & mesoderm.

 Allantois.

Prechordal plate  cranial end of the hypoblast where the cuboidal cells
become columnar

Primitive Streak  area of proliferation of the epiblast in the midline of the

caudal part of the embryonic disc

 epiblast and hypoblast fuse behind the primitive streak

to form the cloacal membrane (future site of the anal
canal).

Primitive node (Hensen’s Node)  area of proliferation of the epiblast at the cranial end of
the primitive streak

 forms a midline cord of cells called the notochordal

process which grows cranially between the epiblast and
the hypoblast (primary endoderm).
 2ND & 3RD WEEK : EARLY DEVELOPMENT

Notochord  grows from the primitive node between the epiblast

* Remnant of the notochord in the
intervertebral disk forms the nucleus
pulposus
3 germ layers
and hypoblast till it reaches the prechordal plate.
 Functions of the Notochord:
1. Forms the axis for the formation of the vertebral
column.
2. Induces the development of the CNS.
 Fate of the Notochord: it degenerates except 2 parts:
1. Upper part: forms part of the skull (basilar part of
the occipital bone).
2. Central part of the intervertebral disc: forms the
nucleus pulposus.
 Endoderm: cells from the epiblast migrate to replace
the hypoblast forming the endoderm.

 Mesoderm: other cells migrate between the epiblast and

the newly formed endoderm to form the
intraembryonic mesoderm.

 Ectoderm: the remaining epiblast cells form the

ectoderm.

Intraembryonic Mesoderm  Origin: from the epiblast through the:

1. Primitive streak: main source
2. Primitive node
 Distribution:
Between the ectoderm and endoderm
 Divisions: divided by a groove into 3 parts:
 Paraxial mesoderm: on each side of the notochord
 Intermediate mesoderm: in the floor of the groove
 Lateral plate mesoderm: lateral to the groove
Allantois  It is a diverticulum arising from the caudal part of the
yolk sac.

 It extends into the connecting stalk (umbilical cord).

 It forms the apex of the urinary bladder.