Introduction: Reproduction is a systematic, gradual and complex process composed of

gametogenesis, fertilization, embryogenesis and development of foetus.

Gametogenesis: The process involved in the maturation of the two highly specialized cells,
spermatozoon in male and ovum in female before they unite to form Zygote.

Ovulation: The release of mature ovum from the ovary.

Fertilization: The fertilization is the process of fusion of the spermatozoon with the mature
ovum.

Embryogenesis: The process involved in development of embryo

The entire period of development and maturation is divided in

Ovular period or germinal period: last for first two weeks following ovulation. In spite of the
fact that the ovum is fertilized it is still called ovu
Embryonic period: Begins at 3rd week following ovulation to 8th week
Foetal period: Begins at 8 th week following ovulation and 10 th week from last menstrual
period

Fertilization: The fertilization is the process of fusion of the spermatozoon with the mature
ovum.

 Most of the time fertilization occurs at ampullary part of the uterine tube.
 The ovum immediately following ovulation is picked up by the tubal fimbrae.By
muscular or cilliary action or by a positive chemostaxis exerted by the tubal secretion.
 Out of hundreds of million sperms deposited in the vagina at single ejaculation, only
thousands capacited spermatozoa enter the uterine tube while only 300-500 reach the
ovum.
 It takes about one hour for the sperm to reach the site.

Contact and fusion of the gamets:

 The chemical hyaluronidase is liberated from the acrosomal cap of the sperms.
 Zona pellusida is penetrated by the sperms
 Out of many sperm one touches the vitelline membrane
 Soon penetration of the other sperm is prevented and the sperms are immobilized by
Zonal reaction and Vitelline block.
 Second meiotic division of oocyte is completed each containing haploid number of
chromosome(23,x)
  The bigger one is called female pronucleus and smaller one is called second polar body
which is pushed to perivitelline space.
 In human both the head and tail of the spermatozoon enter the cytoplasm of the oocyte but the
plasma membrane is left behind on the oocyte surface .Head and the neck of the spermatozoon
become male pronucleus containing haploid number of chromosome(23,x) or (23,y).
 The male and Female pronuclei unite at the centre with restoration of diploid number of cells.
 The Zygote is formed.
 (An antigen called fertilizine present on the cortex reacts with the antibody called antifertilizine
liberated at the plasma membrane of the sperm head.)
 Sex of the child is determined by the pattern of the sex chromosome supplied by the
spermatozoon.If the spermatozoon contains Xchromosome,a female embryo(46,xx) is formed and
if it contain Y chromosome a male embryo (46,XY) is formed.

Morula:

The zygote undergo mitotic division

Two cell stage i

Seminer
on

Development of Inner cell mass and

Foetal development.
 Submitted to
Madam S.Roy
C.O.N,Burdwan
Submitted by
Anupama Jash
First Year Msc Nursing Student

Trophoblast
When blastocyst embeds into endometrium, outer trophoblast cells proliferate to form inner
cyto trophoblast(Langhans cell layer) and outer layer of multinucleated syncytium- the syncytio
trophoblast.
A third layer of primitive connective tissue id differentiated from the cyto trophoblast – the
primitive mesenchyme which spread over the inner surface of the tropho blastic layer and
becomes continuous with that surrounding the inner cell mass.

Syncytio trophoblast opens up spaces around it called lacunae which get filled with with maternal
blood. The maternal blood provides nutrition to embedded blastocyst.

Chorion and Chorionic villi:

Trophoblastic cell layer lined internally with mesenchyme is called chorion

Finger like buds of trophoblastic layer project out on the surface of the embedded blastocyst- The
chorionic villi.

Primary villi- solid trophoblastic villi by 12 th day of fertilization

Secondary villi- villi with mesenchymal lining by 16 th day
Tertiary villi- Secondary villi with blood vessels by 21st day.