Embryology

by: Dr. Muhammad Atif Khan

Associate Professor
Nazeer Hussain University
 INTRODUCTION
 What is EMBRYOLOGY?
Embryology is the study of prenatal development
of embryo and fetuses.

 SIGNIFICANCE OF EMBRYOLOGY
-Gives knowledge concerning beginning of human
life and changes occurring during prenatal
development.
-Understanding normal post-natal growth and
development of various craniofacial abnormalities
 Period of ovum- fertilization to 2 weeks
 Period of embryo – 2nd to 8th week
 Period of fetus - 9th week to term

Imp-week 4-8,teratogens
 He who sees things grow from the
beginning will have the finest view of
them……..

-ARISTOTLE
 Day 0
FERTILIZATION

Human development begins at fertilization, the process

during which a male sperm unites with a female oocyte
to form a single zygote.

Human development begins at fertilization, which occurs

in the ampulla of the uterine tube
 Day 0
PHASES OF FERTILIZATION
Spermatozoa are not able to fertilize the oocyte
immediately upon arrival in the female genital tract
but must undergo
(1) Capacitation
(2) The acrosome reaction to acquire this
capability.
Capacitation is a period of conditioning in the
female reproductive tract that in the human lasts
approximately 7 hours.
 Day 0
PHASES OF FERTILIZATION
The phases of fertilization include:
 Phase 1, penetration of the corona radiata
 Phase 2, penetration of the zona pellucida
 Phase 3, fusion of the oocyte and sperm cell
membranes
Zygote-contains
chromosomes and genes
that are derived from both
mother and father.
 THE FIRST WEEK
 CLEAVAGE OF ZYGOTE:
-Cleavage usually occurs as the
zygote passes along the uterine
tube.
-Cleavage consist of repeated
mitotic divisions of zygote.
-The zygote divides into 2 cells,
which then divides into 4,8 and
so on.
-The cells are called
“BLASTOMERES’’.
- 12 to 16 blastomeres,
it is called as MORULA (fruit of
mulberry tree).
 Day 1-3

 Cleavage

 blastomeres

 morula
2 cell 4 cell 8 cell
FORMATION OF BLASTOCYST Day 4-7
 As morula enters uterus, a fluid-filled space called
blastocyst cavity appears in morula.
 As fluid increases, it separates blastomeres into two
parts:- Outer cell layer, Trophoblast.
-Inner cell mass, which act as primordium of
embryo called Embryoblast
 Implantation

 6 days after fertilization,

blastocyst adheres to
endometrial surface.
 As soon as it attaches, the
trophoblast starts
proliferating rapidly and
differentiates into 2 layers.
-Cytotrophoblast (inner layer).
-Syncytiotrophoblast (outer
mass with finger-like
processes).
Implantation
 The Second week Day 8-14
Completion of implantation:
 Implantation of blastocyst
commences at the end
of 1st week and completed
by end of 2nd week.

 The syncytiotrophoblast
release proteolytic
enzymes which promotes
proteolysis and invasion
of maternal endometrium..
Day 8
 DAY 9
 Isolated cavities
called lacunae
appear in
syncytiotrophoblast

 Adjacent lacunae
fuse to form lacunar
networks

Capillaries around
embryo become
dilated to form -
sinusoids
 DAY 9
The blastocyst is more deeply embedded in the
endometrium, and the penetration defect in the
surface epithelium is closed by a fibrin
coagulum (Fig. 4.3).

At the abembryonic pole, meanwhile, flattened

cells probably originating from the hypoblast
form a thin membrane, the exocoelomic
(Heuser’s) membrane that lines the inner
surface of the cytotrophoblast (Fig. 4.3). This
membrane, together with the hypoblast, forms
the lining of the exocoelomic cavity, or
primitive yolk sac.
DAY 9
 Syncytiotrophoblast
DAY 12
erodes sinusoids
and maternal blood
flows freely In
lacunar networks
 Communication with
eroded endometrial
capillaries
 Primitive circulation
between
endometrium and
placenta-
uteroplacental
circulation
 DAY 11-12
By the 11th to the 12th day of development, the
blastocyst is completely embedded in the
endometrial stroma, and the surface epithelium
almost entirely covers the original defect in the
uterine wall (Figs. 4.4 and 4.5).

Uteroplacental circulation.

In the meantime, a new population of cells

appears between the inner surface of the
cytotrophoblast and the outer surface of the
exocoelomic cavity.
 DAY 11-12
These cells, derived from yolk sac cells, form a
fine, loose connective tissue, the
extraembryonic mesoderm, which eventually
fills all of the space between the trophoblast
externally and the amnion and exocoelomic
membrane internally (Figs. 4.4 and 4.5).
Soon, large cavities develop in the
extraembryonic mesoderm, and when these
become confluent, they form a new space
known as the extraembryonic cavity, or
chorionic cavity (Fig. 4.4).
 DAY 11-12
This space surrounds the primitive yolk sac and
amniotic cavity, except where the germ disc is
connected to the trophoblast by the connecting
stalk (Fig. 4.6). The extraembryonic mesoderm
lining the cytotrophoblast and amnion is called
the extraembryonic somatic mesoderm; the
lining covering the yolk sac is known as the
extraembryonic splanchnic mesoderm (Fig. 4.4)
DAY 12
 DAY 13
By the 13th day of development, the surface
defect in the endometrium has usually healed.
Occasionally, however, bleeding occurs at the
implantation site as a result of increased blood
flow into the lacunar spaces. Because this
bleeding occurs near the 28th day of the
menstrual cycle.
It may be confused with normal menstrual
bleeding and therefore, may cause inaccuracy
in determining the expected delivery date.
 In the meantime, Hypoblast produces additional
cells that migrate along the inside of the
exocoelomic membrane.
 These cells proliferate and gradually from a new
cavity within the exocoelomic cavity.
 This new cavity is known as the secondary yolk
sac or definitive yolk sac.
 This yolk sac is much smaller the original
exocoemolic cavity or primitive yolk sac.
 During its formation, large portion of the
exocoemolic cavity are pinched off. These
portions are represented by exocoemolic cyst.
Which are often found in extra embryonic
coelom or chronic cavity.
Connecting Stalk ~ Umblical Cord
 Meanwhile, the extra embryonic coeloms
expands and form a large cavity, the
chorionic cavity. The extra embryonic
mesoderm lining the inside of the
cytotrophoblast is then known as chorionic
plate. The only place where extra
embryonic mesoderm traverses the
chorionic cavity is in the connecting stalk
with development of blood vessels, the
stalk become the umbilical cord.
DAY 13
 Site at which blastocyst EMBRYONIC POLE.
gets implanted

CLINICAL RELEVANCE

Syncytiotrophoblast releases HUMAN CHORIONIC

GONADOTROPHIN ( HCG ) HORMONE… which gives
a positive pregnancy test at the end of the second week.
FORMATION OF AMNIOTIC CAVITY,
EMBRYONIC DISC AND YOLK SAC:
 As implantation of blastocyst progresses, a small cavity
appears in the inner cell mass called “AMNIOTIC CAVITY”.
 The blastocyst cavity / Exocoelomic cavity soon modifies to
form “PRIMARY YOLK-SAC”.
 BILAMINAR DISC STAGE Second week
 So now there are 2 cavities:
1. “AMNIOTIC CAVITY” (above)
2. “PRIMARY YOLK-SAC” (below - later forms secondary yolk
sac)

Soon the inner cell mass form 2 types of cells which lie Between
these 2 cavities
Epiblast: High columnar cells related to amniotic cavity.
Hypoblast – squamous or cuboidal cell mass adjacent to
primary yolk sac

The epiblast and hypoblast

together forms the
“BILAMINAR EMBRYONIC
DISC”.
 Defect in endometrium persists for 2 days- filled by a closing
plug- fibrinous coagulum of blood.
 In extra-embryonic mesoderm fluid filled spaces appear which
fuse to form Extraembryonic Coelom
 DAY 13
 Defect in endometrium
disappears
 Cells from hypoblast
migrate along inside of
Primary yolk sac –
pinched off and smaller
secondary yolk sac forms

 Proliferation of
cytotrophoblastic cells
into syncytiotrophoblast
leads to Formation of
primary chorionic villi
(later forms placenta).
DAY 13
 DAY 14

2 processes occur
simultaneously:

Formation of
extraembryonic somatic
and splanchnic mesoderm
due to split of
extraembryonic mesoderm
by extraembryonic coelom.

Extraembryonic coelom is
now called chorionic cavity.
 DAY 14

The amniotic cavity (epiblast

at floor) and secondary yolk
sac (hypoblast at roof)
resembles 2 balloons
pressed together inside
larger balloon (chorionic sac)
suspended by connecting
stalk - umbilical cord
 DAY 14

Epiblastic cells- formation of primitive streak

Hypoblastic cells in a localized area are now columnar and
form a thickened circular area called pre-chordal plate which
indicates the future site of the mouth and is an important
organizer of the head region
 THE THIRD WEEK

 GASTRULATION : is a formative process by

which the 3 germ layers & axial orientation are
established in the embryo
-Primitive streak.
-Germ layers.
-Formation of notochord

 NEURULATION.

 NEURAL CREST FORMATION.

 3rd Week of Development
Trilaminar Germ Disc
 The most characteristic event occurring
during the third week of gestation is
gastrulation, the process that establishes
all three germ layers (ectoderm,
mesoderm, and endoderm) in the embryo.
Gastrulation begins with formation of the
primitive streak on the surface of the
epiblast (Figs. 5.1 and 5.2A).
3rd Week of Development
 INVAGINATION
 The cephalic end of the streak, the
primitive node, consists of a slightly
elevated area surrounding the small
primitive pit (Fig. 5.2).
 Cells of the epiblast migrate toward the
primitive streak (Fig. 5.2). Upon arrival in
the region of the streak, they become fl
ask-shaped, detach from the epiblast, and
slip beneath it (Fig. 5.2B,C). This inward
movement is known as INVAGINATION.
INVAGINATION
 Formation of Germinal Layers
 Once the cells have invaginated, some
displace the hypoblast, creating the
embryonic endoderm, and others come to
lie between the epiblast and newly created
endoderm to form mesoderm.
 Cells remaining in the epiblast then form
ectoderm. Thus, the epiblast, through the
process of gastrulation, is the source of all
of the germ layers (Fig. 5.2B), and cells in
these layers will give rise to all of the
tissues and organs in the embryo.
 Third week

 GASTRULATION:

 The Bilaminar embryonic disc is converted to a

Trilaminar embryonic disc.

 It is the beginning of morphogenesis (development of

body form).

 It begins with formation of primitive streak at the

surface of the embryonic disk.
 Third week
 FORMATION OF
GERM LAYERS:
 Soon after primitive streak
appears, cells leave its
deep surface and migrate
to form a loose network of
embryonic connective
tissue called Mesenchyme

 The mesenchyme forms

the supporting tissue of
the embryo.
Third week

 The mesenchyme forms a

layer called Intraembryonic
mesoderm.
 Some cells of the Epiblast
displace the Hypoblast
forming intraembryonic or
embryonic endoderm in the
roof of Yolk sac.
 Cells remaining in the
epiblast forms the
Intraembryonic or
Embryonic ectoderm in the
floor of the amnion.
 Third week
 All the above cells have
the potential to
proliferate and
differentiate into diverse
types of cells, such as
fibroblast, chondroblast
and osteoblast.
 In short the cells of the
epiblast, through the
process of gastrulation,
give rise to all 3 germ
layers in the embryo.
 DAY 15,16
PRIMITIVE STREAK:
 It results from
proliferation and
migration of the cells of
epiblast to the median
plane of the embryonic
disc.

 The primitive streak

elongates by addition
of cells to its caudal
end
 its cranial end
proliferates to form
primitive node.
As soon as the primitive streak appear, it is possible to identify
the embryo’s
Cranio -caudal axis

Primitive groove develops in the primitive streak that is

continuous with a small depression in the primitive node, the
primitive pit.
 SUMMARY OF 3RD WEEK
 The most characteristic event occurring
during the third week is gastrulation, which
begins with the appearance of the
primitive streak, which has at its cephalic
end the primitive node. In the region of the
node and streak, epiblast cells move
inward (invaginate) to form new cell layers,
endoderm and mesoderm.
 SUMMARY OF 3RD WEEK
 Cellsthat do not migrate through the
streak but remain in the epiblast form
ectoderm. Hence, epiblast gives rise to all
three germ layers in the embryo,
ectoderm, mesoderm, and endoderm, and
these layers form all of the tissues and
organs (Figs. 5.2 and 5.3).
 EMBRYONIC PERIOD
 The embryonic period, or period of
organogenesis, occurs from the third to
the eighth weeks of development and is
the time when each of the three germ
layers, ectoderm, mesoderm, and
endoderm, gives rise to a number of
specific tissues and organs. By the end of
the embryonic period, the main organ
systems have been established, rendering
the major features of the external body
form recognizable by the end of the
second month.
 DERIVATIVES OF THE
ECTODERMAL GERM LAYER
 At the beginning of the third week of
development, the ectodermal germ layer has
the shape of a disc that is broader in the
cephalic than in the caudal region (Fig. 6.1).
 Appearance of the notochord and prechordal
mesoderm induces the overlying ectoderm to
thicken and form the neural plate (Fig.
6.2A,B).
 Cells of the plate make up the
neuroectoderm, and their induction
represents the initial event in the process of
neurulation.
 NEURULATION
 Neurulation is the process whereby the neural
plate forms the neural tube. By the end of the
third week.

 Neurulation is the stage of organogenesis in

vertebrate embryos, during which the neural
tube is transformed into the primitive structures
that will later develop into the central nervous
system.
 NEURULATION
 The neural fold are the first signs of brain
development.
 By the end of 3rd week the neural folds begin to move
together and fuse, converting neural plate into a
“neural tube”
 NEURAL CREST
 Neural Crest Cells As the neural folds elevate
and fuse, cells at the lateral border or crest of
the neuroectoderm begin to dissociate from their
neighbors. This cell population, the neural crest.
 It is responsible to form melanocytes in the skin
and hair follicles, ventral pathway through the
anterior half of each somite to become sensory
ganglia, sympathetic and enteric neurons,
Schwann’s cells etc (Table 6.1, p. 69).
 Neural crest cells are so fundamentally
important and contribute to so many organs and
tissues that they are sometimes referred to as
the fourth germ layer.
DAY 18 FORMATION OF NOTOCHORD
 Some mesenchymal cells
migrate cranially from the
primitive node and pit,
forming a median cellular
chord, the notochordal
process.

 The process soon acquires

a lumen, the notochordal
canal and grows cranially
until it reaches the
prechordal plate.
 Thenotochordal process cannot extent
beyond the prechordal plate.

 Placeof fusion of upper ectoderm and

lower endoderm, which will form the
OROPHARYNGEAL MEMBRANE.

 Various
cellular events take place in the
notochordal process which give rise to the
NOTOCHORD.
IMPORTANCE OF NOTOCHORD:
 Defines primordial axis of embryo and gives
rigidity.
 Serves as basis for development of axial
skeleton (bones of head and vertebral column).
 Indicates future site of vertebral bodies.
 NEURULATION DAY 19,20

 Formation of neural plate and neural folds and closure

of these folds to form the neural tube constitute
Neurulation.

Neural plate and Neural tube:

 As the notochord develops, the embryonic ectoderm
over it thickens to form an elongated, slipper-like plate
of thickened epithelial cells, the “neural plate” .
 Neural plate formation is induced by developing
notochord.
 The ectoderm of neural plate called Neuroectoderm
gives rise to the “CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM” i.e.
the Brain and spinal chord
 NEURULATION

 At about 18th day, the neural plate invaginates along

its central axis to form median “Neural groove”,
which has neural folds on each side.
Neural Crest Derivatives
Neural Crest Cells
SUMMARY (Embryonic Period)
 Theembryonic period, which extends from
the third to the eighth weeks of
development, is the period during which
each of the three germ layers, ectoderm,
mesoderm, and endoderm, gives rise to its
own tissues and organ systems. As a
result of organ formation, major features of
body form are established (Table 6.4).
SUMMARY (Embryonic Period)
 The ectodermal germ layer gives rise to
the organs and structures that maintain
contact with the outside world:
 ● Central nervous system;
 ● Peripheral nervous system;
 ● Sensory epithelium of ear, nose, and
eye;
 ● Skin, including hair and nails; and ●
Pituitary, mammary, and sweat glands and
enamel of the teeth
Summary
 Derivatives of Mesoderm
 Paraxial Mesoderm.
• Somitomeres
• Neuromeres.
 Lateral Plate.
 Somatic or Parietal Mesoderm Layer
 Splanchnic of visceral Mesoderm Layer
 Derivatives of Mesoderm
 Initially,cells of the mesodermal germ
layer from a thin sheet of loosely woven
tissues on each side of the midline. By
approximately the 17th day however, cells
close to the midline proliferate and form a
thickened plate of tissue known as
paraxial mesoderm.
 More laterally, the mesoderm layer
remains thin and its known as the lateral
plate.
 Derivatives of Mesoderm
 With appearance with the appearance and
coalescence of intercellular cavities in the
lateral plate, this tissue is divide into two
layers.
 Layer continuous with mesoderm covering
amnion, known as somatic or parietal
mesoderm layer, and a layer continuous
with mesoderm covering the yolk sac,
known as the splanchnic or visceral
mesoderm layer.
 Derivatives of Mesoderm
 Together, these layer line a newly formed
cavity, the intraembryonic cavity which is
continuous is the extra embryonic cavity
on each side of the embryo, intermediate
mesoderm connects paraxial and lateral
plate mesoderm.
 Derivatives of Mesoderm
 By the beginning of the third week,
paraxial mesoderm begins to be organized
into segments This segments known as
somitomeres.
 In head region, somitomeres form in
association with segmentation of the
neural crest plate into NEUROMERES
to continue to mesenchyme in the
head.
 SUMMARY OF MESODERM
 Important components of the mesodermal
germ layer are paraxial, intermediate, and
lateral plate mesoderm.
 Paraxial mesoderm forms somitomeres,
which give rise to mesenchyme of the
head and organize into somites in occipital
and caudal segments.
 Somites
SUMMARY
give rise to the myotome (muscle
tissue), sclerotome (cartilage and bone), and
dermatome (dermis of the skin), which are all
supporting tissues of the body.
 Mesoderm also gives rise to the vascular
system (i.e., the heart, arteries, veins, lymph
vessels, and all blood and lymph cells).
Furthermore, it gives rise to the urogenital
system: kidneys, gonads, and their ducts (but
not the bladder).
 Finally, the spleen and cortex of the
suprarenal glands are mesodermal
derivatives.
DERIVATIVES OF ENDODERM
 The gastrointestinal tract is the main organ
system derived from the endodermal germ
layer.
 This germ layer covers the ventral surface
of the embryo and forms the roof of the
yolk sac (Fig. 6.17A)
 SUMMARY OF ENDODERM
 The endodermal germ layer provides:
 The epithelial lining of the gastrointestinal
tract, respiratory tract, and urinary bladder.
 It also forms the parenchyma of the
thyroid, parathyroids, liver, and pancreas.
 Finally, the epithelial lining of the tympanic
cavity and auditory tube originates in the
endodermal germ layer.
Sequence of Germinal Layers Formation
 DERIVATIVES OF GERM LAYERS
 ECTODERM: Epidermis, hair, nail.
Central and peripheral nervous system.
Mammary, pituitary and subcutaneous gland.
Enamel of teeth.
 MESODERM :Connective tissue, cartilage, bone.
Striated and smooth muscle.
Heart, blood and lymphatic vessels.
kidneys, ovaries, testes, spleen, cortex of adrenal
gland.
 ENDODERM: Epithelial lining of gastrointestinal and respiratory
tracts, urinary bladder and urethra.
Epithelial lining of tympanic cavity, tympanic
antrum, auditory tube.
THANK YOU