Pads RU Le Embryology isthe branch of medicine concerned with the study of embryos and ther development In this article, we outine the processes that take place within weeks 1-3 of embryonic development ~ cellular dvison,diferentton and gastrulation. ‘We shal als look at the clinical applications ofthis knowledge Week 1 and 2 Initial Cellular Divisions ‘The ist stage inthe development of 2 fetus fertilisation - the process by which the male sperm and female egg jin together. ‘Approximately tht hours ater fertilsation, the fertilised oocyte (eg) splits into two cells ef equa ie; called blastomeres. Ate hree more dision, ‘there ae 18 cols At this pin, the group of els refered to asthe morula. \Withia the frst wee, the cells of the morula organise to form a cavity, known as the blastocyst cavity (lastocoe), From tis point, the moras known 42s the blastocyst. tis comprised of tw cferent cll types + Outer cell mass (trophoblast) - contacts wth the endometrium of the uterus to faciltate implantation and the formation of the placenta « Inner ell mass (embryoblast) - responsible fr the formation of he embryo ise During the second week the trophoblast and embrcblast divide inte increasingly specialised cell types, The trophoblast divides into the syneytiotephobast and eytotrophoblas. The embrycblst divides ino the epiblast and hypoblas, forming a two-layered structure; the blaminar disk The amniotic cavity forms within the epblasTwo singe 9, 4 Vig % Fertlized Oooyte f > ——— / Implantation: © Embryo hatches (sheds zona pellucida) Blastoyst rotates end implants ito endomatium ofthe uterus Untertlized Oocyte Implantation ter the rit rounds of cluiar divisions the embryo must implant int the endometrium of he ters, During this process the eyneytiotrophoblast becomes continuous wih the terus- euch tat maternal blond vessels (known as sinusoids) invede the ‘spaces within the syneytlotophoblast (known as lacunae) At this pont uteroplacenal creulain has begun: and further embryonic development ean o cca Ce eee ne ee ee ee ee ee Se aWeek 3: Gastrulation In the Std week of embryonic developmen, the calls of the bilsminar disk (epblest and hypoblast} undergo a high¥ specialised process called ‘gastrulation. During tis proces, the two calllyers become threo germ cl layers, andthe bodily axes observed inthe mature adult are created Gastrlatin is process of celular arrangement which inves migration, invagination and diferentiaion of the epblast Is lrgely controll and ‘orchestratod by the primitive strak. The primitive steak is a groove in tho midline of the epblast which appears during the tid wook, Within the primitive steak lies primitive node at he eran end, and within the primitive ned les the primitive pit Celso the epibast layer break of and migrate toward the primitive pit, Hero, they detach and penetrate through the epiblestlyer to form three new ‘germ cel ayers: + Endoderm - formed by epilas cols that migrate trough the primitive pt and dspace the bypablast cls + Mesoderm formed by epblast cells that migrate through the primitive it an le between the epiblas layer and the newly created endoderm, + Eetoderm - formed bythe epblst cells that resin in poston. “These three cal layers ate than responsible for forming the fren esues ofthe fetus uterine mucosa Endometrium Hypoblast Trophoblast Reestablished Level of cross section uterine mucosa : Endometrium Endoderm | 7 r Mesoderm Primitive streak Amniotic cavity Celis differentiate at the primitive streak and migrate to form a middle mesodermal layer, as well as displace most of the hypoblast cells to form an endodermal layer. The ectoderm forms from the epiblast. Trophobiast eeeStructures Deri Endedetm + Epithllning of cigestive and respiratory acts, + Lining of urethra, bladder and reproductive System + Liver and panereas Mesoderm + Notocnors + Musculoskeletal system + Muscular layer of stomach, intestine ete + Creulatory system Fetederm + pidermis of skin + Comes end lens of eye + Nanous system