Khazar University

Department of Life Sciences

Lecture 2
Development of the Human Body -
Embryology

Mushfig Orujov, MD, PhD

mushfig.orujov@gmail.com
• Human individual development is called
ontogenesis.
• In this human being, it begins from the
moment the egg is fertilized and continues
until the body dies.
• Ontogenesis can be divided into two periods:
intrauterine period and extrauterine
period (postembryonic development).
 Sex cells - Gametes
• Sex cells are cells that are involved in
the formation of an organism's
offspring.
• Gametes consist of sperm cells in male
and egg cells (oocytes) in female.
• Male and female gametes are cells that
contain all the inherited traits of the
organism to which they belong.
Structure of sperm cell
• The sperm cell consists of a head and a tail.
• In the head are the nucleus and in the tail are mitochondria and
the flagellum.
Structure of egg cell
• The egg cell is the largest cell in the body.
• The egg cell grows in the ovary.
• From the outside, it is surrounded by a corona radiata and zona pellucida.
Fertilization

• Fertilization is the union of sperm and egg cells and the formation of a
qualitatively new cell - the zygote.
• Fertilization occurs in the uterine (Fallopian) tubes.
• Fertile semen contains at least 20 million sperm per mL, with a total
volume of at least 2 mL.
• In other words, a healthy male should release at least 40 million sperm
per ejaculation.
• Anything less than 15 million sperm per mL is considered a low sperm
count, also known as oligozoospermia.
• More than 50% of sperm must be motile.
Fertilization
• Sperm, entering the vagina, reaches the ampulla part of the uterine
tubes within 2-7 hours, where it meets the egg cell.
• In this case, out of 200-300 million spermatozoa, only 300-500 can reach
the end, and the other one are destroyed.
• Only one of these sperm passes through the membranes of the egg cell
and enters it.
• Then the nuclei of the sperm and egg unite (synkaryon) and a nucleus
with 46 chromosomes is formed.
• Thus, as a result of the union of two sex cells, a new cell, the zygote, is
formed.
• The zygote is carried into the uterine cavity and gradually passes into the
endometrium of the uterus.
Fertilization
• The zygote begins to divide.
• This results in the formation of a morula (16 cell stages) and a blastocyst
(32 cell stages).
• The cells (blastomeres) in the blastocyst form the inner cell mass
(embryoblast) and the outer layer (trophoblast).
• As a result of the differentiation of blastomeres in the embryoblast, 3
embryonic layers are formed: ectoderm, mesoderm and endoderm.
• From these layers develop cells, from cells - tissues, from tissues - organs,
from organs - system and, thus, an organism is formed.
Embryo axial organs
• The gestation period is 280
days or 10 lunar months.
• In the first days of pregnancy, a
woman must be very careful,
responsible, pay very serious
attention to lifestyle, hygiene
and nutrition.
• During this period, a woman
should strictly abstain from
alcohol, smoking, drugs, use
various chemicals, drugs and
cosmetics.
• During the first 8 weeks of
embryonic development, major
organs are formed.
 Twins
• Two separate eggs (ova) are fertilized by
two separate sperm, resulting in fraternal
or “dizygotic” (two-cell) twins.
• Each of them has a separate placenta.
• Monozygotic twins are formed by the
division of the inner cell mass into two.
• At this time they have a common placenta.
 Postnatal period
• In the postnatal period, a organs and tissues
of human grow, become more complex, and
his body shape develops.
Stages of the postnatal development
• Childhood period:
✓neonatal period - 4 weeks
✓breast-feeding period - 4 weeks – 12
months
✓early childhood period -1-3 years
✓1st childhood period - 4-6 years
✓2nd childhood period - 7-11 years
• Adolescent period:
✓puberty - 11-15 years
✓adolescent period - 16-20 years
• Juvenile period:
✓middle age, I period - 21-30 years
✓middle age, II period - 31-45 years
✓middle age, III period– 46-60 years
• Senile period :
✓early senile age - 61-75 years
✓middle senile age - 76-90 years
✓age of long-livers – over 90 years