3
Dr. Hooman Zarei
ANATOMIST (Ph.D.)
Assistant Professor
Second Week of
Development:
Bilaminar Germ Disc
Overview
Days 7-8
A 7.5-day human blastocyst, partially embedded in the endometrial
stroma. The trophoblast consists of an inner layer with mononuclear
cells, the cytotrophoblast, and an outer layer without distinct cell
boundaries, the syncytiotrophoblast. The embryoblast is formed by
the epiblast and hypoblast layers. The amniotic cavity appears as a
small cleft.
Day 9
A 9-day human blastocyst. The syncytiotrophoblast shows a large
number of lacunae. Flat cells form the exocoelomic membrane. The
bilaminar disc consists of a layer of columnar epiblast cells and a
layer of cuboidal hypoblast cells. The original surface defect is
closed by a fibrin coagulum.
Days 10-12
Human blastocyst of approximately 12 days. The trophoblastic
lacunae at the embryonic pole are in open connection with maternal
sinusoids in the endometrial stroma (uteroplacental circulation).
Extraembryonic mesoderm proliferates and fills the space between
the exocoelomic membrane and the inner aspect of the
trophoblast.
Day 13
A 13-day human blastocyst. Trophoblastic lacunae are present at the
embryonic as well as the abembryonic pole, and the uteroplacental
circulation has begun. Note the primary villi and the extraembryonic
coelom or chorionic cavity. The secondary yolk sac is entirely lined
with endoderm.
Clinical note
Abnormal implantation sites of the
blastocyst. 1, implantation in the
abdominal cavity (1.4%; the ovum most
frequently implants in the rectouterine
cavity [pouch of Douglas] but may
implant at any place covered by
peritoneum); 2, implantation in the
ampullary region of the tube (80%); 3,
tubal implantation (12%); 4, interstitial
implantation (0.2%; e.g., in the narrow
portion of the uterine tube); 5,
implantation in the region of the
internal os, frequently resulting in
placenta previa (0.2%); and 6, ovarian
implantation (0.2%).
Clinical note
Midline section of bladder, uterus, and
rectum shows an abdominal pregnancy
in the rectouterine (Douglas) pouch.
Formation of chorionic villi. A, Primary stem
villi form on days eleven to thirteen as
cytotrophoblastic proliferations that bud into
the overlying syncytiotrophoblast. B, By day
sixteen, the extraembryonic mesoderm
begins to proliferate and invade the center of
each primary stem villus, transforming each
into a secondary stem villus. C, By day
twenty-one, the mesodermal core
differentiates into connective tissue and
blood vessels, forming the tertiary stem villi.
Third Week of Development:
Trilaminar Germ Disc
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. Cells that
do not migrate through the streak but
remain in the epiblast form ectoderm.
Embryonic discs sectioned through the
region of primitive streak showing ingression
of epiblast cells during gastrulation. A, On
days fourteen and fifteen, ingressing epiblast
cells displace hypoblast and form definitive
endoderm. B, Epiblast that ingresses on day
sixteen migrates between endoderm and
epiblast layers to form intraembryonic
mesoderm.
Cross section through the cranial region
of the streak at 15 days showing
invagination of epiblast cells. The first
cells to move inward displace the
hypoblast to create the definitive
endoderm. Once definitive endoderm is
established, inwardly moving epiblast
forms mesoderm.
Thank you for your
attention.
Dr. Hooman Zarei
Any Question?
