Development of the

Human Embryo
Developmental History of a Human
 7 steps:
1. gametogenesis
2. fertilization
3. cleavage
4. blastulation
5. gastrulation
6. neurulation
7. organogenesis
Gametogenesis
• is a process by which the diploid germ cells
undergo a number of chromosomal and
morphological changes to form mature haploid
gametes.

• Animals produce gametes directly through meiosis

in organs called gonads. Males and females of a
species that reproduces sexually have different
forms of gametogenesis:
• spermatogenesis (male) in testes produce sperms.
• oogenesis (female) in Ovary produce ova.
Fertilization

The first function is: Transmit genes from parents

to offspring.

The second is : initiate reactions in the egg

cytoplasm that proceed development.

Restoration of the diploid number of chromosomes

reduced during meiosis
Cleavage
Starfish development, unfertilized egg. 4 blastomeres.
2 blastomeres.

Starfish development,
16 blastomeres. 32 blastomeres.
nonmotile blastula.
morula
Cleavage
 Cleavage
1. Begins ~ 12 hours post-fertilization
2. Zygote divides into 2 cells (mitosis)
3. 46 chromosomes in zygote = 46
chromosomes in both daughter cells
4. 2 cell into 4 cell stage (24 – 36 hours)
5. 4 cell into 8 cell stage (36 – 72 hours)
6. 16 cell stage -- Morula
Morula

Morula
 Morula =
solid ball of cells

Zygote

Blastocyst
with blastocoele cavity
 Morula
• ~ 16 cell stage
• Develops ~ 72 hours (3 days) from
fertilization
• Morula enters the uterus ~ after 3 days in
oviduct
Morula

72 hours post-
fertilization
entering uterus
Blastocyst
Human blastula
 Blastocyst
• Morula, once entering the uterine cavity,
floats freely
• Morula begins to accumulate fluid and
forms a cavity between its cells
• Once cavity appears, it is now called a
blastocyst.
Blastocyst
 Blastocyst
• Blastocyst has fluid-filled inner cavity
• Evolves from morula on day 5
 Implantation - embedding of
blastocyst into uterine lining begins at day 7
Blastocyst - with blastocoele
cavity
Trophoblast - outer layer of
cells
Inner cell mass - will form
embryo

Trophoblast forms syncytial trophoblast-

erodes into endometrium
Cellular trophoblast - carries nutrients to inner
cell mass

Lacunae and primary villi formed by

trophoblast
All of these form placental tissues

Fig 28-3
Implantation
 Two Distinct Cell Types

Inner cell mass

trophoblasts
 Two Distinct Cell Types
1. Trophoblasts – will form the invading
placenta
2. Inner cell mass cells – will form the
embryo
 hCG is produced
• hCG is human chorionic gonadotropin
• It is produced by the trophoblasts starting on day
6
• hCG is a hormone
• hCG causes endometrium of uterus to grow and
proliferate
• hCG prevents the menstrual cycle from occuring
• This is why a female misses her periods when
she is pregnant
 Week 2
• Implantation continues
• Erosion of maternal blood
vessels
• Complete emersion into
endometrium of uterus
 Gastrulation
• The morphogenetic process called gastrulation
rearranges the cells of a blastula into a three-
layered (triploblastic) embryo, called a
gastrula, that has a primitive gut.
• It means rearrangement of blastula cells that
transforms the blastula into a gastrula.
• The blastula develops a hole in one end and
cells start to migrate into the hole; this forms
the gastrula
• Characterized by cell movement.
• Blastocoel is gradually disappear and a new
cavity is formed Gastrocoel.
• The gastrula is a three-layered embryo
• The formation of three primary embryonic germ
layers
– Endoderm (inner)
– Mesoderm (middle)
– Ectoderm (outer)

• The pattern of gastrulation is affected by the amount

of yolk.
• The cells at the vegetal pole invaginate, initiating
gastrulation.
 Week 2
Embryo completely
embedded in
endometrium

Amnion and yolksac

visible

Blastodisc formation (2
cell layers)
– Epiblast
– Hypoblast
 Week 2
• Inner cell mass divides into
epiblast and hypoblast
• 2 fluid filled sacs
– Amniotic sac from epiblast
– Yolk sac from hypoblast
• Bilaminar embryonic disc:
area of contact
(gives rise to the whole body)
 Formation of Extra-embryonic
Membranes
visible after day 10:

Amnion – Protection of
embryo/fetus

Yolk sac –
Early site of blood cell
formation
Formation of fetal
membrances
1. Chorion – outside
embryonic
membrane that
develops from the
trophoblast;
contains the
chorionic villi at the
surface.
2. Amnion – innermost
membrane that
develops from the
interior cells of the
blastocysts.
Gastrulation: 3 Germ Layers Formed
day 12:
Ectoderm (forms from epiblast)
Nervous system
Epidermis

Endoderm (forms from

hypoblast)
Mucosae (eg: GI-tract
Associated glands

Mesoderm
Everything else
Week 3

• Bilaminar to trilaminar disc

• Three primary “germ” layers: all body tissues
develop from these
• Ectoderm
• Endoderm
• Mesoderm
Gastrulation
 Notochord

• Days 16-18
• Primitive node
epiblast cells
invaginate and
migrate anteriorly with
some endoderm cells
• Rod defining the body
axis is formed
• Future site of the
vertebral column
 Neurulation

formation of a dorsal, hollow neural tube

by
• ectodermal cells flatten into neural plate
• the center of the plate sinks forming neural groove
• edge of plate is elevated to form neural folds
• neural folds fuse and form neural tube
– anterior end develops into brain
– posterior end develops into spinal cord
•
The Neural
The neural crest is a
Crest
critical structure that
guides formation of several
organ systems
• The neural crest forms on
either side of the point of
fusion
– Its cells migrate to form the
dorsal root ganglia, the
postganglionic sympathetic
neurons, many sense organs
and all pigment-forming
cells
• Closure of neural tube: begins at end of week 3; complete
by end of week 4 (folic acid important for this step)
• Extends cranially (eventually brain) and caudally (spinal
cord)
• Neural crest, lateral ectodermal cells, pulled along and
form sensory nerve cells and other structures
 Weeks 3-4
• Development of CV and nervous systems
 Organogenesis
• Organogenesis is the formation of the organs
• The layers are germ layers; they have specific fates
in the developing embryo:
– Endoderm
• The innermost layer
• Goes on to form the gut
– Mesoderm
The middle layer.
Goes on to form the muscles, circulatory system, blood
and many different organs
– Ectoderm
• The outermost
• Goes on to form the skin and nervous system
 Organogenesis Begins With
Development of the Nervous System
• The nervous system is the first
organ system to develop.
• The notochord grows and
induces overlying ectoderm to
form the neural plate.

• Cells of the neural plate fold to

form the neural groove and
the surrounding neural folds
fuse to form the neural tube.

• The anterior portion forms the

brain; the rest forms the spinal
cord.
 Organogenesis
Development of organs from three primary germ layers

• Ectoderm forms:
– skin and associated glands, nervous
system.
• Mesoderm forms:
– muscles, skeleton, gonads, excretory
system, circulatory system.
• Endoderm forms:
– lining of digestive tract, liver,
pancreas, lungs.
 Organogenesis
Development of organs from three primary germ layers

• Ectoderm forms:
– skin and associated glands, nervous
system.
• Mesoderm forms:
– muscles, skeleton, gonads, excretory
system, circulatory system.
• Endoderm forms:
– lining of digestive tract, liver,
pancreas, lungs.
Major derivatives of the embryonic germ layers
 Weeks 5-8
• Embryo will develop all structures that an
adult has by the end of week 8
 Embryo/Fetus
• Embryonic period is weeks 1-8
• Fetal period begins on week 9 and goes
until birth at 38 weeks.
• Embryonic period is characterized by
development of structures (organs).
• Fetal period is characterized by growth of
those structures.
Fetal Period

9-12 17-20

13-16
21-38
 FOCUS OF FETAL DEVELOPMENT

• 1ST TRIMESTER – PERIOD OF

ORGANOGENESIS
• 2ND TRIMESTER – Period of continued
growth and development; rapid increase in
fetal length
• 3rd TRIMESTER – period of most rapid
growth and development due to deposition
of subcutaneous fat.
Selesai