SECOND WEEK OF

DEVELOPMENT
BY
AIAH LEBBIE
M.B.Ch.B, FCS (ECSA)
Day 8
 Activities of Day 8
• Partial implantation of the embryo
• Trophoblast overlying the embryoblast divides into
2 layers
• Inner layer → cytotrophoblast consist of
mononucleated cells
• Outer layer → syncytotrphoblast consist of a
mutinucleated zone without distinctive cell
membranes
• Mitosis occur in the cytotrophoblast layer and
produces cell to replenish syncytotrophoblast layer
• Inner cell mass (embryoblast) also divide in two
layers
• hypoblast layer → small cuboidal cells adjacent to
the blastocyst cavity
• epiblast layer → high columnar cells adjacent to
the amniotic cavity
• the layers form a flat embryonic disc
• a small cavity appears within the epiblast which
enlarges to become the amniotic cavity
• Epiblast cells adjacent to the cytotrophoblast are
called amnioblasts
• Amnioblast + epiblast line the amniotic cavity
• Endometrial changes
– endometrial stroma adjacent to the implantation
site is edematous and highly vascular
– large, tortuous glands secrete abundant glycogen
and mucus.
 Summary of Activities of Day 8
1. Partial implantation of the blastocyst
2. Trophoblast divides into two layers →
cytotrophoblast and syncytotrophoblast
3. Embryoblast also divides into two layers →
hypoblast and epiblast
4. Formation of amniotic cavity
5. Endometrial changes → increased vascularity
and edema + mucus and glygogen production by
endometrial glands
Activities of Day 9 and 10
• blastocyst is more deeply embedded in the
endometrium
• Defect in endometrium closed by fibrin
coagulum
• vacuoles appear in the syncytium at the
embryonic pole
• Fusion of these vacuoles form large lacunae →
lacunar stage
• exocoelomic (Heuser) membrane forms at the
embryonic pole and lines the inner surface of
the cytotrophoblast
• This membrane and the hypoblast line the
exocoelomic cavity, or primitive yolk sac 
 Summary of Activities of Day 9
1. Blastocyst continues to be deeply implanted
2. Fibrin clot closes the defect in the
endometrium at the implantation site
3. Formation of lacunae in the
syncytiotrophoblast
4. Formation of exocoelomic cavity or primitive
yolk sac lined by the exocoelomic membrane
and the hypoblast
Activities of Days 11 and 12
• Implantation completed with blastocyst fully
embeded in the endometrium
• Defect in endometrium closed with epithelium
• The blastocyst slightly protrudes into the lumen
of the uterus
• The lacunae communicate with each other and
are more prominent at the embryonic pole
• cytotrophoblastic cells predominate at the
abembryonic pole
• At the same time the lacunae are formed, cells of
the syncytiotrophoblast penetrate deeper into the
stroma and erode the endothelial lining of the
maternal capillaries
• These congested and dilated capillaries are known
as sinusoids
• The lacunae become continuous with the sinusoids,
and maternal blood enters the lacunar system
• With erosion more and more sinusoids form
• maternal blood begins to flow through the
trophoblastic lacunae system thereby establishing
the uteroplacental circulation
• A new population of cell derived from the
primitive yolk sac appears between the inner
layer of cytotrophoblast and outer layer of the
exocoelomic membrane
• This population of cells form a loose connective
tissue known as the exocelomic mesoderm
• the exocelomic mesoderm fills the space
between the trophoblast externally and the
amnion and exocoelomic membrane internally
• large cavities develop in the extraembryonic
mesoderm → confluent forming a new space known
as the extraembryonic coelom, or chorionic cavity
• The chorionic cavity surrounds the primitive yolk sac
and amniotic cavity, except where the germ disc is
connected to the trophoblast by the connecting
stalk
• The extraembryonic mesoderm lining the
cytotrophoblast and amnion is called the
extraembryonic somatopleuric mesoderm
• the mesoderm covering the yolk sac is known as the
extraembryonic splanchnopleuric mesoderm
• the bilaminar disc grows slowly compared with
the trophoblast
• decidua reaction
– Endometrial cells → polyhedral and loaded with
glycogen and lipids
– intercellular spaces are filled with extravasate, and the
tissue is edematous
– Initially confined to the area immediately surrounding
the implantation site but soon occur throughout the
endometrium
Summary of Activities of Day 11 and 12

1. Implantation completed
2. Establishment of uteroplacental circulation by
communication between lacunae formed in
embronic syncytotrophoblast and maternal
dilated and congested capillaries
3. Formation of of exocoelomic mesoderm →
a loose connective tissue between the
cytotrophoblast and exocoelomic cavity by cells
derived from the yolk sac
4. Formation of extraembryonic or chorionic
cavity in the mesoderm
Activities of Day 13
• the surface defect at implantation site in the
endometrium has usually healed
• However, there may be bleeding at the
implantation site from increased blood flow
into the lacunar spaces
– occurs near the 28th day of the menstrual cycle →
may be confused with normal menstrual bleeding
→ may cause inaccuracy in determining the
expected date of delivery
• Primary villi are formed by
– Cells of the cytotrophoblast proliferate locally and
penetrate into the syncytiotrophoblast, forming cellular
columns surrounded by syncytium
• Formation of secondary or definitive yolk sac
– additional cells produce by hypoblast → migrate along
the inside of the exocoelomic membrane → proliferate
→new cavity within the exocoelomic cavity known as
secondary yolk sac
• The secondary or definitive yolk sac is much
smaller than the exocoelomic cavity, or primitive
yolk sac
• the extraembryonic coelom expands and forms
the chorionic cavity
• the chorionic plate = extraembryonic mesoderm
lining the inside of the cytotrophoblast
 Summary of Activities of Day 13
1. defect at implantation site in the endometrium
has healed
2. Formation of primary villi
3. Formation secondary or definitive yolk sac
4. Formation of chorionic plate and chorionic
cavity
 Clinical Application
• syncytiotrophoblast produces hCG to maintain
the pregnancy
• By 2nd week hCG is already in sufficient quantity
to be detected by radio-immunoassays → the
basis for pregnancy testing
 Potential Rejection of the Conceptus
• Basis for Rejection → 50% of embryo’s genome is
contributed by the father and should potentially be
rejected by the maternal system
• evidences for protection of the conceptus
– production of immunosuppressive cytokines and proteins
– unusual major histocompatibility complex class IB
molecule (HLA-G)
– These block recognition of the conceptus as foreign
tissue
 Abnormal Implantation
• Normal implantation site → anterior or
posterior wall of the body of the uterus
1. blastocyst implants close to the internal os of
the cervix → placenta bridges the opening
(placenta previa) → severe, even life-
threatening bleeding in the second trimester
of pregnancy and during delivery
2. Implantation outside the uterus → extra-
uterine pregnancy, or ectopic pregnancy
I. abdominal cavity → peritoneal lining of the
pouch of Douglas or intestine, omentum
II. Ovary
III. Fallopian tube → 95% of ectopic pregnancies
and most of these are in the ampulla
 Preimplantation and postimplantation
reproductive failure
• 15% of oocytes are not fertilized
• 10% to 15% start cleavage but fail to implant
• Of the 70% to 75% that implant, only 58%
survive until the second week, and 16% of
those are abnormal
• Hence, when the first expected menstruation
is missed, only 42% of the eggs exposed to
sperm are surviving
 Abnormal Blastocysts
• syncytium only
• varying degrees of trophoblastic hypoplasia
• embryoblast may be absent
• abnormal orientation of the germ disc
• hydatidiform mole → trophoblast develops and
forms placental membranes, although little or no
embryonic tissue is present
• secrete high levels of hCG and may produce benign
or malignant (invasive mole, choriocarcinoma)