Fertilization &

Implantation
 OBJECTIVES
At the end of this lecture, the students should be able to:
• Identify fertilization and its site.
• List the phases of fertilization.
• List the results of fertilization.
• Describe the formation of blastocyst.
• Describe the formation of the yolk sac and amniotic cavity
• Describe the formation of the Bilaminar disc
• Explain of formation of Extraembryonic mesoderm and
coelom
• Describe the formation of the Trilaminar disc
• Identify implantation and its site.
• Describe the processes involve in implantation.
• List the sites of ectopic pregnancy.
• State the derivatives of ectoderm, mesoderm and endoderm
FERTILIZATION
• Is the process that
involves the fusion of
the sperm with the
ovum to form a
ZYGOTE.

• The whole process of

fertilization takes
about 24 hours and is
the first stage of
development
•Fertilization usually
occurs in the ampulla of Fertilization Site
the uterine tube.

•Ampulla is the longest

and widest part.

•Fertilization may occur

in other parts of tubes.

•Fertilization does not

occur in the uterine
cavity because before
the ovum reaches the
uterine cavity, it would
have started
degenerating
Before the sperm
fertilizes the ovum,
it undergoes 2
changes
1.A physiological
change called
Capacitation
2. A structural
change called
Acrosome Reaction
Capacitaion involves
the shedding off of
the plasma
membrane at the
head of the sperm .
 Acrosome reaction
involves the
appearance of small
perforations at the
acrosomal cap of the
sperm
The perforations
permit the release of
proteolytic enzymes
which help the sperm
in digesting its way
through the
protective coverings
of the ovary: corona
radiata & zona
pellucida
 Process / Phases of Fertilization
• About 300 to 500 million
sperms are deposited in the
posterior fornix of the vagina
during intercourse close to the
external os of the cervical canal

• With the movement of their

tails, the sperm passes through
the cervical canal into the
uterine cavity form there to
uterine tubes

• The sperm movement through

the uterus and uterine tube is
facilitated by muscular
contractions of the walls of
uterus and uterine tube
1.Passage of sperm
through corona Phases of Fertilization
radiata
The sperm passes
through corona
radiata by the
movement of their
tail and partly by
the dispersal of
the corona radiata
cells by
hyaluronidase
enzyme from
sperms & tubal
enzyme from
uterine tube
2. Penetration of
the zona Phases of Fertilization
pellucida by
head of sperms
The sperm
penetrates the
zona pellucida
with the aid of
acrosin enzyme
release through
the perforations
at the acrosomal
cap of the
sperm.
3. Fusion of the plasma
membrane of the oocyte Phases of Fertilization
and that of the sperm.
 Passing through the
corona radiata and
zona pellucida,the sperm
head attaches itself to
the surface of the
oocyte,thus the sperm’s
plasma membrane and
that of the ovum fuses
and then breaks down
at the point of contact.
The head & tail of the
sperm enters the cytoplasm
of the oocyte, leaving the
sperm’s plasma membrane
4. The ovum reacts to sperm
contact in two way Phases of Fertilization
a) Changes occurs in the properties
of zona pellucida called Zona
reaction which inhibit entry of more
sperms. The inhibiton of entry of
more sperms this may due to the
release of certain enzymes from the
ovum cytoplasm.

b) Completion of the second

meiotic division & formation of the

female pronucleus.
The secondary oocyte completes
its second meiotic division and
expel second polar body. The zygote

oocyte is now mature and it

nucleus is known as the female
5-Formation of the Phases of Fertilization
male pronucleus

Within the
cytoplasm of the
ovum, the tail of
the sperm
degenerates and
its head enlarges
to form the male zygote

pronucleus
6. The male and female
Phases of Fertilization
pronuclei approach
each other, their
nuclear membrane
fuses together and
later degenerate at
the point of contact
leading to
intermingling of
maternal & paternal
chromosome materials
at metaphase of the zygote

first mitotic division

of the zygote
 Results of Fertilization
1. Restoration of the
diploid number of
chromosome in the
zygote (46).
•Each of the pronuclei
contain haploid
number of
chromosome (23),
after fertilization,
the diploid number is
restored.
2. Variation of species
Results of Fertilization
 With the union of the
of the male and female
germ cells from the
mother & father, a new
individual is formed
which is different from
either of the parents.
•This mechanism forms
the basis of biparental
inheritance and leads to
variation of the human
species.
3. Sex Determination
• The sex of the embryo is determined at
fertilization by the type of sperm that
Results of Fertilization
fertilizes the ovum.

• All ova contain 22 + X chromosomes but

the spermatozoa are of two types. Half
of them have 22 + X chromosomes and
the other half of them have 22 + Y
chromosomes, an ovum can be fertilized
by either type of spermatozoon.

• If the ovum is fertilized by X-bearing

sperm, the zygote will have 44 + X + X
chromosomes and the offspring is a girl.

• If the ovum is fertilized by the Y-

bearing sperm, the zygote will have 44 +
X + Y chromosomes and the offspring is
a boy, thus the sex of a child is
'determined' at the time of fertilization.
 Results of Fertilization
4. Initiation of Cleavage
• The zygote undergo
rapid mitotic division
(cleavage) resulting in
the formation of
daughter cells.
Cleavage
• After fertilization, a rapid
mitotic division called cleavage Cleavage of Zygote
takes place in the zygote

• The zygote divides first into 2

daughter cells called the
blastomeres at about 30 hrs
after fertilization

• As the zygote moves down the

uterine tube, it divides into 4
then 8 daughter cells

• Before the zygote enters the

uterine cavity, it divides into
16cell stage , which forms a
solid ball/mass resembling a
mulberry called the morula
• The morula reaches the
uterine cavity by the 4th
day after fertilization

• Fluid passes from uterine

cavity into the morula
through the zona pellucida.

• The fluid filled spaces fuse

to form a single, large
cavity, called blastocyst
cavity, converting the
morula into a blastocyst

• Thus the product of

conception at this stage is
called the blastocyst.
1. As the fluid increases in the
blastocyst cavity, the
blastomeres becomes separated
into two parts:

2. The outer cell layer, the

trophoblast gives rise to the
embryonic part of the placenta

3. And a group of centrally located

cells, known as the Inner cell
mass or Embryoblast which gives
rise to embryo proper.
• The inner cell mass
(embryoblast) now
projects into the
blastocyst cavity and the
trophoblast forms the
wall of the blastocyst

• By the 5th day, Zona

pellucida degenerates &
disappears to allows the
blastocyst to increase in
size and penetrates the
endometrium.
 Function of Zona Pellucida
• The function of the zona pellucida is to prevent
implantation of the blastocyst at an abnormal site.

• The trophoblast has the property of being able to

stick to the uterine (or other) epithelium and its
cells have the capacity to 'cat up' other cells. They
can, therefore, invade and burrow into tissues with
which they come in contact.

• As the embryo travels down the uterine tube, and

the uppermost part of the uterine cavity, it is
prevented from 'sticking' to the epithelium by the
zona pellucida.
 Function of Zona Pellucida
• During this time, the morula receives nutrition, partly
from the substances stored within the ovum (e.g. yolk),
and partly by diffusion from uterine secretions.

• By the time a blastocyst is formed, it is necessary for

the embryo to acquire additional sources of nutrition.

• This is achieved when the blastocyst 'sticks' to the

uterine endometrium, and gets implanted in it.

• However, before this can happen, it is necessary for the

zona pellucida to disappear. Thus, zona pellucida
disappears soon after the morula reaches the uterine
lumen.
• By 6th day, with
the disappearance
of zona pellucida,
the blastocyst
adheres to the
endometrial
epithelium.

• The trophoblastic
cells soon begins
to invade the
endometrial
epithelium
• By 7th day, Trophoblast
differentiated into 2
layers:
1. Cytotrophblast, inner
layer, which consist of
mononucleated
mitotically active cells.

2. Syncytiotrophoblast ,o
uter layer consisting of
multinucleated
protoplasmic mass,
with indistinct cell
boundary.
• The finger like
projections of the
syncytiotrophoblast
invades the
endometrial
epithelium and the
connective tissue so
that by 8th day the
blastocyst is
superficially
embedded in the
compact layer of the
endometrium
• Small isolated cavities,
called lacunae appear in
syncytiotrophoblast

• The lacunae becomes

filled with maternal
blood from the
ruptured endometrial
capillaries and
secretions from eroded
endometrial glands

• This forms a nutritive

fluid called
embryotroph
• The embryotroph provides
nutrition for further growth
and development of the
embryo.

• As development proceed,
adjacent lacunae fused to
form intercommunicating
network.
• Maternal blood then seeps
directly into the lacunae
networks and begins to flow
slowly through the lacunae
system thus establishing
primitve Uteroplacental
circulation
• The blastocyst gradually
embeds deeper in the
endometrium

• By 10th day it is completely

buried within the ‘Functional
layer’ (stratum compactum +
stratum spongiosum) of the
endometrium

• This type of implantation

during which the conceptus
becomes completely
embedded within the
endometrium is called
interstitial implantation
• The defect in the
endometrial
epithelium is filled by
closing plug (day 10)
which consist of a
blood cloth & cellular
derbris

• The defect gradually

disappear as the
endometrial
epithelium is repaired
(day 12 & 13) by the
proliferation of the
surrounding cells
 FORMATION OF GERM LAYERS
• At the very early stage in development, the embryo
proper acquires the form of a three layered disc.
This is called the embryonic disc.

• The three layers that constitute this embryonic

disc are:
1. Endoderm
2. Ectoderm
3. Mesoderm

• All tissues of the body are derived from one or

more of these layers
• Some cells of the inner cell
mass (embryoblast) facing
the blastocyst cavity
differentiate into flattened
cells

• These flattened constitute

the endoderm, which is the
first germ layer to be
formed.

• The remaining cells of the

inner cell mass become
columnar forming the second
germ layer, the ectoderm.

• The embryo is now in the

form of a disc having two
layers (bilaminar embryonic
disc)
• Small cavity
appears between
the ectoderm
(below) and the
trophoblast
(above), called
the amniotic
cavity

• The amniotic
cavity is filled by
amniotic fluid or
liquor amnii.
• Few cytotrophoblast cells
differentiates into
amniogenic cells
(amnioblast) which forms
the roof of amniotic
cavity while its floor is
formed by the ectodermal
cells.

• Endoderm cells (or,

according to some, from
trophoblast), proliferate
and line the inside of the
blastocystic cavity
converting it into primitive
or primary yolk sac.
• These lining
flattened cells are
called Exocoeleomic
/Heuser's
membrane.

• Thus the bilaminar

embryonic disc lies
between the
amniotic cavity
above and primary
yolk sac below
•
The cells of the cytotrophoblast proliferate giving rise to a
mass of cells called the extra-embryonic mesoderm that
separates the cytotrophoblast and the flattened endodermal
cells lining the yolk sac and also separate the wall of the
amniotic cavity from the cytotrophoblast.
Decidua

Amniotic
Epiblast cavity
Primary
Hypoblast
yolk sac
Cytotrophoblast
Extraembryonic
Syncytiotrophoblast
mesoderm
This mesoderm is called 'extra- embryonic
mesoderm'' because it lies outside the embryonic
disc. It does not give rise to any tissues of the
embryo itself.
Decidua

Amniotic
Epiblast cavity
Primary
Hypoblast
yolk sac
Cytotrophoblast
Extraembryonic
Syncytiotrophoblast
mesoderm
Small cavities appear in the extra-embryonic mesoderm.
These cavities later coalesce to form one large cavity
called the extra-embryonic coelom (also called the
chorionic cavity).

Primary stem
villus
Body stalk
Extraembryonic
mesoderm Secondary
Visceral layer
yolk sac
Extraembryonic Extraembryonic
cavity
mesoderm
Parietal layer
The extraembryonic coelom split the extra-embryonic mesoderm into two
layers.
1. The part lining the inside of the cytotrophoblast, and the outside of
the amniotic cavity, called the parietal or somatopleuric extra-
embryonic mesoderm (also referred to as the chorionic plate.)

Primary stem
villus
Body stalk
Extraembryonic
mesoderm Secondary
Visceral layer
yolk sac
Extraembryonic Extraembryonic
cavity
mesoderm
Parietal layer
2. The part lining the outside of the yolk sac
is called the visceral or splanchnopleuric
extra-embryonic mesoderm

Primary stem
villus
Body stalk
Extraembryonic
mesoderm Secondary
Visceral layer
yolk sac
Extraembryonic Extraembryonic
cavity
mesoderm
Parietal layer
The extra-embryonic coelom does not extend into
that part of the extra-embryonic mesoderm which
attaches the wall of the amniotic cavity to the
trophoblast.

Primary stem
villus
Body stalk
Extraembryonic
mesoderm Secondary
Visceral layer
yolk sac
Extraembryonic Extraembryonic
cavity
mesoderm
Parietal layer
The developing embryo, along with the amniotic cavity and the yolk sac, is now
suspended in the extra-embryonic coelom, and is attached to the wall of the
blastocyst (i.e. trophoblast) only by this unsplit part of the extra-embryonic
mesoderm.

This unsplit part of the mesoderm forms a structure called the connecting stalk.

Primary stem
villus
Body stalk
Extraembryonic
mesoderm Secondary
Visceral layer
yolk sac
Extraembryonic Extraembryonic
cavity
mesoderm
Parietal layer
With the appearance extra-embryonic coelom, the primary yolk sac
becomes much smaller, part of it degenerates and is now called the
secondary yolk sac.
This alteration in size is accompanied by a change in the nature of the
lining cells from flattened to cuboidal cells

Primary stem
villus
Body stalk
Extraembryonic
mesoderm Secondary
Visceral layer
yolk sac
Extraembryonic Extraembryonic
cavity
mesoderm
Parietal layer
 Formation of Chorion and Amnion
• At this stage, two very important
membranes are formed: Chorion &
Amnion

1. Chorion - is formed by the

somatopleuric or parietal
extraembryonic mesoderm (on the
inside) and the overlying trophoblast
(on the outside)

2. Amnion: Is constituted by amniogenic

cells forming the wall of the amniotic
cavity (excluding the ectodermal floor)
covered by the parietal or somatopleuric
extraembryonic mesoderm, and the
connecting stalk is attached to it.

 The chorion and amnion play an

important role in child birth
(parturition)
• At this stage of development,
there is no indication of a
head- or tail- end of the
embryonic disc.

• However, at one circular area

near the margin of the disc, the
cuboidal cells of the endoderm
become columnar. This area is
called the prochordal plate.

• The appearance of the

prochordal plate determines
the central axis of the embryo
(i.e. enables us to divide it into
right and left halves), and also
enables us to distinguish its
future head and tail ends.
• After the formation of
the prochordal plate
some of the ectodermal
cells lying along the
central axis, near the
tail-end of the disc,
begin to proliferate,
and form an elevation
that bulges into the
amniotic cavity.

• This elevation is called

the primitive streak
• The cells in the region of
the primitive streak
proliferate and passes
sideways, pushing
themselves between the
ectoderm and endoderm.

• These cells form the intra-

embryonic mesoderm which
is the third germ layer.

• The process of formation of

the primitive streak, and of
intra-embryonic mesoderm
by the streak, is referred to
as gastrulation.
 Implantation
• Implantation involves the invasion of the blastocyst
into the endometrium of the uterus aided by the
erosive nature of the syncytiotrophoblast.

• In humans, implantation begins on the 6th day after

fertilization.

• The blastocyst burrows deeper and deeper into the

uterine mucosa till the whole of it comes to lie within
the thickness of the endometrium. This is called
interstitial implantation
 During implantation, the endometrium becomes
thicker & more vascular

 The endometrial glands become full of

secretion

 The endometrial stromal cells around the

conceptus enlarge, become vacuolated and
accumulate lipids & glycogen.

 These cellular changes together with the

vascular and glandular alterations are referred
to as are called decidual reaction.

 After the implantation of the embryo, the

uterine endometrium is called the decidua.
 Steps Involve In Implantation Process
1. The disappearance of the zona pellucida
after the formation of the zygote by enzyme
released from the acrosome of the sperm.

2. The blastocyst gets attached into the

surface of the endometrium towards the end
of the first week after fertilization

3. The trophoblastic cells differentiate forming

an outer syncytiotrophoblast and an inner
cytotrophoblast
 Steps Involve in Implantation Process
4. Lacunae appears in the syncytiotrophoblast, filled with
maternal blood from eroded capillaries and endometrial
gland secretions. These fluid filled spaces fuse
together forming lacunae network, thus establishing
primitive uteroplacental circulation

5. A defect called the closing plug appears on the surface

of the endometrium to which the blastocyst is
attached

6. The endometrium undergoes decidual reaction which

involves the enlargement of the endometrial cells and
stroma due to accumulation of lipids and glycogen and
changes in the endometrial glands and blood vessels.
The decidua is referred to as the functional layer
 Normal Implantation Sites
The implantation site
determines the site of
formation of the placenta

There are two types of

implantation sites
1. Intrauterine site
2. Ectopic site

Intrauterine site
Implantation in humans normally
occurs in the upper part of the
body of uterus, more often on
the posterior wall
Occasionally
implantation in
the near the
internal os of the
uterus resulting in
the formation of
placenta praevia
which results in
severe bleeding
during pregnancy.
• Implantation can
also occur below the
internal os in the
cervix resulting in
cervical pregnancy

• Cervical pregnancy is 1- Placenta Previa.

very rare & 2- Tubal.
3- Ovarian.
eventually leads to 4- Abdominal.
5- Pelvic
abortion & severe 6- Cervical
hemorrhage in the
mother
Extrauterine (Ectopic) sites

• Implantation of the blastocyst can

occur outside the uterus while it is
still in the uterine tube leading to
tubal pregnancy

• This may be due to factors that

delay or prevent the movement of
the fertilized ovum to the uterus

• These are life-threatening, as 1- Placenta Previa.

growth of the embryo will cause 2- Tubal.
3- Ovarian.
tubal rupture around the 8th week
4- Abdominal.
& hemorrhage 5- Pelvic
6- Cervical
• The release of the blastocyst into
the abdominal cavity may result in
abdominal pregnancy
 Ectopic sites

• In the abdominal cavity, the

developing placenta gets
attached to important
organs.

• Implantation may occur

while the ovum is still in the
ovary

• Rarely does abdominal or 1- Placenta Previa.

ovarian pregnancies reach 2- Tubal.
full term 3- Ovarian.
4- Abdominal.
• These are also highly 5- Pelvic
dangerous and must be 6- Cervical
surgically removed.
 Derivatives of the Germ Layers
The embryonic ectoderm gives rise to the:
1. Central nervous system
2. Peripheral nervous system
3. Epidermis of the skin and its appendages (nails &
hair)
4. Mammary gland
5. Sensory epithelium of the eye, ear and nose
6. Anterior lobe of Pituitary gland
7. Subcutaneous gland
8. Retina of the eye
9. Enamel of the teeth
The embryonic mesoderm gives rise to the:
1. Cartilage, bone, connective tissue, striated and
smooth muscle fibers
2. Kidneys
3. Gonads (testis & ovaries)
4. Uterine tubes, uterus, part of vagina.
5. Testis and its duct system.
6. Blood vessels, lymph vessels as well as the blood
cells.
7. Endothelium lining the heart
8. Mesothelium lining the pericardial, peritoneal and
pleural cavities; and cavities of joints.
The endoderm form the following structures:

1. Epithelial lining of the gastrointestinal tract

(except part of the mouth and anal canal
lined by ectoderm).
2. Epithelium of respiratory tract.
3. Parenchyma of thymus, thyroid, parathyroid
glands, the liver & pancreas
4. Epithelium of auditory tube and middle ear.
5. Epithelium over part of urinary bladder,
urethra and vagina.