WHAT IS EMBRYOLOGY???

▶Embryology is the study of development of an individual before birth

▶Embryology is the classic study of morphological changes within the

embryos and fetuses.

▶During the first 2 months we call the developing individual an

embryo . After that we call it as fetus
TERMINOLOGY
▶Prenatal Period (BEFORE BIRTH) , Natal (AT BIRTH) , Post natal (AFTER BIRTH)

▶Oocyte: The female germ or sex cell (FEMALE gamete) (egg cell)

▶Sperm: refers to the male germ cell

▶Zygote: results from the union of an oocyte and a sperm during fertilization

▶Gestational age: taken from the beginning of the woman's last menstrual period (LMP)

▶Cleavage: series of mitotic cell divisions of the zygote

▶Morula: solid mass of 12 to approximately 32 blastomeres

▶Blastocyst :A pre-implantation embryo consisting of a thin-walled hollow sphere of 16–

40 cells, which appears in early mammalian development
TERMINOLOGY
▶Implantation: process during which the blastocyst attaches to the endometrium,

▶Gastrula: three-layered or trilaminar embryonic disc formation

▶Neurula: It is the first appearance of the nervous system:

▶Embryo: The developing human during its early stages of development

▶Conceptus: s includes all structures that develop from the zygote, both embryonic and
extraembryonic

▶Primordium: The beginning or first discernible indication of an organ or structure.

▶Fetus :After the embryonic period (8 weeks) and until birth, the developing human is called a fetus

▶Abortion: A premature stoppage of development and expulsion of a conceptus

▶Trimester: A period of three calendar months during a pregnancy

▶Congenital anomalies: birth defects resulting from maldevelopment

▶Postnatal period: The period occurring after birth

▶Neonate :infant aged 1 month or younger is called a newborn or neonate

▶Infancy: refers to the earliest period of extrauterine life, roughly the first year after
birth
1ST WEEK
• Zygote formation (fertilization)
• Cleavage (mitotic division of blastomeres)
• Morula (12-32)
• Blastula (16-40)
• Blastocyst – embryoblast (inner cell mass )
trophoblast (outer layer of cells) E,F on slide 4
• Implantation
• Trophoblast differentiates into cytotrophoblast (which is mitotically
active) and syncytiotrophoblast (outer layer of placenta).
The Beginning of Human Development :
Fertilization, First Week and Second Week

• Fertilization: Fusion of
sperm with egg.
• takes about 24 hours.
• Capacitation – 7 hours.
• influx of extracellular
calcium,
• increase in cyclic AMP,
• decrease in intracellular pH.
ACROSOME
REACTION

• leakage of acrosomal
enzymes esterase,
acrosin, and
neuraminidase cause
lysis of the zona
pellucida
PENETRATION OF THE ZONA PELLUCIDA
EGG ACTIVATION AND THE CORTICAL REACTION

• the egg is arrested in metaphase of the second meiotic

division. Metaphase II
• undergoes egg activation.
• rise in the intracellular concentration of calcium,
• completion of the second meiotic division and the so-called
cortical reaction.
CORTICAL REACTION
• massive exocytosis of cortical
granules contain proteases,
which diffuse into the zona
pellucida .
• the major block to polyspermy
in most mammals.
• The zona pellucida hardens.
• Sperm receptors in the zona
pellucida are destroyed.
POST-FERTILIZATION EVENTS
• the sperm head is
incorporated into the egg
cytoplasm.
• chromatin decondense.
• Mitochondria are
degraded.
• As the pronuclei fuse into a
single diploid aggregation of
chromosomes, the ootid
becomes a zygote

• An early pregnancy factor (EPF),

an immunosuppressant protein
appears in the maternal serum
within 24 to 48 hours after
fertilization
▶Cleavage: series of mitotic
cell divisions of the zygote.

▶Morula: solid mass of 12

to approximately 32
blastomeres.

▶Blastocyst :A pre-
implantation embryo
consisting of a thin-walled
hollow sphere of 16–
40 cells.
IMPLANTATION

• The zona pellucida degenerates.

• Blastocyst implants within
posterior wall of uterus
• Blastocyst implants within the
functional layer of the
endometrium during the
progesterone phase of
menstrual cycle.
• trophoblast differentiates into
two layers:
• cytotrophoblast, that is
mitotically active.
• syncytiotrophoblast,
multinucleated mass which
Produce hCG hormone
• decidual cells, degenerate.
• The syncytiotrophoblast engulfs
these cells, providing a rich
source of embryonic nutrition.
EVENTS IN 2ND WEEK OF HUMAN
DEVELOPMENT
• Formation of bilaminar
embryonic disc

• Amniotic cavity and yolk sac

• Growth into the endometrium

• Extraembryonic mesoderm
and chorion formation
Decidual reaction
Inner embryo cells become the bilaminar
embryonic disc
Epiblast layer diff into extraembryonic
mesoderm cells
BILAMINAR EMBRYONIC DISC FORMATION

• Embryoblast
differentiates into
epiblast and hypoblast

• Prechordal plate marks

the site of future mouth
AMNIOTIC CAVITY & YOLK SAC FORMATION

• The epiblast forms the floor of

the amniotic cavity
• The hypoblast forms the roof of
the exocoelomic cavity, and is
continuous with the thin
exocoelomic membrane.
• This membrane, together with
the hypoblast, lines the primary
umbilical vesicle
GROWTH INTO THE ENDOMETRIUM
• Blood-filled lacunae appear in
the syncytiotrophoblast (day 9).
• Lacunar networks form by
fusion of adjacent lacunae (days
10 and 11).
• First simple diffusion then
uteroplacental circulation (days
11 and 12) is established.
• Primary chorionic villi develop
(days 13 and 14)
• Cells from the vesicle endoderm form the extraembryonic mesoderm
(chorionic cavity).
• extraembryonic coelom, surrounds the amnion and umbilical vesicle
(yolk),
• except where they are attached to the chorion by Connecting stalk
• Formation of secondary yolk sac (after extraembryonic coelom
pinches off like from golgi apparatus)
● it is the site of origin of primordial germ cells
DEVELOPMENT OF CHORIONIC SAC

• Primary chorionic villi by end of 2nd week

● Proliferation of cytotrophoblast cells
produces cellular extensions that grow
into the syncytiotrophoblast

• Splitting of extraembryonic mesoderm into

● Extraembryonic somatic mesoderm,
lining the cytotrophoblast ,forms the
connecting stalk and covering the amnion
● Extraembryonic visceral mesoderm,
surrounding the yolk sac.
• Chorion
• Chorionic cavity
TIMELINE
Post Fertilization – embryonic day/week
• Day 4-5 : blastocyst reaches uterine lumen
• Day 5-6.5 : apposition, syncytiotrophoblast forms
• Day 7 : adhesion/implantation
• Day 8 : hCG detectable in mother’s serum
• Day 10-11 : embryo completely implanted, lacunae in syncytiotrophoblast
• Day 11-13 : primary stem villi
• Day 14 : cytotrophoblasts partially occlude spiral arteries, maternal blood circulates (plasma only,
no cells)
• Day 16 : secondary villi by invasion of extraembryonic mesoderm
• Day 21 : tertiary villi (fetal vessels)
• 8 weeks : end of embryonic period
• 12 weeks : maternal whole blood (cells and plasma) flow to placenta via converted spiral arteries
PREGNANCY TESTS :

• Early pregnancy factor (EPF) : can be assessed in

maternal serum within 24-48 hours after fertilization,
• hCG : assessed in maternal serum 8 days after
fertilization, and in maternal early morning Urine
Sample on day 10.
• By fertilization age normal pregnancy lasts 266 days or 38 weeks,
• By menstrual age normal pregnancy lasts 280 days or 40 weeks,
• Term Pregnancy 37 - 42 weeks
• Preterm delivery = birth before 37 weeks, (early delivery)
• Post-term delivery = birth after 42 weeks, (late delivery)
• Duration of pregnancy = 280 + - 14 days
• Nagele’s rule : EDD = LNMP + 1 year + 7 days – 3 months
ASSISTED REPRODUCTION Techniques
• GIFT = Gamete intrafallopian transfer, Oocyte & semen transferred
into the ampulla. Requires patent tube(s),
• ZIFT = zygote intrafallopian transfer. Fertilized oocytes are placed in
the ampulla. Requires patent tube(s),
• ICSI = intracytoplasmic sperm injection : this is injecting spermatozoa
directly into the cytoplasm of a mature oocyte,
 15 - 30% of American couples,
 Male infertility accounts for about 60%,
ARTIFICIAL INSEMINATION (IVF)
 - Follicle growth is stimulated with gonadotropins (hcg hormone), with
or without clomiphene citrate (drug for twins),
- Just prior to ovulation, oocyte is picked up with aspirator, and placed
in a culture medium, where semen is added immediately.
- Zygote is monitored till the 4-8 blastomere stage.
- Success rate is low : 20% . This is compensated for by implanting as
many as 4-5 simultaneously,
- Multiple birth,
• Fortunately pre-implantation embryos are resistant to teratogens
(substances that cause deformities in embryos) .
EXTRAUTERINE
IMPLANTATION • Blastocysts may implant outside the
uterus.
• Result in ectopic pregnancies;
• 95% to 98% of ectopic implantations
occur in the uterine tubes.
• Most often in the ampulla and isthmus.
• 1 in 80 to 1 in 250 pregnancies,
depending on the socioeconomic level
of the population.
• it is the main cause of maternal deaths
during the first trimester.
GESTATIONAL TROPHOBLASTIC DISEASES
• DEFINITIONS : an abnormal pregnancy in which chorionic villi do not
complete their development.
• TYPES :
- hydatidiform mole/chorioadenoma/choriocarcinoma,
- complete/incomplete villi formation
• INCIDENCE :1 in 1500 – 2000 pregnancies,
• CAUSES : unknown (idiopathy),
• ASSOCIATIONS: maternal age related to abnormal fertilization,
• CHARACTERISTICS : excessive vomiting, HTN (hypertension), raised
thyroid hormones, high levels of hCG, absent heart sound & parts,
and expulsion of vesicles.
• DIAGNOSIS & FOLLOW UP : beta subunit of hCG
Molar pregnacies
1. Complete Hydatidiform Mole :
Pregnancy without an Embryo
2. Partial Hydatidiform Moles :
usually triploid, with a Double
Dose of Paternal Chromosomes,
and Show Partial Development
of an Embryo
• Paternal genome (genomic
imprinting)
SPONTANEOUS ABORTIONS & INHIBITION OF IMPLANTATION

• SPONTANEOUS ABORTIONS;- chromosomal anomalies

• Inadequate production of progesterone & estrogens from corpus
luteum (hormonal imbalance).
• INHIBITION OF IMPLANTATION : these lead to abortion
• High doses of estrogen as in “morning after pills”
• Abortion pill – RU486 : anti-implantation, anti-estrogen, embryotoxic
• IUCDs ; creates a hostile environment for sperm/embryo
• A 28-year-old woman who does not know that she is pregnant
undergoes a chemotherapy treatment at the end of her 1st week of
pregnancy. Chemotherapy is associated with slowing the rate of
mitosis in exposed cells, which is good in cancer treatment. However,
this treatment may also have a negative influence on the implantation
and growth of an embryo. In which of the following layers would a
lowered rate of cell division be most likely to hinder implantation of
the blastocyst?
• (A) Amnioblast
• (B) Epiblast
• (C) Hypoblast
• (D) Cytotrophoblast (because it is mitotically active)
• (E) Syncytiotrophoblast
• A married woman who is having difficulty getting pregnant undergoes
an endometrial function test (EFT), which determines that the
endometrium of her uterus is not capable of implantation. Which of
the following substances would likely increase the chances for
implantation of the fertilized oocyte (or preimplantation embryo) into
the uterine mucosa?
• (A) Follicle-stimulating hormone
• (B) Testosterone
• (C) Progesterone
• (D) Estrogen
• (E) Luteinizing hormone
• The amniotic cavity forms during the process of implantation of the
blastocyst. The amniotic cavity forms within which of the following
structures?
• (A) Epiblast
• (B) Hypoblast
• (C) Cytotrophoblast
• (D) Syncytiotrophoblast
• (E) Maternal endometrium