FERTILIZATION

AND
DEVELOPMENT OF FETUS

Major Dr Poonam Rawal Khada

MBBS, MS (AFMC, Pune)
Lecturer
 Gametogenesis
• The process of maturation of spermatozoa in male and
ovum in female is called Gametogenesis.
 Oogenesis
• The process of formation of a mature ovum (female
gamete) or the oocyte from the primordial or primitive
germ cells
Ovulation, Fertilization and Implantation
 Spermatogenesis
• The process of formation of spermatozoa from the
primordial male germ cells is called spermatogenesis.
• Pregnancy occurs when a mature capacitated
spermatozoa fertilizes a mature liberated ovum.

Capacitation:
• is a biochemical change in the sperms enabling then to
bind and fertilize the ovum.
• it takes 3-6 hours to penetrate.
 Fertilization
• is the process of fusion of a single spermatozoon with
a single mature ovum in the tubal ampulla.

• The ovum following induction is picked up by the tubal

fimbriae which overlie the ovary. The pick up may be due
to muscular action or ciliary action. Then the Ovum
quickly reached the ampullary part.
Changes during Ferilization
 Process of fertilization
1. Penetration of corona radiata: Acrosomal cap of capacitated sperm helps to
penetrate the corona radiata.

2. Penetration of Zona Pellucida: Zona Pellucida has sperm receptors zona

proteins, name ZP1, ZP2 and ZP3 which mediate acrosomal reaction and binding.

3. Fusion of oocyte and sperm and formation of pronucleus:

The chromosomes arrange themselves in a vesicular nucleus known as female
pronucleus while the head and neck of spermatozoan becomes male pronucleus
The 2 pronuclei lose their nulcear envelopes to form zygote with diploid number
46XX (female embryo ) and 46XY (male embryo)
 MORULA
• After the zygote formation, typical mitotic division of the
nucleus occurs by producing two blastomeres

• The two cell stage is reached approximately 30 hours

after fertilization.

• Each contains equal cytoplasmic volume and

chromosome numbers.
 Morula
• Through 4, 8, 16 cell stage until a cluster of cells is
formed and is called morula, resembling a mulberry.

• After spending about 3 days in the uterine tube enters the

uterine cavity through the narrow uterine
 Blastocyst
• While the morula remains free in the uterine cavity on the
4th and 5th day, it is covered by a film of mucus.

• The fluid passes through the canaliculi of the zona

pellucida which separates the cells of the morula and is
now termed Blastocyst

• Zona hatching is the next step so that trophectoderm cells

interact with endometrial cells and implantation occurs.
• Due to blastocyst enlargement the zona pellucida becomes
stretched, thinned and gradually disappears. Lysis of zona
and escape of embryo is called zona hatching.

• The cells on the outer side of the morula (polar) become

trophectoderm and the inner cells (apolar) become Inner
cell mass

• Trophectoderm differentiates into chorion(placenta) and

the inner cell mass into the embryo
 Development of Inner Cell Mass
• On the 8th day, Changes in the trophoblast, the
embryoblast differentiates into bilaminar germ
disc ,which consists of dorsal ectodermal layer of tall
columnar cells and ventral endodermal layer of
flattened polyhedral cells.

• The bilaminar germ disc is connected with the trophoblast

by mesenchymal condensation, called connecting stalk
or body stalk which later on forms the UMBILICAL
CORD.
• Two cavities appear one on each side of the germ
disc.
On 12th postovulatory day, a fluid filled space appears
between the ectodermal layer and the cytotrophoblast
which is called AMNIOTIC FLUID.. Its floor is formed by
the ectoderm and the rest of its wall by primitive
mesenchyme.
 Formation of trilaminar embryonic disk
• 14days after fertilization, proliferation of ectodermal cells in
the midline, leads to formation of PRIMITIVE STREAK

Cells within the streak spread laterally between the ectoderm and
endoderm as Intraembryonic mesoderm. This intraembryonic
mesoderm becomes continuous with the Extraembryonic
mesoderm at the lateral border of the embryonic disk.
 EMBRYONIC STAGE (4TH to 8TH WEEK)
• During the embryonic stage which extends from the
fourth to eighth week, individual differentiation of the
germ layers and formation of the folds of the embryo
occur. Most of the tissues and organs are developed
during this period.

• Major structures which are developed from the three

germinal layers .The embryo can be differentiated as
human at 8th week.
 3 GERM LAYER
• ECTODERMAL LAYER: Central and peripheral nervous system,
epidermis of skin with its appendages, pituitary gland, chromaffin
organs, salivary glands; mucous lining of the nasal cavity, paranasal
sinus, roof of the mouth etc.

• MESODERMAL LAYER: Bones, cartilage, muscles, cardiovascular

system, kidney, gonads, suprarenals, spleen, most of the genital tract;
mesothelial lining of pericardial, pleural and peritoneal cavity etc.
• ENDODERMAL LAYER: Epithelial lining of the gastrointestinal tract,
liver, gallbladder, pancreas; epithelial lining of respiratory tract and
most of the mucous membrane of urinary bladder and urethra;
bulbourethral and greater vestibular glands etc.
IMPORTANT EVENTS FOLLOWING FETILIZATION
 Implantation Syn: Nidation
• is the process by which the blastocyst penetrates the
uterine mucosa to get implanted in the endometrium.

Implantation occurs through 4 stages

• 1. Apposition
• 2. Adhesion
• 3. Penetration
• 4. Invasion
 Implantation occurs through 4 stages

1. Apposition
• The zona pellucida disappears to allow implantation.
2. Adhesion
The endometirum is in the secretory phase corresponding
to 20-21 days of a regular menstrual cycle.
Uterine receptivity and molecular signalling during
implantation is induced by progesterone, PGs and COX-2
secreted from corpus luteum with expression at the
implantation site.
 Implantation occurs through 4 stages

3. Penetration
• With increasing lysis of the stromal cells due to histolytic
action of the blastocyst, it starts burrowing into the
secretory endometrium.

4. Invasion
The blastocyst burrows totally into the compact layer of
secretory endometrium and is completed by the end of
10th- 11th day of fertilization.
IMPLANTATION- PENETRATION
Ovulation, Fertilization and Implantation
 Decidua
• is the thickened vascular endometrium of the pregnant uterus. It is
also called because of casts off after parturition or

• The decidua is the endometrium of the pregnant uterus. It is so

named because much of it is shed following delivery.

• The glands become enlarged, tortorous and filled with secretion.

• The stromal cells become large with small nuclei and clear
cytoplasm. These are called Decidual cells.
Decidua
 Decidua
• The decidua, like secretory endometrium consists of 3
layers:

1. Superficial compact layer

2. Intermediate spongy layer
3. Stratum basalis- is adjacent to myometrium.
 Decidua

(1) Superficial compact layer consists of compact mass of

decidual cells, gland ducts and dilated capillaries. The greater part
of the surface epithelium is either thinned out or lost

(2) Intermediate spongy layer (cavernous layer) contains dilated

uterine glands, decidual cells and blood vessels. It is through this
layer that the cleavage of placental separation occurs
(3) Thin basal layer containing the basal portion of the glands and
is opposed to the uterine muscle. Regeneration of the mucous coat
occurs from this layer following parturition.
Development of Embryo, Placenta, Fetal membranes, Umbilical cord and Amniotic cavity

• By the 8th day:

of development, the trophoblast overlying the embryoblast
of the blastocyst

Blastocyst burrows into the maternal tissues and can be

differentiated into 2 layers : Inner layer (Cytotrophoblast )
Outer layer (Syncytotrophoblast)
Development of Embryo, Placent, Fetal membranes, Umbilical cord and Amniotic cavity

-Trophoblast multiplication arise from inner cell mass.

Both syncytotrophoblast and cytotrophoblast make
finger- like extensions called chorionic villi

-This Chorionic villi later form placenta

- Cells of inner cell mass or Embryoblast form an

embryo.
 Development of Fetus
Phases of conceptus development

1. Ovular period/ Germinal period: The products of

conception upto 2 weeks of post ovulation ( 4 weeks of
gestation)

2. Embryonic period: From begining of 3rd to 8th

completed weeks post ovulation (5th- 10th weeks of
gestational age)
3. Fetal period: From the beginning of 9th week post
ovulation (11th week gestation) till birth.
 LENGTH OF THE FETUS
• To determine the length of the fetus, the measurement is
commonly taken from the vertex to the coccyx (crown-
rump length) in earlier weeks.

• While, from the end of 20th week onwards, the

measurement is taken from the vertex to the heel (crown-
heel length).
 First 14 days- Pre-organogenesis
• Development of the ovum from fertilization upto the
formation of the bilaminar disc.
• As no organs are recognizable.
• Teratogens acting during this period usually result in
death of the embryo
3rd-8th Week/ Organogenesis period/ Embryonic period

• Most tissues and organ start forming

• It is the time of appearance of most of the organ systems
start forming.
• The embryo is recognizably human and measures about
4cm.
• Most congenital anomalies are produced by teratogens
acting during period
PRINCIPAL EVENTS OF EMBRYONIC AND FETAL
DEVELOPMENT
THANK YOU