Lab 9b

Embryonic Development
Exercise 44 – Survey of Embryonic Development

BIO 108L Human Anatomy & Physiology Laboratory Manual,

Professor Jason Den Haese 12th edition (cat)Marieb, E.N. and Smith, L.A.
Processes of Early Development
o Early development of all animals involves:
• An increase in cell number and subsequent cell growth
• Cellular specialization
• Morphogenesis – the formation of functioning organ systems

o Embryonic development (embryogenesis) – starts with fertilization and lasts for first 8
weeks; process of cell division and cellular differentiation of embryo that occurs during
early stages of development
• Fertilization – when sperm merges with egg; forms a zygote (fertilized egg)
• Zygote undergoes long, complex process of embryonic development
• Embryo travels through fallopian tube, floats into uterus, and embeds itself in
uterine wall
• Embryo undergoes cleavage
• Embryo begins formation of tissues and organs
o Fetal development – from week 9 until end of pregnancy; fetus undergoes further
formation and maturation of tissues and organs

Activity 2 Examining the Stages of Human Development

Cleavage Stage
o Cleavage – a period of cell divisions of zygote, with no cell Cleavage:
growth; produces a blastocyst Zygote (1 cell)
• Occurs as embryo is propelled slowly down fallopian tube
towards uterus
2 cells

4 cells

8 cells

Morula (16+ cells) –

solid sphere

Blastocyst (100+ cells) –

hollow sphere

Fig 44.1
Cleavage Stage

Cleavage stage (days 1-3)

Fertilization 2-cell zygote 4-cell zygote 8-cell zygote Morula

Blastulation
o Morula hollows out (now hollow sphere called a blastocyst) and develops a fluid-
filled cavity (blastocyst cavity)

o Two types of cells in early blastocyst:

• Inner cell mass (ICM) – inner group of cells (20-30 cells); becomes embryo
 ICM becomes embryonic disc, which forms embryo proper
• Trophoblast – outer single layer of cells; becomes placenta
 Trophoblast forms chorion (an extraembryonic membrane), which forms
fetal portion of placenta

inner cell mass

trophoblast

blastocyst cavity
Blastocyst
Blastulation
o Inner cell mass differentiates into a bilayered embryonic disc:
• Epiblast – upper cells; gives rise to embryo proper and amnion
• Hypoblast – lower cells; gives rise to yolk sac

embryonic disc
inner cell mass
epiblast
hypoblast
trophoblast
trophoblast
blastocyst cavity
blastocyst cavity
Early blastocyst
(day 4) Late blastocyst
(day 7)
Blastocyst Implantation
o Blastocyst begins to implant in endometrium around days 6-8

o Trophoblast cells adhere to inner surface of endometrium and secrete digestive

enzymes to destroy endometrial cells so that they can penetrate into
endometrium; trophoblast cells multiply rapidly

o Amniotic cavity begins to form in epiblast

endometrium
amniotic cavity trophoblast
(space)
epiblast

hypoblast

Blastocyst implanting into endometrium

Formation of Gastrula, Placenta, and Extraembryonic Membranes

Amniotic
Endometrium Lacuna (intervillous cavity
space) containing
maternal blood Primary
germ
layers
Chorionic villus
Maternal • Ectoderm
blood vessels
Chorion • Mesoderm

Proliferating Amnion • Endoderm

syncytiotrophoblast

Cytotrophoblast Forming
umbilical
Amniotic cavity cord
Yolk sac
Bilayered
embryonic disc Extraembryonic Allantois
mesoderm
• Epiblast
• Hypoblast

Endometrial Lumen of uterus

epithelium Chorion
being formed Extraembryonic
coelom

Implanting 7½-day 12-day blastocyst 16-day embryo

blastocyst

Fig 44.2
Formation of Gastrula, Placenta, and Extraembryonic Membranes
o Trophoblast divides into two layers:
• Syncytiotrophoblast – thick, irregular outer layer
• Cytotrophoblast – thinner inner row

o Extraembryonic membranes (4) form – sacs of thin, membranous tissue that serve the
developing embryo:
• Amnion (amniotic sac) – sac around embryo filled with amniotic fluid in amniotic
cavity; protects embryo
• Chorion – helps to form fetal part of placenta
 Placenta – temporary organ composed of both maternal and fetal tissues;
provides nutrients and oxygen to embryo/fetus while removing its wastes
• Yolk sac – lost original function in humans (placenta has taken over), but is still
source of earliest blood cells
• Allantois – base for umbilical cord that links embryo to placenta
Formation of Gastrula, Placenta, and Extraembryonic Membranes
o Gastrula – develops from epiblast and becomes embryo
• Has 3 germ layers (ectoderm, mesoderm, endoderm)
Formation of Gastrula, Placenta, and Extraembryonic Membranes

syncytiotrophoblast amniotic sac

cytotrophoblast

amniotic cavity

embryonic disc

epiblast
yolk sac cavity
hypoblast
yolk sac

Blastocyst in middle of second week

C-Shaped Embryo at One Month
o By one month, embryonic disc has been transformed into a C-shaped embryo
• C-shaped embryo has rudiments of a head, eyes, arms and legs
chorionic villi
umbilical cord

embryo

yolk sac
amniotic cavity

chorion
placenta amniotic sac
(with blood vessels)
Fig 44.2
C-Shaped Embryo at One Month
o C-shaped embryo structures to find:
• Eye – two rudimentary eyes are in process of developing
• Branchial arches – only three branchial arches are visible on model, the 4th
arch has not yet formed; the 1st arch is divided into two parts; give rise to
many important features of lower head and neck, including upper and lower
jaws, bones (zygomatic, temporal, hyoid, middle ear), cartilages of larynx,
many muscles of the face and neck, etc.
• Heart – find left atrium and left ventricle; heart is simple and functioning at
this point
• Liver – just below and dorsal to heart
• Somites – series arranged along dorsal margin of the embryo; give rise to
vertebrae and associated muscles
• Arm bud – seen just above liver; will develop into arm and hand
• Leg bud – found near tail; will develop into leg and foot
• Tail – all mammalian embryos have a tail at this stage, whether or not the
adult has a tail
C-Shaped Embryo at One Month

somites

branchial
arches
arm bud

eye

left atrium
umbilical of heart
cord
left ventricle
of heart
tail

liver

leg bud
Fetal Development: Fetus and Placenta at 3 Months
o During 2nd month, development of internal organs proceeds rapidly and by the
end of that month virtually all body organs have been established in miniature;
embryo is now called fetus
3 month fetus
o During 3rd month, fetus grows rapidly and its organs
enlarge and mature; kidneys begin producing urine,
reproductive organs are developed enough to
structurally determine sex of fetus

o In 3-month fetus model, look for:

• Eyes, ears, nose and mouth
• Arms/fingers, legs/toes
• Amniotic sac (transparent bubble) filled with
amniotic fluid that surrounds fetus
• Umbilical cord between fetus and placenta
Fetal Development: Fetus and Placenta at 3 Months
Decidua basalis
Placenta

Chorionic villi

Yolk sac
Amnion
Amniotic cavity
Umbilical cord

Decidua
capsularis Uterus
Extraembryonic Lumen of
coelom uterus
Fig 44.3
Fetal Development: Full-Term Human Fetus
o Further fetal development
involves growth, refinement, Full term fetus
and maturation of body
organs

o Sensory systems mature and

fetus becomes aware of its
surroundings (hear sounds,
faintly see light, taste amniotic
fluid)

o Fetus moves around more and

more strenuously

o Fetus accumulates fat reserves

and looks much chubbier than
3-month fetus

o Fetus assumes head-down

position for childbirth