EMBRYONIC DEVELOPMENT

2nd Week of Development

Development of Trophoblast

Development of Bilaminar Embryonic disc

Development of Amnion

Development of Yolk sac

Development of Sinusoids

Development of Extra embryonic mesoderm

Development of Chorions
At the beginning of the
second week, the blastocyst
is partially embedded
in the endometrial stroma.

The trophoblast
differentiates into :

(1) cytotrophoblast,
an inner, actively
proliferating layer,

(2) syncytiotrophoblast,
an outer layer, erodes
maternal tissues
the trophoblast has differentiated into two layers:

(a) cytotrophoblast an inner layer of mononucleated cells

(b) Syncytiotrophoblast an outer multinucleated zone without distinct cell boundaries,
.
embryoblast also differentiate into two layers
(a) hypoblast layer a layer of small cuboidal cells adjacent to the blastocyst cavity,
(b) epiblast layer a layer of high columnar cells adjacent to the amniotic cavity, the

At the same time, amniotic cavity appears within the epiblast

Epiblast cells adjacent to the cytotrophoblast are called amnioblasts;
The endometrial
stroma adjacent to
the implantation
site is edematous
and highly vascular

With tortuous
glands secrete
abundant
glycogen and
mucus.
Day 9

The blastocyst is
more deeply
embedded,

fibrin coagulum,

lacunar stage
vacuoles in the
Syncetiotophpoblast
lacunae by fusion
Exocoelomic (Heuser’s) membrane :

a thin membrane formed by flattened DAY 9

cells from the hypoblast lines the inner
surface of the cytotrophoblast
This membrane, together with the
hypoblast, forms the lining of the
exocoelomic cavity,
or primitive yolk
Bilaminar layer, Exocoelomic membrane & Amnion

primitive
yolk sac.
completely embedded Day 11-12
in the endometrial stroma
Concurrently,

Sinusoids syncytiotrophoblast
penetrate deeper into the
stroma and erode the
endothelial lining of the
maternal capillaries. (???)
The syncytial lacunae become
continuous with the sinusoids
and maternal blood enters the
lacunar system & flow
through the trophoblastic
system,
Establishing the
uteroplacental circulation.
Endometrium capillaries around the developing
embro becomes dialted and reffered as Maternal
Sinusoids.

Maternal
sinusoid
 Day 12-13

extraembryonic
mesoderm
new population of cells
appears between the
inner surface of the
cytotrophoblast and the
outer surface of the
exocoelomic membrane
Extraembryonic coelom,
or chorionic cavity large
cavities develop in the
extraembryonic
mesoderm, This space
surrounds the primitive
yolk sac and amniotic
cavity except
where the germ disc is
connected to the
trophoblast by the
connecting stalk
A/ Extraembryonic somatopleuric
mesoderm The extraembryonic mesoderm
lining the cytotrophoblast and amnion.

B/ extraembryonic splanchnopleuric
mesoderm
the lining covering
the yolk sac
Growth of the bilaminar disc is relatively
slow compared with that of the
trophoblast; consequently, the disc remains
very small (0.1 – 0.2 mm).

Cells of the endometrium, meanwhile,

become polyhedral and loaded with
glycogen and lipids; intercellular spaces are
filled with extravasate, and the tissue is
edematous. These changes, known as the
decidua reaction, at first are confined to
the
Day 13

endometrium the surface

defect has healed.
The trophoblast is
characterized by villous
structures.

Cells of the
cytotrophoblast proliferate
locally and penetrate into
the syncytiotrophoblast,
forming cellular columns
surrounded by syncytium.
Cellular columns with
the syncytial covering are
known as primary villi
Day 13

the hypoblast produces additional

cells that migrate along
the inside of the exocoelomic
membrane ,These cells proliferate and
gradually form a new cavity within the
exocoelomic cavity. This new cavity is
known as the secondary yolk sac or
definitive yolk sac.

the extraembryonic coelom expands

form the chorionic cavity.
connecting stalk The only place where
extraembryonic mesoderm traverses
the chorionic cavity. With
development of blood vessels, the
stalk becomes the
umbilical cord.
Summary
By day 9,

lacunae develop in the

syncytiotrophoblast.
Maternal sinusoids are
eroded by the
syncytiotrophoblast,
maternal blood enters
the lacunar network,
a primitive
uteroplacental
circulation starts.
 Day 9

The cytotrophoblast, meanwhile,

forms cellular columns
penetrating into and surrounded
by the syncytium. These columns
are primary villi.

By the end of the second week,

the blastocyst is completely
embedded, and the surface
defect in the mucosa has healed
The inner cell mass or embryoblast, meanwhile, differentiates
into a (bilaminar disc )

(a) The epiblast and

(a) The hypoblast, together forming

Epiblast cells give rise to amnioblasts that line the amniotic

cavity superior to the epiblast layer.
Endoderm cells
are continuous
with the
exocoelomic
membrane,
and together
they surround
the primitive
yolk sac
By the end of the second week,
extraembryonic mesoderm fills the
space between the trophoblast and
the amnion and exocoelomic
membrane internally.

When vacuoles develop in this tissue,

the extraembryonic coelom or
chorionic cavity forms.

Extraembryonic mesoderm lining the

cytotrophoblast and amnion is
extraembryonic somatopleuric
mesoderm; the lining surrounding the
yolk sac is extraembryonic
splanchnopleuric mesoderm
The second week of development is known as the week of twos:

The trophoblast differentiates into the cytotrophoblast and syncytiotrophoblast.

The embryoblast forms two layers, the epiblast and hypoblast.

The extraembryonic mesoderm splits into two layers, the somatopleure and
splanchnopleure.

And two cavities, the amniotic and yolk sac cavities

Implantation occurs at the end of the first week. Trophoblast cells invade the
epithelium and underlying endometrial stroma with the help of proteolytic
enzymes.