Pregnancy and Embryonic

Development
ispirit.asia
What is Pregnancy ?
Pregnancy - is the term used to describe the period
in which a fetus develops inside a woman's womb or uterus.
A successful implantation results in pregnancy.

Pregnancy usually lasts about 40 weeks, or just over 9

months, as measured from the last menstrual period to
delivery.

ispirit.asia
*Symptoms of Pregnancy
Back pain Missed period
Anemia Headache
Depression Spotting
Insomnia Weight gain
Breast changes Pregnancy-induced
Acne hypertension
Vomiting Heartburn
Hip pain Constipation
Diarrhea Cramps

ispirit.asia
Embryonic Development
In Biology, Embryonic Development is also called
Embryogenesis. Embryonic Development is the
development of a single-cell (zygote) to a multicellular
organism (foetus) characterised by the processes of cell
division and cellular differentiation of the embryo that
occurs during the early stages of development.

byjus.com
ispirit.asia
*Pregnancy and Embryonic Development

After a successful implantation, finger like

projections appear on the trophoblast called as
chorionic villi.
The chorionic villi and uterine tissue
together form a structural and functional
organic structure between developing
embryo and tissues of the mother called as
placenta.
Two embryonic membranes are formed around the embryo.

1. Amnion membrane is an
inner membrane that
surrounds the embryo and
contains a fluid to protect the
embryo against shocks or
dryness.
2. Chorion membrane is an
outer membrane that
surrounds the amnion
membrane to protect the
embryo.
*Importance of the placenta
1. It transfers the digested food, water, oxygen and
vitamins from the mother’s blood to the embryo’s blood
by diffusion.
2. It secretes progesterone hormone at the beginning of
the fourth month of pregnancy because the corpus
luteum degenerates, Therefore, the placenta becomes the
source of secretion of the progesterone.
3.It gets rid of the embryo’s excretory wastes
without mixing the embryo’s blood with the
mother’s blood.
4. It secretes the relaxin hormone that plays a role
in the relaxation of the pubic symphysis at the end
of pregnancy to facilitate the process of delivery.

The placenta transfers the drugs and harmful

substances such as the alcohol, nicotine & viruses
from the mother’s blood to the embryo which
causes acute harms, serious deformities and
diseases to the embryo.
 The embryo is connected with the placenta by a
tissue that is rich with blood capillaries called the
umbilical cord whose length is about 70 cm to
allow the embryo to move freely.

*Importance of Umbilical Cord

1. It transfers the digested food, vitamins, water,
salts and oxygen from the placenta to the embryo’s
blood circulation.
2. It transfers the excretory wastes and carbon dioxide
from the embryo’s blood circulation to the placenta.
*Stages of Embryonic Development
Stage 1
It includes the first three months of pregnancy,
where: The nervous system and heart start their
development (in the first month), The hands and
eyes become differentiated, The two sexes become
differentiated, as the testes develop in the 6th
week, while the ovaries develop in the 12th week,
the embryo becomes able to respond to the
stimuli.
Stage 2
It includes the middle three months of pregnancy,
where: the development of the heart is completed and its
beats can be heard, Ossification of the skeletal system
takes place, The sense organs are completed, The growth
of the embryo in size increases.

Stage 3
It includes the last three months of pregnancy, where:
The development of the brain is completed, The
development of the other internal systems is completed,
The growth of the embryo in size slows down.
Thank You for Listening!