EMBRYOLOGY

EMBRYOLOGY
Embryology is the study of the development of an
individual before birth
The stages:
Gametogenesis
Fertilization
Clevage
Differentiation
Organogenesis
The term Embyo is applied to the developing
individual during first eight weeks or two months of
intrauterine life.

The term foetus is applied to the developing

individual from the ninth week or third month of
intrauterine life to the time of birth.

Neonate: a newborn child less than four weeks

old
 Spermatogenesis
takes place in seminiferous tubules of testis
maturation of spermtogonia into spermatozoa
The stages of spermatogenesis are
spermatocytosis , meiosis, and
spermiogenesis.
 Spermatocytosis
It is the process of formation of Primary spermatocytes
The primordial or primitive cells

Type A spermatogonia

type B spermatogonia 44xy

primary spermatocytes
 Meiosis
primary spermatocytes
44xy

Meiosis I
Secondary spermatocytes
22x 22y

Meiosis II

22x 22y Spermatids

 Spermiogenesis
The process by which the spermatid changes its shape
(Metamorphosis) into spermatozoan is called
spermiogenesis.

last stage of the process called spermatogenesis

organelles are rearranged

The nucleus- Head
The golgi apparatus forms the acrosome
The proximal centriole - the neck & axial filament
 Spermiogenesis
The distal centriole – annulus

The annulus is spiraled by the mitochondria.

The axial filament, annulus and mitochondria constitute the

middle piece of the spermatozoa.

The axial filament - principal piece or tail of spermatozoa.

the cytoplasm is shed

the cell membrane forms the covering for the entire

spermatozoan
Spermatozoan
Oogenesis
 Oogenesis

The process of maturation and differentiation of primordial

germ cells into oogonia, primary oocytes, secondary oocytes
and to mature ova in the female genital tract.

Occurs in ovarian cortex

 Oogenesis

Starts before birth ( 10 week of IUL)

Stops in the middle from birth to puberty

Restarts at Puberty, 11-13yrs

Continues upto menopause, 45-55 yrs

 Oogenesis

Various processes in oogenesis are:

Mitosis

Meiosis

Growth of follicles

Maturation and differentiation of follicles

 Oogenesis

Before Birth:
Bef0re 3rd month the primordial germs cells undergo mitosis
to form oogonia

Before 7th Month: oogonia divide mototically to result in

formation of Primary oocytes surrounded by a layer of flat
epithelial cells.
 Oogenesis

7th Month to Birth:

Primary oocytes enter Prophase I of Meiosis I. further
division is arrested by the Oocyte Maturation
Inhibitor(OMI) factor
Birth to Puberty:
At birth primary oocytes are in Prophase I of Meiosis I.
Instead of entering Metaphase the primary oocytes enter
prolonged resting or diplotene stage
 Oogenesis

After Puberty: The first Meiotic division produces two

unequal cells ( 23 chromosomes)
Secondary oocyte
First polar body
 Oogenesis

Secondary oocyte immediately enters the second Meiotic

divison.
Meiosis II is arrested in Metaphase II
Ovulation occurs in Metaphase II
Further division occurs if fertilized or is degenerated
Structure of Ovum
 Oogenesis
Maturation of Ovum: At the end of Meiosis-I the

primary oocyte divides to form two daughter cells.

 As a result, the secondary oocyte with haploid (22 +

X) chromosomes and first polar body are formed.

Both secondary oocyte and the polar body enter

Meiosis II division resulting in formation of one

mature ovum and three polar bodies.
 Formation of Zygote
The secondary oocyte is arrested in metaphase II until it is
fertilized. The fertilized secondary oocyte completes Meiosis
II and result in formation of zygote.

So Zygote consists of 23 chromosomes of the Secondary

oocyte and the 23 Chromosomes of the Spermatozoan

There by it attains its diploid number (46) of chromosomes

23
23
Chromozomes
+ chromozomes
of Secondary
oocyte
of the
spermatozoan
= 46 Chromosmal
Zygote
 Cleavage/ Segmentation
After fertilization in the fallopian
tube, the zygote begins to divide in
the fallopian tube itself.

Series of consecutive mitotic divisions

to result in the formation of 12 to 16
cells called blastomeres.
 Cleavage/ Segmentation
16 cell stage is called morula due to
mulberry-like appearance.

Morula enters the uterine cavity on

third or fourth day from ovulation.
 Differentiation
The cells of morula when enter the
uterus are all alike/same.

Now they get differentiated into

trophoblasts and inner cell mass.

The trophoblasts thin out and

adhere to the uterine wall and slowly
form chorionic villi and later
placenta.
 Differentiation
The inner cell mass will form
the Embryo itself and also the
other extra embryonic organs-
amnion, yolk sac, allantois

Now the inner cell mass lies

near the trophoblstic cells close
to the uterine wall.
There is a cavity called
blastocyst cavity( Blastocoele)
 Bilaminar Embryonic disc
The cells of inner cell mass
on the side of the cavity of the
blastocyst will form
Endoderm

The cells on the side of the

uterine wall where there is a
connection between inner cell
mass and the trophoblastic
cells will form Ectoderm.
 Bilaminar Embryonic disc
At this stage there are only
two germ layers, Endoderm
and Ectoderm.
 Bilaminar Embryonic disc
At this stage there are only Amniotic Cavity

two germ layers, Endoderm

and Ectoderm.

At this stage there are two

cavities Yolk Sac
On ectodermal side-
Amniotic cavity
On Endodermal side – Yolk
sac
 Formation of mesoderm
Later the Endoderm and
ecotoderm are seperated by
formation of primitive streak
and Notochord(Primitive
vertebral column)
The primitve streak forms the
Mesoderm in the gap
between the ecto and
endoderms

 Three Germ layers
Now the Embryonic disc is
trilaminar

Ectoderm
Mesoderm
Endoderm

Mesoderm is formed by the

primitive streak that
separates Ectoderm and
Endoderm
 organogenesis
The embryonic disc folds by
forming head fold, tail fold
and lateral fold

This results in formation of

embryo.
The tissues and organs are
derived from these three germ
layers.
Though the three layer s are separate, at the head end and
the tail end of the embryo the ecoderm and endoderm come
in contact with each other without mesoderm intervening.
These regions are called stomatodeum at the head end and
the cloacal membrane at the tail end.
Stomatodeum gives rise to the mouth and the cloacal
membrane the anal canal.
The ectoderm will form neural canal along the axis of the
embryonic disc.
at the cephalic end the fore brain, mid brain and hind brain
are formed by the three dilatations.
Formation of Neural canal from ectoderm
The ectoderm will form neural canal along the axis of the
embryonic disc.
at the cephalic end the fore brain, mid brain and hind brain
are formed by the three dilatations.
 Fate of mesoderm
The mesoderm divides into the paraxial,
intermediate and lateral plate mesoderms.
 The paraxial mesoderm undergoes
segmentation to form 38 somites.
These somites contain, schlerotome, myotome
and dermatome parts.

Schlerotomes gives rise to bone

Myotome to muslces
Dermatome to the skin
 Fate of mesoderm
4 to 5 segments of somites around hind brain
will give rise to structures of the head
Intermediate mesoderm will give rise to
nephrotomes – urogenital system
Derivatives of germ layers
 Derivatives of Ectoderm
Epidermis of Skin; hair follicles and hairs; nails
Epithelium of sense organs
Retina, lens, conjunctiva, lacrimal gland and ducts
Epithelium of membranous labyrinth and external acoustic
meatus
Epithelial lining of nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses
 Derivatives of Ectoderm
Central and peripheral nervous system, nerve fibres and
neuroglia
Pia and arachnoid maters
Medulla of supra renal gland
Epitheium of lips, cheeks, gums, and hard palate, salivary
glands
 Derivatives of Ectoderm
Enamel of teeth
Epithelium of lower 1/3 rd of Anal canal, terminal part of
male urthra, vestibule of vagina and vestibular glands
Plain muscle of iris
 Derivatives of Mesoderm
Connective tissue including Bone and Cartilage
Synovial membranes, bursae and tendon sheaths
Serous membranes; pleura, pericardium, peritoneum; tunica
veginalis of testis
Muscle- plain, striated and cardiac
Endothelium of heart, blood vessels and lumph vessels
 Derivatives of Mesoderm
Blood and Bone marrow
Lymph tissue: tonsils, lymphnodes and spleen
Parts of eye ball Except Retina lens and conjuctiva
Duramater and microglia
Teeth except Enamel
Cortex of supra renal gland
 Derivatives of Endoderm
Epithelium of alimentary tract, tongue and taste buds

Epithelium of glands of alimentary canal except salivary

gland: Liver, gall bladder, bile ducts, pancreas

Epthelium of Thyroid, parathyroids and thymus

Epithelium of respiratory tract except nasal cavity: Naso

pharynx, auditory tube, mastoid antrum,tympanum,

mastoid air cells
 Derivatives of Endoderm
Epithelium of urinary bladder, urethra (except terminal part
of male )

Prostate, bulbo-urethral glands, vagina ( Except vestibule of

vegina and vestibular glands.
Points to remember
While trilaminar embryonic disc forms head, tail and
lateral folds
Ecotderm remains out side – skin and its appendages are
derived
Neural tube from which the brain develops is formed by the
ectoderm- so nervous system is derived
Retina is an extension of the brain through optic nerve- so
ectodermal derivative
Orifices of the body like oral cavity , penile part of male
urethra, vagina, lower 1/3 of anal canal – derivatives of
ectoderm