INTRODUCTION TO

EMBRYOLOGY
DR. BRANCH
COURSE OBJECTIVES
• To provide foundational knowledge to the MD program – Embryology
and Anatomy
• To provide good understanding of concepts in General Embryology
Reference texts for course
• Langman’s Medical Embryology (14th Ed)
• Board Review Series Embryology (6th Ed)
INTRODUCTION

- What is Embryology?
- Stages of human life
- Brief medical terminology
LESSON OBJECTIVES
• To understand the meaning of the term ‘Embryology’
• To know the stages of human life
• To learn some basic descriptive terminology used in Embryology,
Anatomy and medicine in general – same will be incorporated in class
discussions/ descriptions of structures in future classes.
What is Embryology?
• The study of the formation and development of an embryo and fetus.
• Before widespread use of the microscope and the advent of
cellular biology in the 19th century, embryology was based on
descriptive and comparative studies.
• Homunculus vs specialization
American Journal of Neuroradiology, 2023
Stages of human life
PREnatal POSTnatal

• Neonate
• Zygote • Infant
• Embryo • Childhood
• Foetus • Prepubertal/ Pubertal
• Birth • Adolescent
• Adult
• Death
PREnatal stages

• Zygote - afertilised eukaryotic • Embryo – from • Fetus – 8 wks to

cell that forms after the
union of male and female conception to 8 birth
gametes (conception) weeks
• Single cell stage
• Multi-cell stage
POSTnatal stages

• Neonate – first • Infant – from birth to Childhood

month of life 15 months Toddler – 15mo to
2.5 years
Preschool – 2.5yrs to
6yrs
Preburtal/ Puberty
• Most females: between 8 to 13years
• Most males: between 9 to 14years
• Puberty – development of secondary sexual characteristics
Adolescence

Adolescence: From 11 to 20 years

- Early Adolescence: 11 to 14 years
- Middle Adolescence: 15 to 17 years
- Late Adolescence: 18 to 20 years
- *Early adulthood with certain classifications
Terms of Reference
• Cranial – towards the skull or cranium
• Rostral - towards the facial portion/
hypophyseal region
• Caudal – towards the tail portion
• Dorsal – towards the back/ posterior/
opposite of ventral
• Ventral – towards the abdomen/ anterior/
opposite of dorsal
 Terms of Reference
• Lateral – away from midline
• Medial – towards midline
Class activity
• Stretch out your hand
• What portion is your palm?
• What portion is the back of your hand?
• What is the position of your thumb?
• What is the position of your pinky finger?
Terms of Reference – Anatomical planes
• 3 Anatomical planes – imaginary lines that divide the
human body
• Always assumed in the anatomical position
1. Sagittal plane - a vertical plane that travels down the
middle of the human body and divides the body into
right and left portions.
2. Coronal plane - runs vertically through the side of
the body, dividing it into the front of
the body (anterior) and the back of
the body (posterior).
3. Transverse (or axial) plane runs horizontally,
separating the top half of the body from the bottom
half.
Review
References
• American Journal of Neuroradiology. (2023, May 1). Fig 4. https://www.ajnr.org/content/34/12/2233/F4
• Biology Online. (2022, May 23). Zygote Definition and Examples - Biology Online Dictionary. Biology Articles, Tutorials &
Dictionary Online. https://www.biologyonline.com/dictionary/zygote
• Britannica, T. Editors of Encyclopaedia (2023, March 10). embryology. Encyclopedia Britannica.
https://www.britannica.com/science/embryology
• Child Development: Preschooler (3-5 years old) | CDC. (2021, February 11). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/childdevelopment/positiveparenting/preschoolers.html#:~:text=Preschoolers%20(3%2D5%2
0years%20of%20age)
• Fadem, B (2017). BRS, Behavioural science
• Mauldin, A. (n.d.). Anatomical position: What is it, significance, regions . Osmosis .
https://www.osmosis.org/answers/anatomical-position