General Embryology

Nursing class
Anatomy
Curriculum ant - 3

• Define embryology
• Describe in brief different stages of embryonic
development
• Gametogenesis, menstrual cycle, fertilization,
implantation, bilaminar germ disc, trilaminar germ disc,
embryonic period, fetal period
• Describe the parts, functions and development of
Placenta, fetal membrane and umbilical cord.
Embryology : definition

Development :
The continuous modification of structure from conception to maturity due to
the growth, differentiation and re-organization of cells.
Developmental stages :
Prenatal stage – development from conception to birth
Postnatal stage – development from birth to maturity (up to 25 yrs)
Embryology – is the science that deals with development and growth
of an individual within the uterus.
It begins with fertilization of an ovum and culminates with the birth
of the baby.
Note – conception = fertilization
 Prenatal period
• Embryologically the prenatal period is divided into three parts:
• (a) pre-embryonic period,
• (b) embryonic period,
• (c) fetal period.
Pre-embryonic period
1. Pre-embryonic period: It extends
from fertilization to the end of second
week of intrauterine life (IUL).
The morphogenic events during this
period include
fertilization,
Transportation of zygote through
the uterine tube,
Mitotic divisions/cleavage,
implantation, and
formation of primordial embryonic
tissues.
Embryonic period
• Embryonic period: It extends
from beginning of the third
week to the end of eighth week
of IUL.
• The morphogenic events during
this period include
• differentiation of the germ layers
into specific body organs and
• the formation of placenta,
umbilical cord, and
extraembryonic membranes.
Fetal period
• Fetal period: It extends
from beginning of the
ninth week to birth.
• During this period, there is
tremendous growth and
specialization of the body
structures.
 Postnatal Development
• The postnatal development extends from
birth to about 25 years.
• The postnatal development is divided into
following five parts/periods.
• 1. Infancy (from birth to first year)
• 2. Childhood (from 2nd to 12th year)
• 3. Puberty (from 13th to 16th year)
• 4. Adolescence (from 17th to 18th year)
• 5. Adulthood (from 19th to 25th year).
 Fertilization

Events occurring before and

during fertilization
- During coitus (sexual intercourse), a
male ejaculates about 200–300 million
sperms into the female’s vagina.
 This high number is needed because of
the high rate of sperm mortality in the
female genital tract.
 Only 200–300 sperms survive to contact
the female gamete in the uterine tube.
 Fertilization – events
The journey of sperms is promoted by
prostaglandins present in the semen.
The prostaglandins cause powerful
contraction of uterine muscle, which is
enhanced by oxytocin released by
neurohypophysis.
Uterine contractions create a negative
pressure in the uterine cavity to sucked
in from the vagina into the uterine
cavity.
On the other hand After ovulation, the
oocyte reaches the ampulla.
 Fertilization – events
The sperms again become motile due to
chemoattractants produced by cumulus
cells surrounding the oocyte
 sperm swim to the ampulla for
fertilization.
Majority of sperms dies within 24 hours.
Before fertilization, the sperm must gain
the ability to disintegrate the various
oocyte barriers.
 First barrier - cells of corona radiata.
2. Second barrier - zona pellucida
3. Third barrier - vitelline membrane of oocyte
 Fertilization – events

To be able to penetrate

these 3 layer barrier,
Sperm need to go
through 2 processes.
1. Capacitation
2. Acrosomal reaction.
 Capacitation
 It is a process of conditioning of
sperm in the female genital tract
that lasts about 7 hours.
 During capacitation, the
glycoprotein coat and seminal
plasma proteins covering the plasma
membrane of sperm in the
acrosomal region are removed.
 Only capacitated sperm undergoes
acrosome reaction and fertilizes the
ovum.
Acrosomal Reaction

 It occurs when capacitated sperm

comes in contact with the zona
pellucida (i.e., acrosome reaction
is induced by zona proteins)
 The acrosomal reaction leads to
release of enzymes from
acrosomal cap such as
hyaluronidase and acrosin.
Steps/Phases of Fertilization
Steps/Phases of Fertilization
 Result of Fertilization

Completion of second meiotic

division of the female gamete
Restoration of diploid number
of chromosomes
Determination of
chromosomal sex of the new
individual
Initiation of cleavage
Variation of human species
Cleavage and Blastocyst Formation
Gross of Placenta

 Flattened discoid mass with

circular or oval outline .

 Average volume of 500 ml

 Weight of 470 gm

 Cotyledons15-30 on maternal
surface
Umbilical Cord
 Generally, it attaches to the centre of fetal
surface of placenta

 Content of umblical cord two arteries ,one vein

and mucoid connective tissue(Wharton Jelly)

 Diameter :1-2cm

 Length : 30-90 cm
 Amnion

Umblical Vein
Remains of
vitello-
Umblical Vein
intestinal
duct

Umblical Art. Wharton’s jelly

Remains of allantois

Umblical Cord (T. S.)