ACTIVITY: will count as a Quiz grade

Activity: Use the Internet to locate and download pictures of the following prenatal events to create a portfolio from the
Web pictures that you have downloaded for future reference.
Blastomere cleavage
morula
bilaminar embryo (embryoblast and trophoblast)
trilaminar embryo (endoderm, mesoderm, ectoderm)
pictures of embryos in the 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th weeks
pictures of the fetus at 9-12 weeks, 13-16 weeks, 17-20 weeks, 21-25 weeks, 26 th- 29th week
List the major structural changes and motor behavioral changes as applicable to each time period

Possible references:
http://www.ehd.org/virtual-human-embryo/
http://www.visembryo.com/

Stage

Illustration

Blastomere cleavage

morula

bilaminar embryo
(embryoblast and
trophoblast)

trilaminar embryo
(endoderm, mesoderm,
ectoderm)

Structural
changes

Within the first 30

hours, the zygote will
undergo its first
mitotic division,
during which the
maternal and
paternal
chromosomes will
intermingle, and
within 40 hours the
zygote will already
have four cells. A process of rapid cell
division called
cleavage will begin
by the second day,
through which the
blastomere cells that
will give rise to the
embryo emerge.
Cleavage will
continue for four days
after fertilization as
the zygote moves
downstream through
the uterine tube

As the zygote reaches

eight to nine cells, the
blastomeres will begin
to organize into a
compact ball of
undifferentiated cells
called a morula.
A fluid-filled cavity will
begin to form in the
inner cell mass, and as
fluid accumulates, the
inner cell mass will
separate from the
outer ring, forcing the
inner cell mass toward
one pole

The inner cell mass,

consisting of about 15
percent of the preembryo, will become
the embryoblast, the
cells from which the
embryo and other
related tissues will
emerge. The outer ring
will become the
trophoblastthe cells
that will penetrate the
uterine wall and give
rise to the placenta and
other tissues. By the 5th
day, the emerging
structure will be called
the blastocyst. When
the blastocyst reaches
the uter- ine cavity, it
will still be about the
same size as the
unicellular zygote,
because its dividing
cells have become half
the size of their parent
cell with each cell
division
The blastocyst will
begin to hatch as the
zona pellucida
disintegrates during the
two days it remains
floating in the uterine
cavity. Once it sheds,
the blastocyst will begin
to grow, because it will

A key feature of the third

week is the organization of
the embryonic disk into
three layers: endoderm,
mesoderm, and ectoderm.
The endoderm is the germ
layer from which the
digestive system, many
glands, and parts of the
respiratory system are
formed. The mesoderm is
the germ layer that forms
many muscles, the
circulatory and excretory
systems, and the dermis,
skeleton, and other
supportive and connective
tissues. The ectoderm is
the primary embryonic cell
layer from which the skin,
the nervous system, and
other structures will evolve.
All of the organs and
tissues of developing
infants will emerge from
these three layers of cells.
By the end of the third
week, an embryo will have
the rudiments of important
body structures that have
emerged from one or more
of these layers.

no longer be tightly
contained by the zona
pellucida. The
hatched blastocyst
will begin to penetrate
the uterine lining at the
embryonic pole of the
inner cell mass around
the 6th day after
fertilization. The
trophoblast will grow
and separate into an
inner layer and an outer
mass as it becomes
attached.

Body
function
changes

Stage

4th week

5th week

6th week

7th week

8th week

Illustration

Structural
changes

The first part of the

4th week marks the
beginning of the
organogenesis
phase, during which
all of the embryos
organs and the
internal cavities will
be formed. The
embryo will become
strongly curved by
the end of the 4th
week as a result of
its cephalocaudal
folding; the cephalic
fold will be deeper
than the caudal fold
as a result of the
cephalic-to- caudal
developmental
progression. The
embryos ventral
sur- face will close
during the 4th week
from the
combination of
lateral and
cephalocaudal
folding.
Brain tissue will
grow and begin to
differentiate rapidly
during the 4th
week, as the upper
two-thirds of the
neural tube wall
enlarges. By the

The placental
circulation system
will be functional,
carrying oxygen
and nutrients from
the mother to the
fetus through the
umbilical cord. The
brain will have
divided into five
vesicles; the
cerebral
hemispheres will
form from the most
cephalic vesicle of
the forebrain and
will gradually cover
other brain
structures.
The upper limbs will
look like paddles,
with digital rays
appearing distally
on the hand plates.

Cranial nerves will

also begin to
emerge between
the 5th and the 6th
weeks.
The nasal placodes
from each side will
merge at the
midline, creating
the primordial lower
lip.
The intestines are
elongating much
faster than the
abdominal cavity is
enlarging, forcing a
loop of the
intestines to
herniate into the
umbilical cord.

Formation of
cartilage and the
beginning of
ossification in the
developing upper
body happens at
the end of 7th
week. Craniofacial
bones will emerge
from neural crest
cells that had
migrated earlier
into the pharyngeal
arches. The
vertebras and ribs
will emerge from
sclerotome somites.
Most flat and long
bones will emerge
from mesenchymal
cells that had
organized earlier
into sheaths of
connective tissue or
into cartilage
formations.
Wrist joints will
appear. By the end
of the 7th week, the
embryo will have
hands with wrists
and webbed fingers
as well as fanshaped feet with
emerging toes.

Nonfunctional
kidneys will have
moved to their
permanent location
by the 8th week.
The embryo will be
approximately 5 cm
long and will have a
well-defined large
head and a smooth
neck. Facial
characteristics
present will include
low-set ears with
distinguishable
auricula, widely
separated eyes,
eyelid folds above
and below the eye,
for- ward-facing
nostrils, and a
complete upper lip.
The embryo will
have all of its
rudimentary organs,
well-formed limbs,
and arteries, veins,
nerves, cartilage,
and muscles
growing into the
various body parts
and systems,
providing nutrition
and functional
support to the
emerging
structures. It will

middle of the week,

the brain will
consist of three
vesicles: forebrain,
midbrain, and hindbrain.
By the end of the
4th week, the
embryo will be
some- what
cylindrical and
about 4 mm long,
will have welldefined body
cavities and a tail at
its caudal end, and
will have
approximately 26 to
28 pairs of somites

have three
circulatory systems:
umbilical or
placental,
embryonic, and
vitelline.

Body
function
changes

Embryonic Period

Fetal Period
Stage

9-12 weeks

13-16 weeks

17-20 weeks

21-25 weeks,

26th- 29th week

Illustration

Structural
changes

Body parts will

become more
detailed, and
various body
processes and
systems will
become functional.
A well-formed
cartilaginous
skeleton
(chondroskeleton)
may be identified at
the lowest portion
of the skull, the
spine, rib cage,
scapulas, and
extremities by the
10th to 11th weeks.
Cartilaginous ribs
may be visible
under the skin. Ribs
will grow first
toward the ventral
midline, fusing with
the costal cartilages
toward the end of
this period.
The head will
remain
disproportionately

large by 12th
week.
By the 9th week,
the hands and
feet will be well
developed.

Fetal growth will be

very active during
the period of the
13th through the
16th week. The rate
of growth of the
head will have
slowed down
considerably in
relation to the
caudal structures
and lower limbs. By
the 16th week, the
entire body will be
more proportional,
and the legs will
approximate their
full-term
proportional length.
Ossification will also
be very active
during this period,
enabling the
identification of
many bones
through ultrasound
by the 16th week.
Blood vessels will
be superficial and
clearly visible under
the thin skin

Fetal changes
occurring during the
period of the 17th
through the 20th
week are not as
remarkable as
those of previous
stages. The rate of
growth of the fetus
will have decreased
markedly. By the
end of the 20th
week, all body
structures will have
approximated or
reached their final
position, and size
proportions and will
resemble their fullterm appearance.
The skin of the
fetus will be
covered with fine
hair called lanugo,
and a layer of a
greasy paste called
vernix caseosa. The
vernix caseosa will
protect the fetus
from injury to the
skin.
Emergence of
adipose tissue and
heat-producing
brown fat.

The fetuses nearly

double their weight.
By the 21st week,
the eyes will be
completely developed and primitive
rapid eye
movements may be
observed. By the
end of the 25th
week, the fetus will
have eyebrows and
open eyelids with
eyelashes. Taste
buds will have
emerged on the
tongue and mouth.
The skin will
continue to appear
thin, wrinkled, and
reddish.

Increased weight
gain, fat
accumulation, and
accelerated
maturation of the
respiratory and
central nervous
systems. The fetus
will gain about 700
g (roughly 112 lb)
of weight and by
the end of the 29th
week, will weigh
approximately
1700g.
By the 29th week,
the fetus will have
all of the external
characteristics of
full-term infants,
including full-term
body proportions,
open eyes, a head
full of hair,
fingernails and
toenails, and less
wrinkled skin
because of
increased
subcutaneous fat.
The fetus will still
be covered with
lanugo and a thick
coat of vernix
caseosa, but the
skin will appear
thicker and less

Between the 9th

and the 12th
weeks, fingernails
will begin to form.
The penis, will be
well defined by
the 12th week

reddish than during

the previous period.

Body
function
changes

The ability to
swallow will
emerge.
The kidneys will
develop lobes and
connecting tubules
and begin to
function. Fetuses
will begin to
produce urine
around the 9th
week; by the 12th
week, they will be
urinating into the
abdominal fluid.
The placenta will
begin to remove
waste products
urinated by the
fetus into the
amniotic fluid.

By the 13th week,

blood will begin to
reach the lung
epithe- lium as a
result of ongoing
capillary
proliferation

Accelerated lung
maturation is still
another important
development of this
period, preparing
the fetus for
survival. By the end
of the 17th week,
all elements of the
lungs will be
present, although
nonfunctional.

Enhanced lung
development and
the beginning of the
production of
surfactant.
The volume of
amniotic fluid will
increase as the
kidneys develop
and the fetuss
ability to urinate
into the amniotic
cavity improves.

Fetal Period
Stage

30th- 34th weeks

35th-38th weeks

Pulmonary maturity
will accelerate by
the 28th to the 29th
week. Neural
regulation of
respiration will be
well established,
and the lungs will
be sufficiently
developed to
breathe air, should
the infant be born
prematurely.
All of the neonatal
reflexes will be
present, although
not fully developed.

Illustration

Structural
changes

Weight gain will continue at an accelerated

pace, and by the 34th week, the fetus will
have reached another important weightrelated milestone: that is, the 2500 g (512
lb).
By the end of 34th week the fetus will look
like a smaller full-term infant, with a head
full of hair, pinkish and smooth skin, and a
plumpish appearance resulting from
increased subcutaneous fat accumulation
toward the end of the period.

The fetus will gain approximately 900 g

(approximately 2 lb) during the period of the
35th through the 38th weeks. At the time of
birth, average weight will be about 3.4 kg
(712 pounds). Fat will accumulate at a rate
of 14 g per day in the final weeks of the
pregnancy.

Body function
changes

Thermal regulation will be better established Chemical thermoregulation will be

by the end of the 32nd week of gestation.
improved. The fetus will be prepared to
sustain feeding, elimination, and respiration
once separated from the placenta.