EMBRYONIC PERIOD

Dr. KHIN MA
MA

Embryogenesis
- Development of embryo between 3rd to 8th week
of IUL
- Is the period where all tissues and organs are
formed.
- Also called PERIOD OF ORGANOGENESIS

STAGES OF DEVELOPMENT

1.Pre-differentiation stage from time

of fertilization to the formation of germ
layers .
2.Embryonic period - 3rd to 8th week of
IUL , where each of the germ layers
gives rise to specific tissues and organs.
3.Foetal period 9th week to end of
intrauterine life.

Blastocyst
cavity

Embryoblast
cells
Trophoblastobla
st cells

Formation of Bilaminar germ disc

8th day.
Blastocyst- partially embedded in the endometrium.
Trophoblast ( outer cell mass)
- differentiate into two layers
1) CYTOYTOPHOBLAST layer inner, proliferative nature.
2) SYNCYTIOTROPHOBLAST layer outer , penetrative
nature
- erode the maternal tissue.
- produces h CG hormone.
Embryoblast ( inner cell mass)
- differentiate into two layers
1) HYPOBLAST layer small, cuboidal cells, lie
adjacent to blastocyst cavity.
2) EPIBLAST layer tall, columnar cells
- small cavities appear , later form
AMNIOTIC CAVITY.
- cells adjacent to cytoblast =

9th day
Blastocyst more deeply embedded in the
endometrium.
Trophoblast
- vacoules appear in the syncytiotrophoblast layer called
LACUNAE.
Embryoblast
- HEUSERS MEMBRANE appears( which lines the inner
surface of cytotrophoblast layer.)
- Blastocyst cavity becomes PRIMARY YOLK SAC /PRIMITIVE
YOLK SAC / EXOCOELOMIC CAVITY.

11th to 12th day

Blastocyst - completely embedded.
- Decidual reaction spreads through the endometrium.
Trophoblast
- syncytiotrophoblast erodes maternal capillaries which are dilated (
sinusoids) .
- lacunae continuous with sinusoids forming UTERO-PLACENTAL
CIRCULATION.
Embryoblast
- new cells are formed from wall of Primary yolk sac.
- these cells fill between cytotrophoblast
and Heusers membrane.
- called Extra-embryonic mesoderm(EEM)
or Primary mesoderm.
- large cavities appear in EEM, unite and
form CHORIONIC CAVITY ( Extra- emb: Coelom)
- EEM forms into 2 layers
a) Extra-emb: somatopleuric mesoderm
b) Extra- emb: splanchnopleuric mesoderm
c) EE Mesoderm that connects embryonic disc
and cytotrophoblast is called Connecting stalk,
which later becomes UMBILICAL CORD.

13th day
Trophoblast - formation of Primary villi
Embryoblast
- hypoblast cells migrate on the HEUSERS membrane .
- then PRIMARY YOLK SAC becomes SECONDARY YOLK
SAC.
SUMMARY
2nd week of IUL
BILAMINAR Germ Disc
formation
Amniotic cavity, chorionic
cavity & secondary yolk sac
formation.
Extra-Emb:
Mesoderm(Primary
mesoderm) formation.

APPLIED ANATOMY
1. Pregnancy test after 2nd week of IUL .
2. Non Rejection of foetus by maternal system.
3. Exposure of embryo to terratogens during the
first two weeks does not result in congenital
malformations but some cause early abortion.

Trilaminar germ disc

formation

The primitive streak appears at the beginning of the 3rd week as a thickening
of the epiblast at the caudal end of the embryonic disc.

Primitive streak
& primitive node
Primitive groove &
primitive pit

Formation of Primitive streak

- germ disc becomes slipper-shape
- a narrow linear line (PRIMITIVE STREAK) appears on
Epiblast layer in the mid-line at caudal part of disc.
- cephalic end of Primitive streak - Primitive node or
Hensens node.
- later becomes Primitive groove and Primitive pit
- cells of Epiblast migrate towards P. groove , become
flasked shaped , detach from the margin and slip between
Epiblast and Hypoblast layers.
- the new cells formed Intra-embryonic mesoderm or
Secondary Mesoderm
Seconda
- this process is called INVAGINATION.ry
Epiblast

Hypobla
st

mesode
rm

- Epiblast cells displaced the Hypoblast layer and

becomes ENDODERM layer.
- Epiblast layer becomes ECTODERM layer.
the germ disc composed of 3 layers
ECTODERM (above),
SECONDARY MESODERM(middle) and
ENDODERM (below).
GASTRULATION
- Process by which the bilaminar disc is converted
into the trilaminar disc due to formation of the
secondary (intra-embryonic) mesoderm
Ectoder
m

Mesoder
m
Endode

Derivatives of germ
layers

7/19/15

13

Formation of NOTOCHORD

Form by Epiblast cells.

Induced by primitve node and extends to prechordal plate at

cephalic end of disc.

It is solid cell cord , which lies in midline between

epiblast(ectodermal) and hypoblast(endodermal) layers

Forms basis for axial skeleton(vertebral column) and induces

formation of neuroectoderm and neural plate.

Notochordal cells in vertebral bodies disappear, but persist as

Nucleus pulposus in intervertebral discs

NEURULATION
Ectoderm on dorsal surface of slipper shaped germ disc
thickened to form NEURAL PLATE.
Lateral edges of neural plate elevated - NEURAL FOLDS.
Depressed region between the folds NEURAL GROOVE.
Neural folds fused in mid-line NEURAL TUBE.
Later , the broader cephalic portion - BRAIN & the long caudal
portion - SPINAL CORD
The specialized cells at the margin of neural plate and neural
fold - NEURAL CREST CELLS

Neurulation

7/19/15

16

Its lateral edges

Elevate to form the neural
folds
Depressed region - neural
groove
finally fuse to form neural
tube.

Derivatives of NEURAL CREST CELLS

Dorsal root ganglia

Autonomic ganglia
Ganglia od Cranial Nerves V ,VII , IX & X .
Schwann cells
Leptomeninges ( Pia & arachnoid mater)
Melanocytes
Suprarenal medulla( chromaffin cells )
Branchial arch derivatives/cartilages
Conotruncal cushions of heart

DERIVATIVES of 3 GERM
LAYERS
ECTODERM
Derivatives of Ectoderm
A. Surface Ectoderm
1.
Epidermis of skin , hair & nails.
2.
Sebaceous glands, sweat glands, lacrimal gland and mammary
glands.
3.
Anterior pituitary gland.
4.
Epithelial lining of check and gum, enamel of teeth and
salivary glands.
5.
Epithelial lining of lower part of anal canal & terminal part of
urethra.
6.
Sensory epithelium of ear , nose and eye.
7.
Corneal epithelium, conjuntiva, naso-lacrimal duct ,Lens and
retina.
B. Neuroectoderm
8.
Muscles of iris and arrectores pilorum muscle.
1.
CNS
9.
External acoustic meatus, tympanic membrane (outer part) &
2.
PNS
membranous
labyrinth.
3.
Retina of eye
4.
Pineal body ( gland )
5.
Posterior pituitary gland.

Secondary Mesoderm
- divided into 3 parts PARAXIAL
MESODERM
INTERMEDIATE MESODERM
LATERAL PLATE MESODERM

Paraxial mesoderm
- at 3rd week of IUL, it becomes segmented into blocks called
SOMITES.
- somites appear in cranio-caudal sequence
- 42-44 pairs of somites
4 occipital somites
8 cervical somites
12 thoracic somites
5 lumbar somites
5 sacral somites
8-10 cocygeal somites
- 1st occipital & last 5-8 coccygeal
somites
disappear.
BONE
&
SCLEROTO
ME

CARTILA
GE

SOMITE
DERMOMYOTOM
E

DERMATOM
E
SKI
N

MYOTOM
E
MUSCLE

INTERMEDIATE MESODERM
- UROGENITAL SYSTEM including kidneys, gonads and
their corresponding ducts.

LATERAL PLATE MESODERM

1.
.
.
.

Splits into 2 layers Parietal & visceral

Parietal layer / somatopleuric mesoderm - lines the amnion
, forms the ventral and lateral body walls.
- develops into
parietal layer of pleural , pericardial & peritoneal sacs.
dermis and subcutaneous tissue of body wall.
skeletal and muscle elements of limb buds

2. Visceral layer / splanchnic mesoderm - along with

endoderm , forms the wall of gut.
- develops into
. visceral layer of serous cavities
. muscles of the heart & gut

Fate of mesoderm
Bone & cartilage
Skeletal & smooth muscles ( except iris and arrector pilorum
m/s of skin )
Cardiovascular system & lymphatic system - heart , blood
vessels, blood cells etc.
Urogenital system ( except most of the urinary bladder ,
prostate & urethra)
Gonads
Cortex of suprarenal gland
Spleen
teeth ( except enamel )

ENDODERM
Covers the ventral surface of embryo and forms the roof of
yolk sac
Rapid growth of CNS causes lengthening of embryo causing
cephalo-caudal folding
Rapid development of somites causes broadening of
embryo and lateral folding
Flat endoderm of the embryo now becomes tubular- the
primitive gut
foregut , mid gut and hindgut
Midgut is connected with yolk sac cavity later vitelline
duct

Endodermal derivatives
Epithelium of GIT
Epithelium of respiratory tract
Duct system of liver
Thyroid & parathyroid glands
Pancreas
Tonsils & thymus
Epithelium of urinary bladder & urethra
Epithelium of tympanic cavity & auditory tube

Development of chorionic villi

Chorionic villi appears at the end of 2nd week

Primary villi Proliferation of cytotrophoblast into
syncytiotrophoblast
projections.
Secondary villi when Primary mesoderm(Mesenchyme) grows into
primary villi as a central core .
Tertiary villi when mesoderm cells in the secondary villi
differentiate into
capillaries and blood cells .

7/19/15

27

CONGENITAL ANORMALIES
EMBRYOGENESIS

or

ABNORMAL

- it is critical period of human development

- where teratogenic agents cause major congenital
anormalies
TERATOGENIC AGENTS
Physical agents ( X-radiation ) - skull defects, spina
bifida, cleft palate, mental retardation.
Drugs - Thalidomide ( amelia & phocomelia) ,streptomycin (
deafness)
Nutrional factors - iodine deficiency ( thyroid disease)
Hormonal factors - diabetes ( skeletal defects) .
Infections - German measles ( PDA, ASD ,VSD )

Human Prenatal
Development

THANK YOU