First Week of

Human Development
(Part 2)
Prepared by:
Mr. Jay Flores Tandan
Fertilization
-usual site is in the ampulla of the
uterine tube
-chemical signals (Attractants),
secreted by the oocyte and
surrounding follicular cells guide
the capacitated sperms to the
oocyte
-takes approximately 24 hours
*if the oocyte is not fertilized in
the ampulla, it slowly passes
along the tube to the body of the
uterus, where it degenerates and
is resorbed
Phases of Fertilization

Passage of sperm through

corona radiata
-dispersal of the follicular cells
result mainly from the action of
the enzyme hyaluronidase
released from the acrosome of
the sperm and also assisted by
tubal mucosal enzymes;
movements of the tail of the
sperm are also important in its
penetration of the corona radiata
Penetration of the zona
pellucida
-formation of a pathway also
results from the action of
enzymes released from the
acrosome;
the enzymes esterases, acrosin,
and neuraminidase cause lysis of
the
zona pellucida
-once the sperm penetrates the
zona pellucida, a zona reaction
occurs that makes it
impermeable to the other sperms
Fusion of cell membranes of
the oocyte and sperm
-fuse and breakdown at the area
of fusion
-head and tail of the sperm enter
the cytoplasm of the oocyte, but
the sperms cell membrane and
mitochondria remains behind
Completion of Meiosis II of oocyte
and formation of female
pronucleus
-penetration of the oocyte by a sperm
activates the oocyte into completing
Meiosis II and forming a mature oocyte
and a second polar body
-following decondensation of the
maternal chromosomes, the nucleus of
the mature oocyte becomes the female
pronucleus
Formation of the male
pronucleus
-within the cytoplasm of the
oocyte, the nucleus of the sperm
enlarges to form the male
pronucleus and the tail of the
sperm degenerates

Ootid
-oocyte containing the two
As the pronuclei fuse into a single
diploid aggregation of
chromosomes, the ootid becomes
a zygote;
the chromosomes in the zygote
become arranged on a cleavage
spindle in preparation for
cleavage of the zygote
Cleavage of Zygote
Cleavage
-consists of repeated mitotic
divisions of the zygote, resulting
in a rapid increase in the number
of cells (Blastomeres);
these cells become smaller with
each successive cleavage
division
-occurs as the zygote passes
along the uterine tube toward the
uterus
-begins approximately 30 hours
after fertilization
 Compaction
-after the nine-cell stage
-blastomeres change their
shape and tightly align
themselves against each other
to form a compact ball of cells
-permits greater cell-to-cell
interaction and is a prerequisite
for segregation of the internal
cells
 Morula
-12 to 32 blastomeres
-internal cells of which are
surrounded by trophoblastic
cells
-forms approximately 3 days
after fertilization as it enters the
uterus