INTRODUCTION TO EMBROYOLGY

DR ELIZABETH ODONDI
DEF:
Study of growth, development and differentiation of an organism from a single fertilized ovum
into an independent living being
Terminologies in embryology
Oocyte: female germ cell/ sex cell

Sperm: male germ cell/sex cell

Zygote: a cell that results from the union of a sperm and oocyte during fertilization

Embryo: developing human in its early stages, extends from the time of fertilization to wk 8
Terms ct
Fetus: a developing human from wk 8 to birth

Morula: a solid mass of cells about (12 32) formed following a series of mitotic cell divisions of
the zygote

Blastocyst: formation of a fluid filled cavity in the morula results into a blastocyst

Growth: increase in size and weight of an organism

Terms ct
Differentiation: increase in cellular complexity and degree of organization of an organism

Ontogenetic development: involves transformation from a fertilized ovum to a new adult

individual

Phylogenetic development: a gradual historical transformation of forms of life from a simple to a

more complex organism.
Growth periods
Growth and development of an organism is interrelated in a continuous process.

Can be divided into prenatal and postnatal

PRENATAL PERIOD
Embryonic : 0 8weeks of development
Fetal: 9 to birth
POSTNATAL PERIOD
Neonate: from birth 4weeks
Infancy: first year of life
Early childhood: 1 6yrs
Late childhood: 6 10 yrs
Adolescence:
Boys: (10 12) 20 yrs
Girls: (8 10) 18yrs

adulthood
Descriptive terminologies in embryology
Terminologies ct
CELL CYCLE
This refers to a self regulated sequence of events that controls cell growth and cell division

The goal of the cell cycle is to produce two daughter cells identical to the parent cell

Cell cycle incorporates 2 principal phases

Interphase
M phase
Interphase is further subdivided
Gap phase 1 ( G1)
Synthesis phase (S)
Gap phase 2 (G2)
Checkpoints
These are internal quality control mechanism that control transition between cell cycle stages
Therefore the cell cycle can only proceed if certain conditions are met
Gap phase 1
Longest phase and begins at the end of mitosis
The cell gathers nutrients and synthesizes RNA together with proteins necessary for DNA
synthesis
2 checkpoints
a) Restriction checkpoint
Sensitive to size of the cell

b) G1 DNA damage checkpoint

It monitors integrity of newly replicated DNA
If DNA is damaged the cell undergoes apoptosis
S phase
DNA is replicated and new chromatids are formed, that will become obvious during mitosis
Checkpoints
a) S DNA damage: monitors quality of replicating DNA
Gap phase 2
The cell prepares for cell division
This is a period of cell growth and reorganization of cytoplasmic organelles
2 checkpoints:
a) G2 DNA damage checkpoint
b) Unreplicated DNA checkpoint. This prevents progression of the cell into M phase before
DNA synthesis is complete
MITOSIS
Process of nuclear and cellular divisions that produces 2 daughter cells with the same
chromosome and DNA content

It consists of 4 phases
Prophase
Metaphase
Anaphase
telophase
PROPHASE
Replicated chromosomes condense and become visible
Sister chromatids are held together at the centromere
At late prophase aka prometaphase, the nuclear envelope begins to disintegrate
The nucleolus completely disappear
 metaphase
Chromosomes aline at the equator of the cell
Chromatids remain attached to the centromeres via microtubules

ANAPHASE
Separation of sister chromatids with pulling of the chromatids to the opposite poles of the cell by
molecular motors
Telophase
Reconstitution of nuclear envelope
The chromosomes uncoil and become indistinct
The nucleoli reappear
Cytoplasm divides