Fertilization | Early Cell Division | Embryonic Stage | Placenta and Amnion | Fetal Circulation

A. FERTILIZATION:
1. FUSION OF THE SPERM NUCLEI AND OOCYTE COMPLETE
FERTILIZATION.

Ovum: corona radiata - granulosa cells

zona pellucida - polysaccharide shell
membrane changes to prevent multiple sperm
from fertilizing ova

a. Sperm penetrates corona radiata

b. Attaches to zona pellucida
c. Acrosome of sperm releases trypsin like enzyme
d. Sperm penetrates
e. Egg membrane depolarizes ( Na diffuses in, Ca out)
f. Cortical granules released
g. Zona hardens
h. Prevents multiple fertilizations
i. Secondary Oocyte divides
j. Polar body formed, egg and sperm nucleus fuse
2. THE RESULTING CELL IS CALLED A ZYGOTE
3. 18 - 36 HOURS AFTER FERTILIZATION THE ZYGOTE CLEAVES

Fertilization | Early Cell Division | Embryonic Stage | Placenta and Amnion | Fetal Circulation

B. EARLY CELL DIVISION

1. THE CELLS REPRESENTED IN THE CLEAVAGE STAGE HAVE
THE ABILITY TO FORM ALL THE CELLS NECESSARY FOR
NORMAL DEVELOPMENT.
2. CELL NUMBER MAY BE DECREASED, INCREASED, OR
ALTERED WITHOUT EFFECT TO THE EMBRYO.
3. THE 16 CELL STAGE IS TERMED THE MORULA (3 days)
4. THE CELLS OF THE MORULA ARE " PLURIPOTENT "
5. MORULA ENTERS THE UTERINE CAVITY at 3 days BUT DOES
NOT ATTACH
 6. AT ABOUT 7 DAYS GESTATION A BLASTOCYST IMPLANTS
INTO THE UTERINE WALL
7. THE TROPHOBLAST CELLS ERODE THE UTERINE LINING AND
FORM POCKETS CALLED LACUNAE.
8. THE TROPHOBLAST IS NOW TERMED THE CHORION
9. THE TROPHOBLAST AND LATER THE CHORION SECRETE HCG
. HCG PREVENTS IMMUNE ATTACK FROM MOTHER
a. HCG MAINTAINS THE CORPUS LUTEUM
FSH and LH from pituitary supressed - no menses

corpus luteum of ovulation - regresses if no pregnancy

size : 1 - 2 cm
corpus luteum of pregnancy - size : 2 - 3 cm

C.
Fertilization | Early Cell Division | Embryonic Stage | Placenta and Amnion | Fetal Circulation
D.
E. EMBRYONIC STAGE ( WEEK 2 - 8 )
1. CELLS OF THE INNER CELL MASS FLATTEN TO FORM THE
EMBRYONIC DISK ( twins develop at 10 - 14 days )
2. AN OUTER ECTODERM AND INNER ENDODERM IS FORMED
3. LATER THE THIRD LAYER ( MESODERM ) IS PRODUCED
4. THESE THREE LAYERS FORM THE PRIMARY GERM LAYERS
5. HUMANS ARE TERMED " TRIPLOBLASTIC "
6. FOLLOWING IS A SUMMARY OF CELL TYPES PRODUCED BY
EACH LAYER.

MESODERM: DERMIS OF SKIN

CIRCULATORY SYSTEM
MUSCLE
BONES ( EXCEPT FACIAL )
ENDODERM: LINING OF GI TRACT
LINING OF LUNGS
KIDNEY DUCTS AND BLADDER
THYMUS
THYROID
TONSILS
ECTODERM: EPIDERMIS OF SKIN
TOOTH ENAMEL
LENS AND CORNEA OF THE EYE
OUTER EAR
BRAIN AND SPINAL CORD
 FACIAL BONES
SKELETAL MUSCLES IN THE HEAD

7. EMBRYONIC DISK BECOMES CYLINDRICAL AND ATTACHED

TO THE DEVELOPING PLACENTA BY A STALK.
8. EMBRYO DEVELOPS HEAD, FACIAL FEATURES, LEGS, MOUTH
AND APPEARS HUMAN IN APPEARANCE.
9. CHRIONIC VILLI DEVELOP AND ARE SURROUNDED BY
MATERNAL BLOOD

Fertilization | Early Cell Division | Embryonic Stage | Placenta and Amnion | Fetal Circulation

F. PLACENTA AND AMNION

1. PLACENTA MEMBRANE CONSISTS OF THE FOLLOWING:
. EPITHELIUM OF THE VILLI
a. EPITHELIUM OF THE CAPILLARIES IN THE VILLI
2. O2 AND NUTRIENTS DIFFUSE FROM MATERNAL TO FETAL
BLOOD.
3. CO2 AND OTHER METABOLIC WASTES DIFFUSE OUT
4. PLACENTA DEVELOPS IN THE AREA WHERE THE CHORION
REMAINS IN CONTACT WITH THE ENDOMETRIUM

Produces: estrogen ( estradiol, esterone, estriol )

progesterone
human chorionic somatomammotropin
corpus luteum produces: polypeptide hormone relaxin
inhibits smooth muscle
contraction of myometrium
and relaxes ligaments in
sacroiliac and pubis symp.

5. Functions of Various Hormones

6. adrenal cortex increases secretions of aldosterone
7. function: renal reabsorption of sodium leading to increases fluid
retention.
8. parathyroid hormone secretions increase
9. function: maintains higher Ca levels
10. progesterone from placenta and corpus luteum: development of
decidua cells important for nutrition of embryo. Manufactured from
cholesterol
11. decreased uterine contractions
12. increased secretions by uterine tubes and uterus for developing
morula/blastula
* peak of progesterone at 6 weeks
13. Estrogens from placenta and corpus luteum: increase size in uterus,
breasts and external genitalia . Estrogen produced by adrenals in fetus
from progesterone
14. * peak of estrogens at 3 - 4 weeks
15. Human chorionic somatomammotropin from placenta:
0. partial breast development
1. actions similar to growth hormone
2. glucose level decreased in mother
3. promotes release of fatty acids
* also known as placental lactogen

Inhibin : produced by ovaries and inhibits FSH production

HCG: produced by chorionic cells

reaches peak in urine at 9 weeks

16. PLACENTA HAS TWO MAIN PARTS OR DIVISIONS

. EMBRYONIC PORTION WITH VILLI AND CHORION
a. MATERNAL PORTION INCLUDING UTERINE WALL
17. THE AMNION FORMS AROUND THE EMBRYO ENCLOSED IN
THE AMNIOCHORIONIC MEMBRANE.
18. UMBILICAL CORD IS FORMED
. CONTAINS 2 ARTERIES AND 1 VEIN
a. SUSPENDS EMBRYO IN AMNIOTIC CAVITY
19. YOLK SAC FORMS
. PRODUCES BLOOD CELLS AND PRECURSOR SEX CELLS
a. AIDS IN FORMATION OF THE DIGESTIVE TUBE
20. ALLANTOSIS
. EXTENDS FROM YOLK SAC INTO CONNECTING STALK
a. FORMS BLOOD CELLS
b. FORMS UMBILICAL VESSELS

Placenta :
* 10 days first evidence of placenta
* lakes or lacuna formed by trophoblast
* embryo derives nutrients from lacuna
* placenta initially surrounds blastocyst
* vessels appear at day 19
* villi arranged in groups called cotyledona
* 12 wk discoid type placenta- functional
* each cotyledon supplied by 1 or 2 arterioles
* final form 18 - 20 weeks
* typical size at delivery App. 500 grams (1 lb )

blood flow: 625 ml per minute

mothers blood flow volume 30 %
mother must increase nutrition
Ca, Phosphorus, Protein, Iron

* 325 mg iron needed to form fetal blood cells

* 600 mg iron needed to increase mothers blood volume

Fetal membranes

Organ Composition Function

yolk sac endoderm and splanchnic Forms gut, blood cells
membrane vessels
Allantois Ibid Vessels connect fetal circ.
placenta
Amnion Ectoderm and somatic Contains fetus immersed
mesoderm fluid sole cavity of later
pregnancy
Chorion Ectoderm (trophoblast) and Placental area is organ for
somatic mesoderm resp. nutrition digestion
Umbilical Cord Amnion wraps about the Vascular path between
yolk sac and body stalk mother and fetus

2nd week - 2 layer embryo:

3. gastrulation inner cell mass becomes 3 layers

4. at 7 days trophoblast connects with endometrium
5. cells lose boundry and become syncytium
6. inner cell mass cleft produces amnion
 7. 9 days embryo well within uterine wall
syncytial trophoblast - thick and spongy
cellular trophoblast forms
8. 11 days primitive mesoderm appears
9. 13 day yolk sac appears
10. splanchnic mesoderm around yolk sac
somatic mesoderm covers amnion and lines chorion
11. Heart pumps at 20 days
12. Fetal RBC formed at 21 days. Fetal RBC are
13. Fetal vessels appear throughout body and body stalk
14. Connect allantoic sac to fetal abdomen
15. Umbilical cord forms : blood vessels are connected and urachus
connected to fetal bladder.
16. Allantoic sac atrophies rapidly
17. Organ development complete by 12th week
18. Most malformations occur during first 12 weeks gestation
19. medications and immunizations should be avoided until after 12th
week

Organs of Pregnancy :

Organ Composition Function

Decuida - that part lost at pregnancy or at menses. Also the part around ectopic
pregnancy

D. Parietalis (vera) Non implantion area of uterus

Pro gravid endo. potential but unused site of implantation

D. Capsularis Outer ply of amnion

(reflexa) superficial part of endometrium of pregnancy

D. Basalis Maternal Placenta

(serotina) Endometrium of pregnancy beneath chorionic
sac.
Supplies maternal blood to placenta

Chorionic Tissue

C. Laeve Smooth area of chorion

Lacks villi
middle ply of amnionic sac
 C. Frondosum Chorion attached to D. Basalis
Fetal portion of placenta

Fertilization | Early Cell Division | Embryonic Stage | Placenta and Amnion | Fetal Circulation

G. FETAL CIRCULATION
1. AFTER 8 WEEKS GESTATION EMBRYO IS CALLED A FETUS
2. FETAL CIRCULATION IS MUCH DIFFERENT THAN ADULT
3. THE MAIN DIFFERENCES ARE:
. UMBILICAL VEIN TRANSPORTS O2 RICH BLOOD TO THE
FETUS
A. FETAL BLOOD HAS MUCH MORE CAPACITY TO CARRY
O2
B. VEIN CARRIES BLOOD TO THE LIVER AND IS
PARTIALLY SHUNTED BY THE DUCTUS VENOSUS
C. THIS ALLOWS ABOUT HALF OF THE BLOOD TO BYPASS
THE LIVER
D. THE DUCTUS JOINS THE INFERIOR VENA CAVA
E. BLOOD FROM THE LOWER PART OF THE FETAL BODY IS
MIXED WITH O2 RICH BLOOD FROM PLACENTA
F. BLOOD IS FORCED INTO THE RIGHT ATRIUM
G. THE FETAL HEART HAS AN OPENING BETWEEN THE
RIGHT AND LEFT ATRIUM THAT SHUNTS BLOOD AWAY
FROM THE PULMONARY CIRCULATORY SYSTEM.
H. THE OPENING IS CALLED THE FORAMEN OVALE
I. THE DUCTUS ARTERIOSUS CONDUCTS BLOOD AWAY
FROM THE PULMONARY TRUNK TO THE AORTA ( LUNG
BYPASS )