10.

0 Reproduction, Growth
& Development
10.1 Sexual Reproduction in Human
 Today’s Lesson
a. Spermatogenesis and oogenesis;
b. The passage and development of sperms from the
testis to the oviduct for fertilisation;
c. The process of fertilisation and implantation;
d. The roles of hormones in menstrual cycle and
pregnancy;
e. The stages in embryonic development;
f. The roles of placenta, chorion, amniotic fluid and
allantois in foetal development;
g. The process of parturition.
3 Days- After 30 hours –
reach 1st clevage
uterus

6-7 Days 3 months–

4 weeks- Notocord
Organogenesis degenerate
 Early Embryonic Development
Cleavage: mitotic cell divisions begin, converting
the zygote to a multicellular organism
Morula - solid ball of cells
Blastula - hollow, fluid-filled ball of cells

Gastrulation: major cellular reorganization into 2

or 3 tissue (germ) layers:
• Ectoderm: skin, nervous system
• Endoderm: lining of gut and internal organs
• Mesoderm: muscles, bones, heart

Organogenesis [Organ formation]: sets

of cells become specialized for a specific
function - heart, liver, brain
Cleavage - 1 cell becomes many

How you looked as a blastula....

Gastrulation into 3 germ layers

 WEEK 1 & 2
• The first week of human development begins with fertilization of
the egg by sperm forming the zygote, followed by early cell
division forming the blastocyst. These notes also cover events
before fertilization formation of both the egg and sperm,
gametogenesis.
• Initially, there is a halving of chromosomal content in the
gametes, which is restored by fertilization, allowing genetic
recombination to occur. This is then followed by a series of cell
divisions without cytoplasmic growth. During this first week the
egg, then zygote, then the blastula is moving along the uterine
horn into the uterus for implantation in the uterine wall.
• Implantation also begins in this first week, and is completed by
the end of the second week.
Cleavage of zygote
 Cell divisions (cleavage)

First stages of segmentation of a fertilized mammalian

ovum.
z.p. Zona pellucida. p.gl. Polar bodies. a. Two-cell stage.
b. Four-cell stage. c. Eight-cell stage. d, e. Morula stage.
 Morula
• A morula is an embryo at an early stage of
embryonic development, consisting of cells (called
blastomeres) in a solid ball contained within the zona
pellucida.
• The morula is produced by embryonic cleavage, the
rapid division of the zygote. Once the zygote has
divided into 32 cells, it begins to resemble a
mulberry. Within a few days after fertilization, cells
on the outer part of the morula become bound
tightly together & becoming nearly indistinguishable.
• Day 4
The cells of the morula then secrete a viscous liquid,
causing a central cavity to be formed, forming a hollow
ball of cells known as the blastocyst.
• Cell division with no significant growth, producing a cluster of
cells that is the same size as the original zygote, is called
cleavage.
• At least four initial cell divisions occur, resulting in a dense ball
of at least sixteen cells called the morula.
• The cells of the morula are at first closely aggregated, but
soon they become arranged into an outer or peripheral layer,
(trophoblast), & an inner cell mass, from which the embryo is
developed.
• Fluid collects between the trophoblast and the greater part of
the inner cell-mass.
• After the 7th cleavage has produced 128 cells, the embryo is
called a blastocyst.
• The blastocyst is a structure
formed in the early gestation of
vertebrates.
• It possesses an inner cell mass
(embryoblast), which forms the
embryo, & an outer layer of cells,
trophoblast, surrounding the
inner cell mass and a fluid-filled
cavity known as the blastocoele.
• The human blastocyst comprises
70-100 cells.
• Blastocyst formation begins at
day 5 after fertilization in
humans.
 Development Cycle
• The blastocyst develops from the morula, a solid ball of
about 16-20 undifferentiated, spherical cells within the
zona pellucida. As cell division continues, the
blastomeres change their shape and tightly align
themselves against each other, forming the fluid-filled
cavity called the blastocoele.
• The cells now forming differentiate into two types, an
inner-cell mass growing on the interior of the blastocele
and cells growing on the exterior of it. In 24 to 48 hours,
the zona pellucida breaches, referred to as hatching.
This removes the constraint on the physical size of the
cell mass.
• Day 5
• The cells on the exterior of the blastocyst begin
excreting an enzyme which erodes epithelial uterine
lining and creates a site for implantation.
• The cells surrounding the blastocyst now destroy cells in
the uterine lining, forming small pools of blood, which in
turn stimulate the production of capillaries. This is the
first stage in the growth of the placenta.
• The inner cell mass of the blastocyst divides rapidly,
forming two layers. The top layer becomes the embryo,
and cells from there occupy the amniotic cavity. At the
same time, the bottom layer forms a small sac.
• The blastocyst stage gives way to the gastrula when the
embryonic cells change form and differentiate into three
layers.
Gastrulation occurs when a blastula, made up of one layer, folds
inward and enlarges to create a gastrula. This diagram is color-
coded: ectoderm, blue; endoderm, green; blastocoel (the yolk
sack), yellow; and archenteron (the gut), purple.
Gastrulation is followed by organogenesis, when
individual organs develop within the newly formed
germ layers
 Implantation

process of
attachment and
invasion of the
uterus endometrium
by the blastocyst.
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• The cells of the trophoblast form the ectoderm of the chorion
and play an important part in the development of the
placenta.
• On the deep surface of the inner cell mass, a layer of flattened
cells, called the endoderm, is differentiated and quickly
assumes the form of a small sac, called the yolk sac.
• Spaces appear between the remaining cells of the mass and,
by the enlargement and coalescence of these spaces, a cavity
called the amniotic cavity is gradually developed.
• The floor of this cavity is formed by the embryonic disk, which
is composed of a layer of prismatic cells, the embryonic
ectoderm, derived from the inner cell mass and lying in
apposition with the endoderm.
 Today’s Lesson
a. Spermatogenesis and oogenesis;
b. The passage and development of sperms from the
testis to the oviduct for fertilisation;
c. The process of fertilisation and implantation;
d. The roles of hormones in menstrual cycle and
pregnancy;
e. The stages in embryonic development;
f. The roles of placenta, chorion, amniotic fluid and
allantois in foetal development;
g. The process of parturition.
 Placental circulation
• From the 4th week of development until birth, the placenta, a
combination of maternal & embryonic tissues, transports
nutrients, respiratory gases & waste between the embryo or fetus
& the mother.
• Maternal blood enters the placenta in arteries, flows through
blood pools in the endometrium, & leaves via veins.
• Embryonic or fetal blood, which remains in vessels, enters the
placenta through arteries & passes through capillaries in
fingerlike chorionic villi, where oxygen & nutrients are required.
As indicated in the drawing, the fetal (embryonic) capillaries & villi
project into the maternal portion of the placenta.
• Fetal blood leaves the placenta through veins leading back to the
fetus.
• Materials are exchanged by diffusion, active transport, & selective
absorption between the fetal capillary bed & the maternal blood
pools.
CHORION
The chorion, is the outer membrane
that surrounds the amnion, the Additionally, the chorion has a
embryo, and other membranes and special feature called chorion
entities in the womb. It is considered villi. The villi sprout from the
as the support platform of the fetus chorion in order to reach more
and the amnion. maternal blood, the main fluid
that carries nutrients from the
mother’s food to the embryo.
They also serve as a fence
between the fetal blood and the
Two layers form the chorion – maternal blood during
trophoblast as the outer layer, the time of fetal development.
and mesoderm as the inner
layer. The mesoderm is the one
in contact with the amnion. The The chorion provides additional
trophoblast provides the protection for the embryo, but it
nutrients for the fetus during its also promotes the exchange of
confinement, while the ectoderm nutrients and other necessary
further develops into many parts fluids between the mother and
of the embryo’s body, like teeth the embryo.
and the nervous system.
1.Both the amnion and the chorion are extra embryonic membranes found
in reptiles, birds, and mammals.

2.The amnion is the inner membrane that surrounds the embryo, while the
chorion surrounds the embryo, the amnion, and other membranes.

3.The amnion is filled with amniotic fluid that holds the embryo in
suspension, while the chorion also acts as a protective barrier during the
embryo’s development.

4.The amnion is made up of tresodeum and ectoderm, while the chorion

includes the trophoblast and the mesoderm.

5.The chorion has a special feature called chorion villi, which acts like a
barrier between maternal blood and fetal blood. It absorbs maternal blood
for the embryo’s substance and other necessities, while the amnion plays a
part in the delivery stage. The rupture of the membrane is a signal that the
fully formed offspring is ready to come out of the womb.
 Today’s Lesson
a. Spermatogenesis and oogenesis;
b. The passage and development of sperms from the
testis to the oviduct for fertilisation;
c. The process of fertilisation and implantation;
d. The roles of hormones in menstrual cycle and
pregnancy;
e. The stages in embryonic development;
f. The roles of placenta, chorion, amniotic fluid and
allantois in foetal development;
g. The process of parturition.
 Birth or parturition,
1st stage is opening up is brought about by a
& thinning of the series of strong,
cervix, ending with
complete dilation.
rhythmic uterine
contractions.

2nd stage is expulsion or

delivery of the baby.
Continuous strong
contractions force the fetus
down & out of the uterus &
vagina. The umbilical cord is
The final stage is cut & clamped at this time.
delivery of the placenta,
which normally follows
the baby.