Gestational Period
Time from last menstrual period until birth
Embryo
Fertilization through week 8
Fetus
Week 9 through birth
Capacitated
Priming, motility must be enhanced, membranes must become fragile to release hydrolytic enzymes. Fluids in Female reproductive tract prepare for sperm
5 Steps leading to a sperm entering an egg
Steps leading to true fertilization
What is cleavage?
Miotic divisions of zygote while zygote moves toward uterus, first cleavage at 36 hours (2 daughter cells).
Cleavage of cells
36 hours - 2 daughter cells
72 hours - Morula (16 cells)
4-5 days - Blastocyst (100 cells)
6-7 days - Implanting Blastocyst
Events of Implantation
Cytotrophoblast
Inner layers of cells
Syncytiotrophoblast
Cells in outer layers that start to invade and digest endometrium
Blastocyst at implantation
burrows into lining surrounded by pool of leaked blood; endometrial cells cover and seal off implanted blastocyst
What secretes hCG and what does it do?
Human Chorionic Gonadotropin, secreted by trophoblasts. Prompts corpus luteum to continue secretion of progesterone and estrogen which promotes placental development, HCG levels rise until end of 2nd month.
Placenta
It is a temporary organ from embryonic and maternal tissues.
Maternal portion = Decidua Basalis
Fetal portion = Chorionic villi
Fully formed and functional by end of third month
Roles of Amnion
Epiblast cells form transparent sac filled with amniotic fluid
Roles of Yolk sac
Forms part of digestive tube and earliest source blood cells and vessels
What’s the allantois?
Small outpocket of yolk sac, base for umbilical cord and part of urinary bladder
Chorion
Helps form placenta
Encloses embryonic body
Neurlation
17 days - Flat 3-layered embryo has completed gastrulation, notochord, and neural plate are present
20 days - Neural folds from folding of the neural plate which deepens, 3 mesodermal layers form on each side
22 days - neural folds have closed forming tube, embryonic body is beginning to undercut.
4 weeks - Embryo undercutting complete (sclerotome, myotome, dermtome)
3 vascular shunts in fetus
Ductus Venosus - Bypasses liver (umbilical vein - ductus venosus - IVC)
Foramen ovale - opening in interatrial septum; bypasses pulmonary circulation
Ductus arteriosus - bypasses pulmonary circulation (pulmonary trunk ductus arteriosus aorta)
8 weeks
Limbs present, digits webbed, cardiovascular system fully functional, head nearly as large as body
9-12 weeks
Sex readily detect, Retina of eye is present, Liver prominent and bile being secreted, blood cells formation begins in bone marrow
13-16 weeks
Cerebellum becomes prominent, blinking of eyes, face looks human and body growth beginning to outpace head.
17-20 weeks
Limbs reach near final proportions, quickening occurs, lanugo covers skin