EMBRYO Finals

Mrs. Cuico
Group 9 Reporting

Consists of two layers:

1.
Outer layer made up of somatopleuric layer of extraembryonic membrane
2.
Inner layer made up of amniogenic cells

EXTRAEMBRYONIC MEMBRANE
Overview of the extraembryonic/fetal membrane

The extraembryonic/ fetal membranes are structure that develop from zygote but do
not form any part of the embryo proper.

There are:
1.
Amnion
2.
Yolk Sac
3.
Allantois
4.
Chorion
5.
Placenta
6.
Umbilical cord

But in this presentation we only focus on the first 4 membranes since the last two
should be covered by Placenta Group

What is Amniotic Fluid?

It is a clear, watery fluid containing salt, sugar, urea, and proteins. It is derived from:
1.
Amniotic cells by filtration or secretion
2.
contains Fetal urine when kidneys start functioning
3.
Secretion of lung cells
4.
Secretion by placenta
AMNION
1.
It is a thin extraembryonic membrane that loosely envelops the embryo forming an
amniotic sac that is filled with the amniotic fluid
2.
The amniotic sac is lined by ectodermal cells of inner cell mass and amniogenic cells
of trophoblast
3.
As the amniotic sac enlarges during the late embryonic period (about 8 weeks) due to
collection of more amniotic fluid within it, the amnion gradually surrounds the whole
embryo and unsheathes the developing umbilical cord

The amniotic cavity grows at the expense of extraembryonic coelom, which gets
obliterated and fusion occurs between amnion and chorion

Location of Amnion

Constituents of amniotic fluid

1.
Metabolites and hormones (HCG, HPL)
2.
Cells that are sloughed of from fetal lungs, placenta, and amniotic sac (all these cells
have same genetic composition)
3.
Fetal urine
Functions of the amniotic fluid
1.
Permits symmetrical development and growth.
2.
Provides a water-cushion to protect the developing embryo and fetus from jolts that
the mother may receive
3.
Helps to maintain a consistent pressure and temperature
4.
Allows free fetal movement an important prerequisite for musculoskeletal
development and blood flow
5.
forms hydrostatic bag (bag of waters) that helps in dilatation of the cervix at the
beginning of the labor
Clinical correlation of Amnion
1.
Amniocentesis
2.
Oligohydramnions
3.
Polyhydramions
What is Amniocentesis?

is the procedure by which Amniotic fluid is aspirated from the amniotic cavity for
diagnostic purposes.
1.
2.

Layers of Amnion

(During 14th or 15th weeks of pregnancy)

(175 225ml of amniotic fluid is to be extracted)

Amniocentesis: Removal of Amniotic Fluid

1.
Uses Of

Amniocentesis
To examine the chromosomes in cells of amniotic fluid.
To detect defective enzyme
To detect neural tube defects( - fetoprotein indicates neural tube defects)
Sex of a fetus can also be detected because fetal urine is added to the amniotic fluid
(by detection of male/female hormone.)

Oligohydramion

It is clinical condition in which the volume of amnionic fluid is less than normal
o
Normal amount:
700 1000ml
o
oligohydramnios:
400 ml or less

Cause of oligohydramion
o
Placental insufficiency with reduced placental blood flow.
o
Aged kidneys
o
Loss of amniotic fluid due to preterm rupture of amnion.
Polyhydramions

Is excessive accumulation of amniotic fluid (2000ml or more) in the amniotic fluid.

Cause of polyhydramion
o
Occurs due to esophageal atresia or defects of
central nervous
system(CNS) because of which the fetus is unable to swallow the amniotic
fluid and consequently it is not absorbed in the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) of
fetus.
o

2.

3.

Primary Yolk

Cavity of blastocyst is converted into primary yolk sac when flattened cells
(derived from endoderm of embryoblast) form a lining. This lining is called
Heusers membrane

is
Attached to undersurface of the embryonic disc

is formed at the end of the 2nd week

Secondary Yolk Sac

Cells lining the yolk sac becomes cuboidal in shape

Appearance of extra embryonic coelom

Primary yolk sac becomes smaller and is termed secondary yolk sac
Tertiary Yolk Sac or Definitive Yolk sac

Remnant of secondary yolk sac

Takes up most of the yolk sac inside the body as embryo folds to form
primitive gut

Portion of yolk sac not taken up inside the embryos body is termed as
tertiary/definitive yolk sac

Communicates with midgut via vittellointestinal duct.

Functions of Yolk Sac

Hemopoiesis
o
Produces blood for the embryo until liver is formed during the 6th week

Formation of Primitive Gut

o
Dorsal portion forms the primitive gut

YOLK SAC
What isYolk Sac?

A membrane outside the embryo that is connected by a tube (called the yolk stalk)
through the umbilical opening to the embryos midgut.

Endodermal sac lying ventral to the embryonic disc

Vestigial structure in human with nutritive yolk inside

Development of Yolk Sac

Yolk Sac develops from the cavity of blastocyst(blastocoele) and passes through the 3
stages of development:
1.
Primary Yolk sac
2.
Secondary Yolk Sac
3.
Tertiary Yolk Sac

Formation of Primordial germ cells

o
Primordial germ cells form from the wall of the yolk sac and migrate to the
developing gonads during the 4th week where primitive germ cells are
formed(spermatogonia or oogonia)

Formation of Allantois
o
Small diverticulum that arises from caudal part of the yolk sac

ALLANTOIS
What is Allantois?

Allantois is a small diverticulum that arises from the caudal part of the yolk sac during
the third week.

It develops and grows into the connecting stalk.

After the folding of embryo, the allantois is connected with the dilated terminal of the
hindgut called cloaca.
Functions of Allantois

It is vascularized by allantoic vessels that later become fetal umbilical arteries and
vein.

In adults, it is represented by Median umbilical ligament

It also contributes a bit to the formation of urinary bladder

CHORION
What is Chorion and its function?

It is highly specialized extraembryonic membrane that participates in the formation of

the placenta

It is formed by the somatopleuric layer of extraembryonic mesoderm and trophoblast.

Numerous small finger like projections arise from its surface called villi.

a.
b.

on the side of decidua capsularis, the chorion villi regree/disappear, leaving

a smooth surface called chorion leave(smooth chorion)
on the side of decidua basalis, the chorion villi further develop and grow in
the decidua basalis to contribute the fetal portion of the placenta. It is called
Chorion frondosum(leafy chorion) .