OVERVIEW OF PRENATAL DEVELOPMENTAL EVENTS, PROCESSES AND

ABNORMALITES

1ST BOARD!!!!
OVERVIEW

Prenatal development can be divided into a period of cell division (week 1 and 2 after
fertilization), an embryonic period(weeks 2 through 8), and a fetal period (weeks 9
through 38). In the first 2 weeks after fertilization, a blastocyst develops and sinks into
the mucosal lining of the uterus during implantation. It consists of a two-layered
embryonic disc of cells and three membranes that are external to it(throphoblast/chorion,
amnion, and yolk sac). Most of the organ systems develop in e main embryonic period
through week 8, and e embryo assumes a human appearance. The fetal period occupies
the last 7 months. It is a period of growth and elaboration of organs that are already
present. Three categories of genes(maternal, segmentation, and homeotic) establish
patterns and tissue fates in e embryo, and dynamic interactions between cells characterize
the differentiation and development can be classified by the cause(e.e., genetic versus
environmental), by the nature of the effect on a structure or tissue, by the relationship
between defects and by their severity.

EXTRA
1st 2 weeks :
this is aperiod of cell proliferation from the zygote to the morula, blastocyst, and
formation of the bilaminar embryonic disc. Birth defects do not originate in this period
because body systems and structures have not yet developed. Teratogens usually cause
the loss of the entire concepturs.

1st and 2nd month :

Weeks3 to 8 constitute the dynamic period of gastrulation, folding of the embryo, and the
formation of all the organ systems. Because this is the most active period of development
and differentiation, the embryo in weeks 3 to 8 is most vulnerable to major birth defects.

3rd to 9th month(birth) / fetal period :

The dominant theme in months 3 to 9 (full term) is growth of all major structures that
have already appeard. Birth defects in this period are usually not as severe or obvious and
include small size, mental retardation, and defects in e eyes, ears, teeth, and external
genitalia.

2nd BOARD
DEVELOPMENTAL HISTORY OF A HUMAN:
The stages of development from fertilization through birth are known collectively as
embrogenensis the stages r separated into fertilization, cleavage, gastrulation, and

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organogenesis. Maturation continues after birth. Gametogenesis occurs in the sexually
mature adult

FERTILIZATION OF A SECONDARY OOCYTE IN HUMANS:

A secondary oocyte is ovulated in a “developmentally arrested” state at Metaphase II in
meiosis

4th BOARD
EMBRYOLOGY SUMMARY:
 Embryology
o Development has 2 major functions: the mechanisms that generate cellular
diversity and order within each generation(differentiation) and the
formation of new organisms(reproduction)
o Embryology is e study of development between e fertilization of the
secondary oocyte and birth.
o The prenatal period is subdivided into the pre-embryonic period (the 2
weeks after fertilization), the embryonic period(between 3 abd 8 weeks
after fertilization), and the fetal period(the remaining 30 weekds prior to
birth)
 Embryogenesis
o Embryogenesis consists of three stages : cleavage, gastrulation, and
organogenesis
 Gametogenesis
o Human somatic cells contain a diploid number(23 pairs)of chromosomes :
22 pairs of autosomes(homologous chromosomes)and 1 pair of sex
chromosomes.
o During gametogenesis, cells called gametes are produced by a division
process called meiosis;gametes have a haploid number of
chromosomes(23 chromosomes only)
o MEIOSIS
 Meiosis is sex cell division that produces haploid gametes from
diploid parent cells
 Mitosis and meiosis differ in the following ways: mitosis produces
four haploid cells that are genetically different from the parent cell.
A process called crossing over odcdcurs only in meiosis and results
in the exchange of genetic material between homologous
chromosomes
 Meiosis involves 2 round of division. In meiosis I, crossing over
occurs, and pairs of homologous chromosomes separate in meiosis
II, sister chromatids separate in the same way the do in mitosis
o OOCYTE DEVELOPMENT(OOGENESIS)
 In females, oogenesis produces a single secondary oocyte, which
has 22 autosomes and 1 X chromosome
o SPERM DEVELOPMENT(SPERMATOGENESIS)

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  Spermatogenesis in the testis produces four haploid cells(sperm
cells) from each diploid primary spermatocyte. Two of these sperm
have 22 autosomes and 1 X chromosome, and 2 have 22 autosomes
and 1 Y chromosome

 Pre-embryonic period
o The preembryonic period is the time between fertilization and
implantation. A pre-embryo develops during the first 2 weeks after
fertilization.
o FERTILIZATION
 Fertilization is e process whereby 2 sex cells fuse to form a new
organism
 Sperm are not capable of fertilizing e secondary oocyte until they
undergo capacitation, a conditioning period for sperm cells after
their deposition within the female reproductive tract.
 The acrosome at the tip of the sperm cell contains digestive
enzymes that penetrate the protective layers ard the secondary
oocyte.
 The phases of fertilization r corona radiate penetration, zona
pellucida penetration, and fusion of the sperm and olocyte cell
membranes.
 When a sperm penetrates e secondary oocyte,k the secondary
oocyte completes MeiosisII and becomes an ovum, the pronuclei
of the ovum and sperm fuse and form a single diploid cell called a
zygote.
o CLEAVAGE
 The series of mitotic division of the zygote is called cleavage
 After the 3rd cleavage division, e pre-embryo cells form a
compressed ball of cells held together by tight junctions, a process
called compaction
 At e 16-cell stage, the ball of cells is called a morula.
 Upon arrival in e uterine lumen, e pre-embryo develops a single
central fluid-filled cavity and is called a blastocyst. Cells within e
blastocyst form e embryoblast (inner cell mass), which gives rise
to e embryo paper proper. The outer ring of cells forms e
trophoblast , which contributes to the placenta.
o Implantation
 Embryonic period
 Fetal period