Dr Iram Iqbal

In tracing the development of any vertebrate

embryo, it becomes apparent that only part of the
egg (or of its cleavage cell mass) forms the actual
embryo, whereas other parts lie outside the
embryonic territory and for this reason are called
extra embryonic. These later regions are concerned
with the elaboration of so called embryonic or
fetal membranes.
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Amnion
Chorion
Yolk sac
Allantois

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 Protection
 Respiration
 Excretion
 Placenta is a specialized membrane for which
major part is contributed by chorion and
allantois while uterine wall provides the rest.
 Umbilical cord is a vascular cable between
fetus and placenta.

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 Structure located ventral to the
bilaminar germ disc derived
from hypoblast
 Endodermal roof of the yolk sac
is composed of taller cells from
where tubular gut is fashioned
by folding, also forms blood cells
and vessels
 With growth of embryo’s body
there is progressive constriction
of embryo from the yolk sac
forming yolk stalk
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 The yolk stalk which soon is incorporated into
the umbilical cord.
 Yolk stalk detaches from the gut by the end of
5th week and presently degenrates
 The yolk sac usually persists throughout
pregnancy and sometimes can be found after
birth beneath amnion near the attachment of
umbilical cord to placenta
 Not functional as store of yolk but plays a
significant role in transfer of nutritive fluid to
embryo from trophoblast 22 jan 2010 7
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Origin Fashions from early endodermal layer

Composition Endoderm and splanchnic mesoderm

Location Yolk stalk: within umbilical cord.
Yolk sac: between amnion & placenta
Fate Disconnects from gut early. Stalk
disappears early. Sac may persist
Function Roof forms the gut. Forms blood cells
and vessels. Early absorptive function

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13 DAY EMBRYO

14 DAY EMBRYO
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 The Amnion is a thin
(but tough),
transparent,
nonvascular
membrane
containing amniotic
fluid
 The margins of the
early amnion is
attached to the
periphery of the
embryonic disc
which serves as a
floor to the amniotic
cavity 22 jan 2010 13
 With further development of the embryonic disc the
embryo takes a tubular form and the amniotic margins
also show underfolding
 Now the line of attachment becomes limited to the
ventral body wall and then becomes confined to a
constricting umbilical area
 At the end of 2nd month it fills the chorionic sac and
fuses loosely with chorion

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Origin Cavitation where inner cell mass joins
trophoblast
Composition Ectoderm and somatic mesoderm
Location Encloses embryo and umbilical cord. Attaches
to embryo at the umbilicus
Fate Persists until birth
Fuses with chorion
Covers fetal surface of placenta & after birth
Function Contains fetus immersed in amniotic fluid.

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 Protective cushion which absorbs
jolts
 Prevents adherence of the amnion
 Permits changes of fetal posture
 At childbirth the amnio-chorionic
sacas act as a hydrostatic wedge to
help ditate the neck of uterus
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 DAY 15--16

22 jan 2010 DAY 21 17

 The primitive capsule of
trophoblastic tissue forms
a sac which encloses the
embryo and all other fetal
membranes
 The chorion is associated
to the lining of the uterus
which becomes highly
specialized in the region of
placenta
 At the end of 2nd month
the amnion fuses loosely
with the chorion
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Origin Trophoblastic capsule of blastocyst
Compositi Trophoblast and somatic mesoderm of
on trophoblastic origin
Location Encloses embryo and all other fetal
membranes
Fate Frondose part becomes fetal placenta.
Smooth part fuses with decidua parietalis.
Castoff after birth
Function Placental area is the fetal organ for
nutrition, respiration and excretion
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Origin Amnion wraps about yolk stalk &
body stalk
Composition Chiefly allantoic vessels and C.T.
enveloped by the amnion
Location Connects belly wall with the fetal
side of placenta
Fate Cut of after birth and lost with
placenta. Stump withers and detaches
Function Vascular pathway between fetus and
placenta
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 Diverticulum of hind gut region of the yolk sac

 Composed of Endoderm and splanchnic mesoderm

 First lies within body stalk later within umbilical cord

 Fate--epithelium disappears early (except traces)

 Blood vessels persist which connect fetal circulation

with placenta

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Origin Diverticulum of hind gut region of
yolk sac
Composition Endoderm and splanchnic mesoderm
Location First lies within body stalk later
within umbilical cord
Fate Epithelium disappears early (except
traces). Blood vessels persist
Function Vessels connect fetal circulation with
placenta
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Presence of an enormous mass of yolk
Embryonic life spent within a shell
Blastoderm
Small disc, spreads by peripheral growth, covers
entire surface of egg
Embryo proper
Extra embryonic blastoderm
Somatopleure (ectoderm and somatic
mesoderm)
Splanchopleure (endoderm and splanchnic
mesoderm)

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This image shows the embryo getting larger and some
rippling texture beginning to form in the yolk
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As the embryo enlarges, its
circular connection with the
extraembryonic blastoderm
grows at a slower rate
This produces a constriction of
splanchnopleure where it joins
the rapidly elongating gut.
Yolk stalk
Yolk sac

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 Vitelline blood vessels
arising in splanchnic
mesoderm ramify on the
surface of yolk sac.
 Through these the
absorbed yolk substance
and oxygen are
conveyed to the chick

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Concentric sacs which arise by folding of extra
embryonic somatopleure
The doubled layered somatopleure is thrown up into two
crescentic folds.
Inner membrane is amnion
Lined with ectoderm
Covered externally with somatic mesoderm
Thin transparent sac containing amniotic fluid
Lacks blood vessels
Muscle fibres differentiate in its mesodermal layer
Produce rythmic contractions

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Outer sac of somatopleure is
chorion (serosa)
Component layers are in
reverse order to those of
amnion
Lies next to shell, encloses
both the embryo and all its
other fetal membranes and is
separated from them by extra
embryonic coelom
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This accessory organ was primarily evolved by reptiles
and birds as a temporary sac for urinary storage

Arises as an out pouching of ventral floor of the gut,

near its hind end

Layers of allantois (endoderm &splanchnic mesoderm)

Allantois sac and its expansion (in to extra-embryonic

coelom)

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Fusion with chorion

Allantoic blood vessels

Functional lung of the embryo

Reservoir for the excreta of kidney

Assist in absorption of egg albumen

Detachment of allantois(shortly before hatching)

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YOLK SAC
Marsupial and placental mammals lack an actual
yolk mass, yet a typical, stalked yolk sac appears
and produces a complete vitelline circulation in
quite young embryos
Early history and relation of this organ vary
Splanchnic mesoderm, surfacing the yolk sac is the
layer that bears the vitelline blood vessels

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Many mammals produce an amnion by folding but
the details of the process vary
In some (rabbit, carnivores)
Amnion arises by the simple folding of somatopleure
Chorion is merely all of the original trophoblastic
capsule and its lining of extra embryonic mesoderm
(other than those portions used in making the amnion)
Chorion has a diverse history but in all mammals
above marsupials it becomes functionally important by
differentiating chorionic villi and participating in the
production of placenta

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In certain other mammals (guinea pig, hedge hog,
anthropoids)
Primitive amnion cavity arises as a cleft that
separates a inner cell mass into two parts
Chorion is merely a later stage of original
trophoblastic capsule to which a lining of somatic
mesoderm has been added

In other mammals (pig, deer, rat)

Combination of the two methods of amnion
formation described above

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Many mammals like reptiles and birds produce a
prominent allantois by the sacculation of gut
splanchnopleure into extra embryonic coelom
In carnivores it become very large, lines the chorionic
sac and fuses with it. Urinary wastes collect in it & are
not excreted through placenta
In rodents and primates it is vestigial
In anthropoids a tiny endodermal tube pushes into body
stalk even before the hind gut develops
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Except for the persistence of allantoic stalk and
allantois throughout the fetal life of many
mammals, the formation and history of umbilical
cord do not differ significantly from man.

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 The subject of placentation includes all the
events that are related to the following:
1. Implantation and establishment of the embryo within
the uterus of the mother
2. The differentiation of the uterine lining into a
specialized decidual membrane
3. The development of a placenta
4. The fetal – maternal association throughout
pregnancy

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Lining membrane undergoes:
Thickening
Specialization
Vascularization
Glands
Dilated
Contain glycogen
Compact layer is the site where
embryo embeds & placenta develops

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Implantation includes the attachment of the blastocyst to
the epithelial lining of the uterus, the penetration of the
blastocyst through the epithelium and its invasion and
embedding in the compact layer of endometrium

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Loss of corona radiata during the journey down the
tube
Shortly before implantation begins, zona pellucida
disappears as well
Human blastocyst begins to attach late in the 6th day
after ovulation
Adherence of blastocyst to uterine epithelium
Thickening of trophoblastic wall of blastocyst in
the region of contact
Breakdown of cells of uterine epithelium in the
area of attachment
Completion of implantation
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Even as the blastocyst is becoming implanted, its
trophoblastic wall (future chorion) starts on a course of
specialization which will put the invader in intimate
relation with the uterine blood

Establishment is not a one sided adjustment

Location of implanted blastocyst

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 Trophoblastic lacunae
Vascular relations
Endometrial erosion
Endovascular invasion by
cytotrophoblastic cells
Hybrid vessels
Development of villi
Primary villi
Secondary villi
Tertiary villi

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A 13 DAYS HUMAN BLASTOCYST
22 jan 2010 ---- Primary
50 villi
TROPHOBLAST AT THE
END OF THIRD WEEK
OF DEVELOPMENT

Radial appearance
Intervillous spaces lined
with syncytiotrophoblast
Outer cytotrophoblast
shell

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TROPHOBLAST AT
THE BEGININING OF
2ND MONTH OF
DEVELOPMENT
Secondary & Tertiary
villi
Chorion Frondosum
Chorion Laeve
Endovascular invasion

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DEVELOPMENT OF A VILLUS

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The mucosal lining (endometrium) of the uterus,
already specialized in anticipation of pregnancy
and utilized as a nesting place by the implanting
embryo, rapidly acquires some additional
characteristics distinctive of pregnancy and then
persists throughout the gestation period.
Endometrium of pregnant uterus is named decicua
(that which falls off)

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DECIDUA BASALIS
is the part of the decidua deep
to the conceptus that forms
the maternal part of the
placenta.

DECIDUA CAPSULARIS
is the superficial part of the
decidua overlying the
conceptus.

DECIDUA PARIETALIS
all the remaining parts of
decidua.
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 The portions of chorion
participating in exchange process
are:
Chorion Frondosum
Decidua Basalis

Fusion of amnion and chorion

together form amniochorionic
membrane which rupture during
labour

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 By the beginning of fourth
month, Placenta has two
components.
Fetal portion (Chorion
Frondosum)
Maternal portion (Decidua
basalis)
Fetal side placenta is bordered
by chorionic plate while
maternal side is bordered by
decidua basalis.
Junctional zone
Intervillous space
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During 4th to 5th month decidual septa project into
intervillous spaces but do not reach chorionic plate.
Septa have a core of maternal tissue but surface is
covered by syncytial cells which separates the maternal
blood from fetal tissue of villi.

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 Placenta is divided into cotyledons by septa however
contact between them is maintained.
Placenta enlarge with advancement of pregnancy & may
occupy 15 to 30% of uterine space.

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 Discoid in shape
Diameter 15-25cm
3cm thick
Weight 500-600g
Expulsion about 30 minutes
after child birth

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No. of cotyledons 15-20 visible on maternal side after
child birth.
Cotyledons are covered by thin layer of decidua basalis.

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Fetal surface of placenta is covered by chorionic plate
Chorionic vessels converge towards umbilical cord
Attachment of umbilical cord is eccentric

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 Cotyledons receive their blood through 80-100
spiral arteries
Intervillous spaces of a mature placenta contain
approx 150ml of blood which is replenished 3-4
times / min
This blood moves along chorionic villi which have
a surface area of 4-14 meter square

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PLACENTAL MEMBRANE
Separates maternal and fetal
blood
Initially consists of four layers
Endothelial lining of fetal vessels
Connective tissue in the villus core
Cytotrophoblastic layer
Syncytium
From fourth month
Endothelial lining come in close
contact with syncytium
increasing rate of exchange
greatly

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EGG LAYING MONOTREMES
MARSUPIALS
After a brief gestation period give birth to immature
young.
Yolk sac is large and unites with chorion to form, yolk
sac-placenta
With longer gestation periods chorio -allantoic
placental relation.

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Chorio- allantoic placenta
Allantois fuses with chorion

Chorionic placenta
When allantois is insignificant or lacking

Semi placenta --- Non deciduate

Chorionic villi lie in opposition with the uterine lining but do not fuse with it.

Placenta vera (True placenta) ---

deciduate
Chorionic villi fuse with the eroded uterine mucosa

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Relation of the chorionic sac to uterine wall varies
greatly among placental mammals. In general there are
three types of implantation
Superficial / Central implantation
Carnivores, Monkey
Eccentric
Rat, Squirrel
Interstitial
Guniae pig, some bats, ape, man

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Based on the distribution pattern of villi
Diffuse
Lemurs (among primates), ungulates (sow, mare)
Cotyledonary
Cattle, Sheep and Deer
Zonary
Carnivores
Discoid
Insectivores, bats, rodents

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Based partly on the degree of contact between chorion
and uterus but more particularly upon the histological
relations established at the zone of junction of these two
components

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 Least modified placental condition
 Illustrated by lemurs, sow and mare
 The allantois and chorion unite and become jointly
vascularized by allantoic vessels, this composite
membrane comes in apposition with uterine lining
 Uterine milk
 Simple chorionic villi fit into corresponding pits in
the mucosa of uterus

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2. SYNDESMO – CHORIAL
Slight modification
Prominent villi which occupy deeper
pits in uterine lining
In some portions of uterine mucosa
between the villi, there is local
destruction of uterine epithelium which
allows the chorionic ectoderm to come
into direct contact with vascular
maternal connective tissue
Example: General type of ungulate
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3. ENDOTHELIO - CHORIAL
Erosion of uterine mucosa practically
bares the endothelium of its blood vessels
and the syncytial chorionic epithelium
then packs about these maternal vessels
At birth there is destructive separation of
placenta
Example: Carnivores

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4. HEMO – CHORIAL
Characterized by more thorough erosion of superficial
uterine mucosa
Labyrinthine type
Like endothelio-chorial except that endothelium of uterine
vessels lost.
Villous type
Each chorionic villus is, in large measure, a freely branching
tuft; these dangle in cavernous spaces and a directly bathed by
maternal blood issuing from opened vessels
Example: Lower rodents, insectivores, bats and
anthropoids
5. HEMO – ENDOTHELIAL
Nearest approach to actual intermingling of blood of the
two circulations
Example: Higher rodents (rat, guinea pig, rabbits)
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Arey’s Developmental Anatomy,
7th
edition.
Langman’s medical embryology,
10th
edition
The developing human, Keith L.
Moore, 8th edition
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