King Faisal University

College of Applied Medical Sciences

Respiratory Care Department
MSRT411: Perinatal and Pediatric Respiratory Care

Embryonic Development of
Pulmonary System

Ghazi Alotaibi, PhD, RRT

Lec01-Sep13
 The Beginning of Human Life
• Fertilization (union of perm and ovum) occurs in
the fallopian tube.
• Duration of pregnancy is 9 calendar months (40
wks).
• Three Stages of Human Development:
• Period from conception to complete implantation
(about 2 wks)--- OVUM
b. End of ovum stage to around 55 days-EMBRYO.
-- major organ systems are developed in this stage.
-- drug, infections, radiation can affect embryo in this
sage.

c. End of embryonic period to end of pregnancy --

FETUS.
-- major organs continue to grow
• The fertilized ovum starts cellular division as it
travels through the fallopian tube toward the uterus.
• Enter the uterus when it reaches 16-50 cells.
• Fluid starts to gather around the ovum
• Ovum attaches to the lining of the uterus
(endometrium) to start implantation.
• Cells start to grow and differentiate.
Development of Pulmonary System
• Five Stages of Lung Development:
2. Embryonic Stage.
3. Pseudoglandular Stage.
4. Canalicular Satge.
5. Saccular Stage.
6. Alveolar stage.
 1. Embryonic Stage.
• From day 26- day 52.
• At day 26 following conception, lung emerges as
a bud from the pharynx.
• Lung bud elongates and forms 2 bronchial buds
and trachea.
• Separated from Esophagus.
• More divisions continue.
## By the end of Embryonic Stage:
• Major airways have developed (how many
branches in R and L?)
• Pulmonary arteries and veins start to develop.
• Diaphragm start to develop.
 2. Pseudoglandular Stage
• From day 52- day week 16.
• Further divisions leads to completion of the entire
conducting system.
• Once complete, they grow in size.
• Cilia appear in the trachea, main bronchi, and peripheral
airways.
• Goblet cells and submucosal glands start to grow. (what is
the function of Goblet cells?)
• Smooth muscles surrounding the airways start to grow.
• Cartilages start to develop.
• Lymphatic system appears in lung and hilar region.
 3. Canalicular Stage

• From Wk 17- Wk 28.

• Capillaries (vascular channels) begin to approximate airway
passages and form a capillary network.
• The acinar unit (What are they?) start to develop.
• Type I and Type II cells start to appear. (What are their
functions?).
• Surfactant is produced (immature at this stage)
• By the end of this period: the air-blood barrier is thin
enough to support gas exchange.
During Canalicular Stage, a terminal bronchiole leads to a
prospective acinus.
 4. Saccular Stage
• Wk 29- Wk 36.
• Small sacs (saccules) appears and subdivide by crests
into subsaccules.
 5. Alveolar Stage
• Wk 36 –term
• Subsaccules develop into alveoli.
• !! Alveoli can be present at the end of stage 4.
• Mature Surfactant is produced.

• At Birth:
• Average 50 million alveoli present. (reported number varies!)
• Represents only 15-20% of adult alveoli.
 Lung Growth After Delivery
• Lungs continue to grow during infancy and
childhood (up to 8 years).

• After Birth Lung Development:

• Alveoli increase 6-fold
• Lung weight increases 20-fold
• Alveolar surface area increases 21-fold
 Surface Tension and the Role of
Surfactant
• When a liquid-gas interface exist, the liquid
molecules are strongly attracted to each other.
• This cohesive force at the liquid-gas interface is
called “Surface Tension”.
• Surface tension leads to collapse of alveoli.
• Surfactant lowers surface tension by lining at the
liquid-gas interface and reducing cohesive forces.
 Fetal Lung Fluid
• Fetal lungs produce 250-300 ml of liquid per day.
• Fluid also flows from lung microcirculation into airspaces.
• Lung fluid is produced during intrauterine life until shortly
before delivery.
• Fetal lung fluid flows from terminal respiratory units through
conducting airways to pharynx.
• Then, it is swallowed or excreted to the amniotic fluid.
• Function: To maintain airway open
• (What is the composition of Feral Lung Fluid?)
 Fetal Lung Fluid
• It is important that the lung fluid is completely
evacuated from lungs at birth (why?)
• During vaginal delivery, 1/3 of fluid is removed
out by squeezing effect. Lymphatic system absorbs
the remaining.

• What happen to fetal lung fluid in neonates who

are delivered by cesarean section??
 Important Terms

• Neonates: from delivery to first month of life.

• Infant: 1 month to 1 year of life.
• Child: above 1 year to puberty.
 Reading Assignment
• Chapter 1 in Czervinske and Barnhart