Conception And Fetal

Development
Chari V. Rivo
Learning Objectives:

• Differentiate between meiotic division and mitotic cellular division.

• Analyze the components of the process of fertilization.
• Describe the development, structure, and functions of the placenta
and umbilical cord during intrauterine life (embryonic and fetal
development).
• Summarize the significant changes in growth and development of the
fetus at 4, 6, 12, 16, 20, 24, 28, 36 and 40 weeks’ gestation.
Cellular Division
• Two Types of Cell Division
• MITOSIS - production of diploid body (somatic) cells, which
are exact copies of the original cell, end in cell division, where
2 daughter cells containing same diploid number of
chromosomes are produced
• Results in two identical cells, each with 46 chromosomes
• Responsible for growth and development
• MEIOSIS - a special type of cell division by which diploid cells
in the testes and ovaries give rise to gametes (sperm and ova)
• Daughter cells contain only half of the parent cell – 23
chromosomes – the haploid number of chromosomes.
 Cellular Division
• GAMETOGENESIS – production of germ cells or gametes
(ovum and sperm)
• Each gamete must have only the haploid number (23) of
chromosomes so that when the female gamete (egg or
ovum) and the male gamete (sperm or spermatozoon) unite
to form the zygote (fertilized ovum), the normal human
diploid number of chromosomes (46)—half from the mother
and half from the father—is reestablished.
 Cellular Division
• OOGENESIS - the process that produces the female gamete,
called an ovum (egg)
• All the ova that the female will produce in her lifetime are present at
birth
• The ovary gives rise to oogonial cells, which develop into oocytes
• Meiosis begins in all oocytes before the female fetus is born but
stops before the first division is complete and remains in this
arrested phase until puberty.
• During puberty, the mature primary oocyte proceeds (by oogenesis)
through the first meiotic division in the graafian follicle of the ovary.
• SPERMATOGENESIS – production of male gamete (Sperm)
 Cellular Division
• FERTILIZATION – fusion of a sperm with an ovum,
forming a diploid cell, or zygote
• ZYGOTE – contains 23 chromosomes from ovum and 23
chromosomes from sperm, for a total of 46 chromosomes
• Takes place in the ampulla
• From 200-300 M spermatozoa, only 300 to 500 reaches the
ampulla
• The true moment of fertilization occurs as the nuclei unite.
FETAL DEVELOPMENT
• Preembryonic stage/Stage of the ovum – first
14 days of development, starting from
fertilization
• Two Phases:
• Cellular Multiplication
• Cellular Differentiation
 1. Cellular Multiplication
• Blastomeres – result of mitotic divisions called cleavage, where cells divide into two,
four, eight cells, and so on
• Morula - a solid ball of blastomeres containing 12 to 32 cells
• As the morula enters the uterus, two things happen: The intracellular fluid in the
morula increases, and a central cavity forms within the cell mass
• Blastocyst – solid mass of cells contained in the central cavity of the morula
• Trophoblast – outer layer of cells that surrounds the cavity; develops into chorion
• Develops into a double layer of cells called the embryonic disc: develops as embryo
and amnion (embryonic membrane)
• Early pregnancy factor (EPF), an immunosuppressant protein secreted by the
trophoblastic cells, appears in the maternal serum within 24 to 48 hours after
fertilization and forms the basis of a pregnancy test during the first 10 days of
development
1. Cellular Multiplication
• Implantation (Nidation)
• Blastocyst is nourished by uterine glands
• Trophoblast attaches itself to the surface of the endometrium for
further nourishment
• Most frequent site of attachment: upper part of the posterior
uterine wall
• Happens between 7-10 days after fertilization
• Progesterone increases the thickness vascularity of endometrium in
preparation for implantation.
• DECIDUA – the endometrium after implantation
Cellular Multiplication
• Implantation
• DECIDUA
• Decidua capsularis – covers the blastocyst
• Decidua basalis – the portion directly under the implanted
blastocyst
• The maternal part of the placenta develops from decidua basalis
• The fetal portion of the placenta develops forms from the
chorionic villi
• Decidua parietalis – the portion that lines the rest of the
uterine cavity
2. Cellular Differentiation
• Primary Germ Layers – forms (from blastocyst) in 10 th to 14th day after
conception
• Ectoderm, Mesoderm, Endoderm (forms the epithelium lining the respiratory and
digestive tract)
• Embryonic Membranes – protect and support the embryo as it grows
• Chorion – outermost membrane; develops from the trophoblast and contains finger-
like projections called chorionic villi
• These chorionic villi can be used for early genetic testing of the embryo at 8 to 11 weeks’
gestation by chorionic villus sampling (CVS)
• Amnion – originates from ectoderm; a thin protective membrane that contains
amniotic fluid
• Amniotic cavity – space between the membrane and the embryo
• As the embryo grows, the amnion expands until it comes into contact with the chorion.
These two slightly adherent membranes form the fluid-filled mniotic sac, also called
the bag of waters (BOW)
2. Cellular Differentiation
• Amniotic Fluid
• slightly alkaline and contains albumin, uric acid, creatinine, lecithin,
sphingomyelin, bilirubin, vernix, leukocytes, epithelial cells, enzymes, and fine
hair called lanugo
• Amount:
• 10 weeks – 30ml
• 16 weeks – 210ml
• After 28 weeks – 700-1000ml
• The amniotic fluid volume changes little until 39 weeks, after which it decreases
dramatically
• OLIGOHYDRAMNIOS – less than 400 ml
• HYDRAMNIOS/POLYHYDRAMNIOS – more than 2000ml
2. Cellular Differentiation
• Amniotic Fluid Functions
• Act as a cushion to protect the embryo against mechanical injury
• Help control the embryo’s temperature (relies on the mother to release heat)
• Permit symmetric external growth and development of the embryo
• Prevent adherence of the embryo-fetus to the amnion (decreases chance of
amniotic band syndrome) to allow freedom of movement so that the embryo-
fetus can change position (flexion and extension), thus aiding in musculoskeletal
development
• Allow the umbilical cord to be relatively free of compression
• Act as an extension of fetal extracellular space (hydropic babies have increased
amniotic fluid)
• Act as a wedge during labor
• Provide fluid for analysis to determine fetal health and maturity
Early development
of primary
embryonic
membranes at 4½
weeks
2. Cellular Differentiation
• Yolk Sac – develops as a second cavity in the
blastocyst on about day 8 or 9 after conception
• Forms the primitive RBCs during 6 weeks of development,
until liver takes over
• As the embryo develops, the yolk sac is incorporated into
the umbilical cord, where it can be seen as a degenerated
structure after birth.
 2. Cellular Differentiation
• Umbilical Cord – formed from the amnion
• The body stalk, which attaches the embryo to the yolk sac, contains blood
vessels that extend into the chorionic villi
• The body stalk fuses with the embryonic portion of the placenta to provide a
circulatory pathway from the chorionic villi to the embryo.
• As the body stalk elongates to become the umbilical cord, the vessels in the
cord decrease to one large vein and two smaller arteries
• Wharton jelly - specialized mucoid connective tissue that surrounds the
blood vessels in the umbilical cord
• The umbilical cord has no sensory or motor innervation, so cutting the cord
after birth is not painful
• At term (38 to 42 weeks’ gestation), the average cord is 2 cm (0.8 in.) across
and about 55 cm (22 in.) long
 2. Cellular Differentiation
• Umbilical Cord
• Normal: Central insertion
• “False knots” – caused by the folding of cord vessels
• Nuchal cord – umbilical cord encircles the fetal neck
Twin
• Fraternal – nonidentical
• Dizygotic, 2 placenta, 2 chorions, 2 amnions
• Chances increases with parity, in conception that occurs in the first 3 months
of marriage, and with coital frequency
• Studies indicate that dizygotic twins occur in certain families, perhaps
because of genotype (genetic constitution) of the mother that results in
elevated serum gonadotropin levels leading to double ovulation
• Identical – monozygotic
• Same sex, same phenotype, common placenta
• Occurs in 3-4 per 1000 live births
 lacent
• Means of metabolic and nutrient exchange between embryonic and
maternal circulations
• Placental development begins at the 3rd week of embryonic
development
• Develops at the site where the embryo attaches to the uterine wall