Roxanne Jeen L.

Fornolles

 After fertilization in the fallopian

tube, the mature ovum becomes a
zygote that then undergoes
cleavage into blastomeres.
In the 2 cell zygote, the
blastomeres and polar body are
free in the previtelline fluid and are
surrounded by zona pellucida.
As the blastomeres continue to
divide , a solid mullberry-like ball
of cells- the morula- is produced.
Gradual accumulation of fluid
between the cells of the morula
results in the formation of the early
blastocyst.

 As

early as 4-5 days after fertilization, the

58 cell blastula differentiates into 5 embryo
producing cells- the inner mass, and 53
cells destined to form trophoblasts.
In A 58 cell blastocyst, the outer cells
(trophoectoderm) can be distinguished
from the inner cell mass that forms the
embryo

 The

107 cell blastocyst, w/c measures about

0.155mm in diameter, is similar to the size of
the initial postfertilization zygote.
At this stage, the 8 formative, or embryo
producing cell, are surrounded by 99
trophoblastic cells.
Release from the zona pellucida allows
blasotcyst-produced cytokines and hormones
to directly influence endometrial receptivity.

 Embryos

also have been shown to secrete

HCG.
The receptive endometrium is thought to
respond by producing LIF and CSF-1, w/c
serve to increase trophoblast protease
production that degrades selected
endometrial extracellular matrix proteins
and allows trophoblastic invasion.

Obstetrics 23rd edition by

Cunningham, Leveno, Bloom, Hauth,
Rouse and Spong

Williams