UNIT B CHAP 15 HUMAN DEVELOPMENT

DEVELOPMENT MINI QUIZ STUDY NOTES

Pre-natal development – 2 main periods:

- Embryonic period: week 1-8
o Cells divide, organs and tissues are formed
- Fetal period: week 9-birth
o Body rapidly grows, organs begin to function

Pre-fertilization:
- Copulation -> semen deposited -> anticoagulants -> sperm make way to oviducts

Fertilization:
- 23 chromosomes from egg and sperm = 46, zygote

Egg penetration:
- Two layers surrounding egg:
o Zona pellucida (inner)
o Corona radiata (outer)
- Sperm meet corona radiata, acrosome enzymes digest through
- Once in, egg’s plasma membrane depolarizes and stops other sperm from entering,
cortical granules release enzymes -> harden zona pellucida

Cleavage:
- Within 30 hours:
o Zygote -> mitosis -> 2 new cells -> 4 -> 6, so on … -> 16
o 16 cells = morula
 Morula gets to uterus 3-5 days post fertilization fills with fluid from
uterus and two different groups of cells form -> blastocyst (germ pouch)

Implantation:
- Trophoblast (outer blastocyst) secretes hCG -> maintains corpus luteum -> secretes
estrogen and progesterone -> endometrium maintained

hCG:
- High for the first two months
- Placenta takes over and secretes estrogen and progesterone

Gastrulation (getting 3 primary germ layers):

- 2nd week, space develops between inner cell’s mass and trophoblast: amniotic cavity
(embryo/fetus develops there)
- Inner cell mass -> embryonic disk (2 layers)
 o Ectoderm (outer layer closest to amniotic cavity)
o Endoderm (inner layer)
- Soon, 3rd layer mesoderm forms
- takes place over one week
- all future tissues, organs, and organ systems develop from cells of germ layer

Morphogenesis:
- gastrulation is the beginning of morphogenesis -> series of events that form distinct
structures of developing organism

Three Primary Germ Layers – Structures:

ECTODERM MESODERM
- epidermis of skin
- lining of mouth and
anus
- cornea and lens of
eye
- nervous system
- adrenal medulla
- tooth enamel
ENDODERM
- notochord - lining of digestive
- skeletal system tract
- muscular system - lining of respiratory
- muscular layer of system
stomach and intestine - lining of urethra,
- circulatory and urinary bladder,
lymphatic systems reproductive system
- dermis of skin - liver
- adrenal cortex - pancreas
- thymus
- thyroid and
parathyroid glands

Neurulation (formation of neural tube) and Organ formation:

- 3 – 8 week: organs start to form
- 3rd week: mesoderm develops along back of embryonic disk (spine) -> notochord
(backbone)
- Nervous system develops from ectoderm -> neural tube

Development:
- Soon after neurulation, heart forms -> 18th day, heart starts beating
o Gestation: 2 weeks after actual fertilization
- 4th week – rapid growth and differentiation
o Blood cells
o Lungs and kidneys
o Arms and legs appear
o Head is visible, evidence of eyes, ears, and nose
th
- 5 week
o Cells in brain developing
o Eyes open and no eyelids
th
- 6 week
o Brain continues developing
 o Limbs lengthen
o Gonads start producing hormones to influence external genitalia
- 7 – 8th week
th

o Organs formed
o Nervous system
o Skeleton of cartilage formed
o Nostrils developed but clogged with mucus
o External genitalia is still forming
- 8 – 9th week
th

o Size of paper clip

o Now called a fetus

Extraembryonic Membranes:
- Allantois
- Amnion
- Chorion
- Yolk sac
- With placenta and umbilical cord: nutrients, protection, respiration, excretion
- Expelled after birth

Allantois:
- Forms foundation of umbilical cord
- Degenerates within the second month, then becomes part of urinary bladder

Amnion:
- Develops from embryonic disk
- Grows to enclose embryo completely
- Penetrated only by umbilical cord
- Amniotic fluid: shock absorber, temperature changes, allows freedom of movement

Chorion:
- Outermost membrane
- Encloses all other membranes
- Forms fetal portion of placenta

Yolk sac:
- Small sac that suspends from abdominal area of embryo
- Continues to digestive tract and first blood cells
- Forms from endoderm

Placenta and Umbilical cord:

- End of 2nd week – finger like projections from chorion extend into uterine lining –
chorionic villi -> becomes placenta
- Placenta:
 o Disk shaped organ rich in blood vessels, metabolic exchange
o Placenta fully developed in 10 weeks
o Blood systems of mother and embryo are separate but lie close to each other
(diffusion but do not intermingle)

Umbilical cord:
- Leads from navel area of fetus to center of placenta
- 2 arteries that transport deoxygenated blood from fetus
- 1 vein that brings oxygenated blood to fetus

Embryonic v. Fetal development:

- Embryonic period: conception to the 8th week
- Fetal period: 9th week and onwards (paper clip size)
- Embryo: most of organs are taking on shape (morphogenesis)
- Fetus: organs are present, continue to develop

Last 4 weeks of 1st trimester

- Growth in length of body accelerates while growth of head slows
- Cartilage based skeleton hardens, development of bone

End of 12th week

- External genitalia distinguishable as male or female
- 1st trimester is crucial because of organ development
- Mother’s cervix mucus forms barrier against infections
- Through negative feedback on hypothalamus and pituitary, ovulation and menstruation
cycle stop

Second trimester (week 13-24):

- Uterus grows enough for pregnancy to become obvious
- Fetus ~30cm, is active
- Hormone levels stabilize, hCG declines, corpus luteum deteriorates and placenta
completely takes over production of estrogen and progesterone
- Bones of skeleton and brain grows rapidly
- By 5th month, fetus is covered in soft hair called lanugo and oily substance to protect
developing skin
- 6th month skin very winkled, very little fat, pink capillaries under skin

Third trimester (week 25-38):

- 3-4kg in mass, 50cm in length
- Fetal brain cells form rapidly
- Testes of male descend
- Layer of fat develops under skin, digestive and respiratory systems are last to mature

Effects of teratogens:
 - Structural abnormality due to substance abuse
- Thalidomide

Parturition (birth):
- Labour -> relaxin released from placenta to loosen pubic bone -> PRL -> milk production
- Uterine contractions
o Once every 15-20 minutes, each last for 40 seconds or longer
- Prostaglandins cause chemical changes in smooth muscles of uterus, more excitable
and more oxytocin released
- Positive feedback

3 stages of labour:
- Dilation: thinning of cervix to allow passage of fetus through uterus
- Fetus moves: through the cervix usually head first
- Placenta detaches after childbirth

Variations on vaginal birth:

- C section

Lactation and suckling reflex:

- Progesterone -> mammary alveoli development
- Estrogen -> alveolar ducts
- Elevated estrogen inhibit prolactin
o Declining estrogen causes lactation
- Colostrum contains antibodies
- Formation of milk is dependent on prolactin, the actual release of milk is dependent on
smooth muscle cells
o Oxytocin