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FERTILIZATION
- Also referred to as conception and impregnation
- The union of ovum and spermatozoon
- This usually occurs in the outer third of the fallopian tube called the AMPULLA.
- Primary oocyte (immature ovum) contains Diploid number of chromosome (46)
- One oocyte contains haploid (23) number of chromosomes after division
- Gamete (mature ovum) is a cell or ovum that has undergone maturation and will be ready for
fertilization
- One gamete carries 23 chromosomes
- A sperm carries 2 types of sex chromosomes- X and Y
- 400 million sperm cells in one ejaculation
- Functional life of spermatozoa is 48 hours
- XX = female; XY= male
Ovum will be surrounded by ZONA PELUCIDA (mucopolysaccharide fluid) and circle of cells (CORONA
RADIATA) which increases the bulk of the ovum expelled from the fallopian tube by the Fimbriae
(Infundibulum)
Sperms move by flagella and penetrate and dissolve the cell wall of the ovum by releasing PROTEOLYTIC
ENZYME (Hyaluronidase)
After 16 to 50 cell formation from mitosis, a mulberry and Bumpy appearance will follow morula after 3-4
days
The structure will be ball-like in appearance which will be called BLASTOCYST. Cells in the outer ring are
called TROPHOBLAST (Later it forms the placenta, responsible for the development of placenta and fetal
membrane. Cells in the inner ring are called ERYTHROBLAST cells which will be the EMBRYO.
TERMS TO REMEMBER
Ovum: From ovulation to fertilization
Zygote: From fertilization to implantation
Embryo: From implantation to 5-8 weeks
Fetus: From 5-8 weeks until term
Conceptus: Developing embryo and placental structures
Age of Viability: The earliest age at which fetuses survive if they are born is generally accepted as
24 weeks or at the point a fetus weighs more than 500-600 g
CHORIONIC VILLI
- As early as 11th or 12th day after fertilization, miniature villi resembling probing fingers and termed
CHORIONIC VILLI reach out from the trophoblast cells into the uterine endometrium to begin
formation of the placenta
- It has a central core consisting of connective tissue and fetal capillaries surrounded by double
layer cells which produce various placental hormones such as HCG, SOMATOMAMMOTROPIN
(Human Placental Lactogen), ESTROGEN and PROGESTERONE
- The middle layer called the CYTOTROPHOBLAST or LANGHAN’S LAYER appears to have
second function to protect the growing embryo and fetus from certain infectious organisms such
as SPIROCHETE OF SYPHILLIS early in pregnancy. It disappears between the 20th and 24th
week of pregnancy
THE PLACENTA
- Latin term for “pancake” which is descriptive of its size and appearance at term
- It grows from a new identifiable trophoblastic cells at the beginning of pregnancy to an organ
15 to 20 cm in diameter and 2 to 3 cm in depth, covering about half the surface area of the
internal uterus at term.