GENERAL EMBRYOLOGY (ANA 2102)

CLEVAGE, BLASTOCYST
&
FORMATION OF GERM LAYERS
Dr. Rademene Oria
Department of Anatomy
FBMS, UNICROSS
JANUARY 2024
 Learning Objectives

• Understand
the process of • Examine the • Explore the
structure and
cleavage in formation of
embryonic functions of
the blastocyst
germ layers
development
 CLEAVAGE
• The cleavage consists of repeated mitotic
divisions of the zygote into smaller units. This
results in a rapid increase in the number of cells.

• These cells are called blastomeres. They become

smaller with each successive cleavage division.

• The zygote divides to form two cells of which one

is smaller than the other (two-cell stage of
embryo).

• The larger cell divides first giving rise to three-

cell stage. The smaller cell divides next and
embryo consists of four cells that divide to form
eight cells. The 8 cells further divide to form 16
cells.
 CLEAVAGE
• A 16-cell stage embryo resembles a mulberry
fruit and is termed morula. In morula, the
blastomeres are very small and contain very
little cytoplasm to survive.

• The blastomeres are enclosed by the zona

pellucida. The cells now get arranged into two
groups:

i. a group of cells in the centre of morula is

called inner cell mass (embryoblast)

i. and those that are present at the periphery

of morula are called outer cell mass
(trophoblast).
 Blastocyst Formation
• The morula enters into the uterine cavity. The
endometrial fluid penetrates the zona
pellucida and enters into the intercellular
spaces of the morula.

• Gradually this space become a single large

cavity called blastocele and at this stage the
embryo is called blastocyst.

• As the cavity enlarges the outer cells forming

trophoblast become flattened. The inner cell
mass called embryoblast becomes compact and
is attached to the trophoblast at one pole—the
embryonic pole.
 Bilaminar Germ Disc
• First, the cells of the inner cell mass
towards the cavity of blastocyst become
flattened and get arranged in a single
layer. This layer is called the endoderm
(Hypoblast).

• The remaining cells of inner cell mass

then become columnar to form another
layer called the ectoderm (Epiblast).

• The embryo at this stage is in the form

of a disc having two layers and is
termed bilaminar embryonic disc.
 Role of Zona Pellucida
• The zona pellucida prevents the
sticking of the trophoblast with
the endothelium during the
journey of fertilized oocyte from
ampulla of the uterine tube to
the uterine cavity.

• Hence the main function of zona

pellucida is to prevent
implantation of the blastocyst at
sites other than the normal, thus
preventing ectopic pregnancy.
 Role of Zona Pellucida
• A small cavity appears between the ectoderm
and trophoblast forming the amniotic cavity.

• Few cells of trophoblast delaminate and form

the roof of the amniotic cavity. The cells
derived from trophoblast are called
angiogenic cells and secrete amniotic fluid
within the amniotic cavity.

• The cells of the endoderm proliferate and line

the cavity of blastocyst. The cavity of
blastocyst/ blastocele is now called primary
yolk sac. The flattened cells lining the primary
yolk sac form the Heuser’s membrane.
 Formation of extraembryonic mesoderm, extraembryonic celom, and
connecting stalk
• The cells of trophoblast give rise to a mass of
cells that separate the amniotic cavity and
primary yolk sac from the trophoblast. This
cell mass is termed extraembryonic
mesoderm. The extraembryonic mesoderm is
also termed primary mesoderm.

• A number of small cavities appear in the extra-

embryonic mesoderm that later coalesce
together to form extraembryonic celom. Due
to development of extraembryonic celom, the
primary yolk sac becomes smaller and is now
termed secondary yolk sac.
 Formation of extraembryonic mesoderm, extraembryonic celom, and
connecting stalk
• The extraembryonic celom does not extend into the
cranial part of extraembryonic mesoderm that lies
between amniotic cavity and trophoblast. This part of
extraembryonic mesoderm forms the connecting stalk.

• Due to the formation of extraembryonic celom the

extraembryonic mesoderm splits into two layers:

• The part lining the trophoblast is called

somatopleuric layer of extraembryonic mesoderm or
parietal layer of the extraembryonic mesoderm.

• The part lining the yolk sac is called

splanchnopleuric layer of extraembryonic mesoderm
or visceral layer of extraembryonic mesoderm.
Formation of extraembryonic mesoderm, extraembryonic celom, and
connecting stalk
• The development of extraembryonic
celom leads to the formation of two
membranes: (i) chorion and (ii) amnion.
•
• CHORION: It consists of somatopleuric
layer of extraembryonic mesoderm and
trophoblast covering it.

• AMNION: It consists of roof of

amniogenic layer consisting of
amniogenic cells and somatopleuric
layer of extraembryonic mesoderm
covering it.
 Functions of Chorion and Amnion
Chorion
a) Contains a fluid that absorbs shock
from outside force thereby protecting
the embryo
b) The chorionic villi extends in to the
endometrium eventually forming the
placenta, therefore creating a structure
that is involved in providing the
developing embryo with nutrient and
oxygen.

Amnion
a) Provides protection for the embryo also
acting as a shock absorber
b) Prevents the embryo from drying out
c) Enables the embryo some freedom of
movement
 Formation of prochordal plate
• At one end of the embryonic disc, a rounded area
becomes thicker than the rest of the disc. This
rounded area is termed prochordal plate.

• In the region of prochordal plate, the cuboidal

endodermal cells become columnar.

• With the development of prochordal plate, the cranial

and caudal ends of the embryo are determined.

• The end at which the prochordal plate appears is called

cranial (head) end and the other end is termed caudal
(tail) end. The prochordal plate also determines the
central axis of the embryo.
 Formation of primitive streak
• At the beginning of the third week, a
longitudinal ridge appears in the
midline at the caudal end of the dorsal
aspect of the bilaminar embryonic disc.
This longitudinal ridge is called
primitive streak.

• It is formed due to proliferation of the

ectodermal cells. The ectodermal cells
proliferate and move towards the
midline. In the midline, cells from both
sides heap up to form an elevation
called primitive streak.
 Formation of primitive streak
• At the cranial end of the primitive streak, the
cells proliferate and form a rounded elevation
called primitive node/primitive
knot/Henson’s node.

• The embryonic disc elongates and becomes

pear shaped.

• As a result of elongation of embryonic disc,

the primitive streak also elongates along the
central axis of the embryonic disc.
 Formation of Three Germ Layers
The current concept, of formation of all the three
primary germ layers is that all germ layers are derived
from epiblast as follows:

1. The cells of embryoblast differentiate and

arrange themselves into two layers:
(a)a superficial layer of columnar cells called
the epiblast and
(b)a deep layer of flattened cells called the
hypoblast. (Thus, embryoblast becomes a
bilaminar germ disc.)

2. Cells of epiblast migrate towards the primitive

streak. As they reach in the region of the
primitive streak, they become flask shaped,
detach themselves from the epiblast, and slip
beneath it.
 Formation of Three Germ Layers
• The flask-shaped cells of epiblast
move inward (invaginate) towards
the hypoblast.

• Some of these cells replace the

hypoblast cells to form the
endoderm and others come to lie
between the epiblast and the newly
formed endoderm to form the
mesoderm.

• The remaining cells of the epiblast

now form the ectoderm
Derivatives of Three Germ Layers