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Introduction To Human Development: Glossary of Commonly Used Terms

Human development begins with the fertilization of an egg by a sperm, which forms a zygote. This single cell then undergoes cell division, growth, differentiation and organogenesis to form the major organ systems by the end of the eighth week of development, known as the embryonic period. After this period of dramatic change, the fetus continues to mature in the womb with further development of established systems during the fetal period until birth. The goals of studying human development are to understand how to prevent and correct congenital defects that occur prenatally.

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60 views6 pages

Introduction To Human Development: Glossary of Commonly Used Terms

Human development begins with the fertilization of an egg by a sperm, which forms a zygote. This single cell then undergoes cell division, growth, differentiation and organogenesis to form the major organ systems by the end of the eighth week of development, known as the embryonic period. After this period of dramatic change, the fetus continues to mature in the womb with further development of established systems during the fetal period until birth. The goals of studying human development are to understand how to prevent and correct congenital defects that occur prenatally.

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Jane Napolereyes
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INTRODUCTION TO HUMAN DEVELOPMENT

Interest in human development is widespread largely because of curiosity about our beginnings
and a desire to improve the quality of human life. The process by which a baby develops from a
single cell is miraculous and few events are more exciting than a human birth.

Human development is a continuous process that begins when an ovum is fertilized by a sperm.
Cell division, growth, differentiation, and even cell death, transform the fertilized ovum into a
multicellular human being. Although important maturational changes continue to occur during
the postnatal period (infancy, childhood, adolescence and even adulthood), the formation of the
organ systems occurs between fertilization and birth, the prenatal period. The goals of this
course are to introduce you to the principals of embryogenesis that are being utilized to
diagnose, correct, and ultimately prevent congenital malformations and birth defects. The
cloning of the entire spectrum of human genes as well as the continuous development of
molecular methods to prevent congenital malformations has revolutionized the entire field of
modern embryology. The majority of these lectures will focus on the first eight weeks of life
(known as the embryonic period) when the organ systems develop. Additional lectures will
briefly introduce fetal maturation, birth, and the neonate.

GLOSSARY OF COMMONLY USED TERMS:

Conceptus: Refers to the embryo and its extra-embryonic membranes, i.e. the products of
conception. It includes all structures that develop from the zygote, both embryonic and
extraembryonic. Hence, the conceptus includes not only the embryo but also the placenta and its
associated membranes.

Congenital malformations (birth defects): structural, behavioral, functional, or metabolic


disorders present at birth.

Embryo: This term refers to the developing human during the early stages of development. The
term is usually not used until the 2nd week, when a bilaminar (two layered) embryonic disc is
formed. The embryonic period extends until the end of the eighth week, by which time all major
structures and organs have formed.

Fetus: After the embryonic period, the developing human is called a fetus. The fetal period
(ninth week to birth) is a period of maturation when many established organ systems develop
further. The developmental changes that take place during the fetal period are not as dramatic as
those that occur during the embryonic period, they are nevertheless very important.

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Morphogenesis: encompasses a cascade of complex, orderly sequenced interactions that results
in the development of shape of an organ or body form.

Neonate: The newborn; the neonatal period spans the period between birth and the end of the 4th
postnatal week.

Organogenesis: all of the events required to establish an organ, organ system, or a major feature
of the external body.

Primordium: the first cells or tissues of an organ to develop, i.e., its earliest stage of
development. The term anlage has a similar meaning. For example, the primordium or anlage of
the upper limb appears on about day 26 (E26).

Teratogen: an environmental agent that has the capacity to cause abnormal development and birth
defects. Because the basic organs develop during the 4th and 5th embryonic weeks, exposure to a
teratogen during that period can be particularly detrimental to normal development.

Trimester: Obstetricians divide the nine calendar months, or period of gestation, into three
month periods called trimesters (stages of intrauterine development). The critical period of
development occurs during the first trimester.

Zygote: a diploid cell resulting from fertilization of an ovum (mature female germ cell) by a
sperm. A zygote is the beginning of a new human being.

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