Principles of embryology Flashcards
(24 cards)
What is a gamete?
Mature haploid male or female germline cell able to unite with another to form a zygote
When is the embryonic period?
Weeks 3-8
What does teratogen cause?
Irreverible deleterious structural malformations in foetuses
What does a mutagen cause?
Changes in genetic material of cells
What is gametogenesis?
Formation of gametes
What is spermatogenesis?
Formation of male gametes
What is oogenesis?
Formation of female gametes
What is fertilisation?
Fusion or sperm and oocyte to form a zygote
What is cleavage?
Period of rapid mitotic cell division with no increase in size (formation of morula then blasocyst)
What is gastrulation?
Formation of germ layers (ectoderm, mesoderm and endoderm)
What is embryonic folding?
Formation of body plan
What is organogenesis?
Formation of organs and organ systems
What is the fetal period?
Week 9 until birth
What happens during the fetal period?
Growth
Weight gain
Tissues mature and become functional
Overt sexual differentiation
What are the primary processes of embryonic development?
Cell division, differentiation, cell attachment, apoptosis, induction, cell migration
What happens during cell division?
Increase in number of cells
What happens during differentiation?
Specialisation, change in structure and adoption of new features
What happens during cell attachment?
Physical/functional linkages, formation of tissues
What is apoptosis?
Programmed cell death
What is induction?
Ability of one cell type to cause another to differentiate
What is cell migration?
Movement from one location to another
What are the secondary processes of embryonic development?
Axis formation, folding/rotation
Why is axis formation important?
As cells need to know where they are in relation to each other and the embryo as a whole
Why is folding/rotation important?
Entire embryo structures within it, gives 3D form of embryo and allows formation of complex structures
