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Third Week of Development:
Trilaminar Germ Disc

GASTRULATION
(THREE GERM LAYERS)
Dr.Tarig Gasim Mohamed Alarabi

BSc. MSc. MBBS. MSc. PhD
Objectives
What is the tri-laminar germ disc?
Understanding of the changes that occur in the third week of

gestation at the level of:
I. Tropho-blast
II. Embryo-blast
Clinical correlations and counselling tips

Interpretation the occurrence of congenital anomalies
➢The most characteristic event occurring during the third week of
gestation is gastrulation which begins with formation of the primitive streak on the
surface of the epiblast Initially, the streak is clearly visible as a narrow groove with
slightly bulging regions on either side
➢The primitive node, consists of a slightly elevated area surrounding

the small primitive pit
➢Cells of the epiblast migrate toward the primitive streak, this inward movement is
known as invagination.
➢Once the cells have invaginated, some displace the hypoblast, creating the embryonic
endoderm and others come to lie between the epiblast and newly created endoderm to
form mesoderm.
➢Cells remaining in the epiblast then form ectoderm.
➢Thus, the epiblast, is the source of all of the germ layers.

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Formation of the Notochord
➢Prenotochordal cells invaginating in the primitive pit move forward cephalad until
they reach the prechordal plate.
➢These prenotochordal cells become intercalated and form two cell layers that form
the notochordal plate.
➢Cells of the notochordal plate proliferate and detach from the endoderm,
they form a solid cord of cells, the definitive notochord.
➢The notochord underlies the neural tube and serves as the
basis for the axial skeleton.
➢The notochord and prenotochordal cells extend cranially to

the prechordal plate and caudally to the primitive pit. At the
point where the pit forms an indentation in the epiblast, the
neurenteric canal.
➢The Cloacal membrane is formed at the caudal end of the

embryonic disc and when appears, the posterior wall of the
yolk sac forms a small diverticulum that extends into the
connecting stalk. (allantoenteric diverticulum, or allantois).
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B
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Fate Map Established During Gastrulation
➢The cells that ingress through the cranial region of the node become notochord
➢Those migrating at the lateral edges of the node become paraxial mesoderm
➢Cells migrating through the midstreak region become intermediate mesoderm
➢Those migrating through the more caudal part of the streak form lateral plate
mesoderm
➢Cells migrating through the caudal-most part of the streak contribute to

extraembryonic mesoderm
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Buccopharyngeal
membrane
pm pm
im
Ipm Ipm
Cloacalmembrane
Growth of the Embryonic Disc
➢The embryonic disc, initially flat and almost round, gradually becomes
elongated, with a broad cephalic and a narrow caudal end.
➢Expansion of the embryonic disc occurs mainly in the cephalic region.

Growth and elongation of the cephalic part of the disc are caused by a
continuous migration of cells from the primitive streak region in a cephalic
direction.
➢The primitive streak at the caudal end of the disc continues to supply new
cells until the end of the fourth week.
➢In the cephalic part, germ layers begin their specific differentiation by the
middle of the third week.
➢Whereas in the caudal part, differentiation begins by the end of the fourth
week.
Teratogenesis associated With Gastrulation
➢The beginning of the third week of development, is a highly

sensitive stage for teratogenic insult is a highly sensitive stage for
teratogenic insult.
➢Gastrulation itself may be disrupted by genetic abnormalities

and toxic insults.
Caudal dysgenesis
(sirenomelia),
➢Insufficient mesoderm is formed in the caudal-
most region of the embryo.
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sacrococcygeal teratoma
Tumors associated with Gastrulation
➢Sometimes, remnants of the primitive streak persist

in the sacrococcygeal region. These clusters of
pluripotent cells proliferate and form tumors, known
as sacrococcygeal teratomas.
➢These tumors may also arise from primordial germ

cells that fail to migrate to the gonadal ridge.
Morphological appearance:
• It is classified according to tumor extension into four types:

1. Type I: external tumor with minimal pelvic elements
2. Type II: tumor with moderate intra-pelvic elements
3. Type III: tumor with a large composition of intra-abdominal
and intra-pelvic constituents (more than the external elements).
• Type IV: tumor with complete intra-pelvic pre-sacral constituents
(with no external element).
Counselling tips
• During your visits, you have to discuss with your patient

many issues, such as healthy eating and physical
activity, screening tests you might need.
• For discussion
• Alcohol and teratogens !!!!!!
• Consanguinity
Development of the Trophoblast
➢By the beginning of the third week, the trophoblast is characterized by
primary Villi.
➢Mesodermal cells penetrate the core of primary villi and grow toward
the decidua. formed structure known as a secondary villus.
➢By the end of the third week, mesodermal cells in the core of the villus
begin to differentiate into blood cells and small blood vessels, forming the
villous capillary system (tertiary villus or definitive placental villus).
➢Capillaries in tertiary villi make contact with capillaries developing in

mesoderm of the chorionic plate and in the connecting Stalk.
• Cytotrophoblastic cells in the villi penetrate progressively into the
overlying syncytium until they reach the maternal endometrium ,
forming a thin outer cytotrophoblast shell.
• Villi that extend from the chorionic plate to the decidua basalis
, the part of the endometrium where the placenta will form;are
called stem or anchoring villi.
• By the 19th or 20th day, the embryo is attached to its

trophoblastic shell by a narrow connecting stalk .
• The connecting stalk later develops into the umbilical cord.

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Reference
• Moore, K.L., Persaud, T.V.N. and Torchia, M.G.,

2018. The developing human-e-book: clinically oriented
embryology. Elsevier Health Sciences.
• Sadler, T.W., 2018. Langman's medical embryology.
Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
• ALTMAN, R. P., RANDOLPH, J. G. & LILLY, J. R. 1974.
Sacrococcygeal teratoma: American Academy of
Pediatrics surgical section survey—1973. Journal of
pediatric surgery, 9, 389-398
• Web:
https://www.womenshealth.gov/pregnancy/youre-
pregnant-now-what/prenatal-care-and-tests
Thanks...
• The end……

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Third Week of Development:

Trilaminar Germ Disc

Dr.Tarig Gasim Mohamed Alarabi

Understanding of the changes that occur in the third week of

Clinical correlations and counselling tips

➢The primitive node, consists of a slightly elevated area surrounding

➢Cells remaining in the epiblast then form ectoderm.

➢Thus, the epiblast, is the source of all of the germ layers.

➢The notochord and prenotochordal cells extend cranially to

➢The Cloacal membrane is formed at the caudal end of the

➢Cells migrating through the midstreak region become intermediate mesoderm

➢Cells migrating through the caudal-most part of the streak contribute to

➢Expansion of the embryonic disc occurs mainly in the cephalic region.

➢The beginning of the third week of development, is a highly

➢Gastrulation itself may be disrupted by genetic abnormalities

Tumors associated with Gastrulation

➢Sometimes, remnants of the primitive streak persist

➢These tumors may also arise from primordial germ

• It is classified according to tumor extension into four types:

• During your visits, you have to discuss with your patient

➢Capillaries in tertiary villi make contact with capillaries developing in

• By the 19th or 20th day, the embryo is attached to its

• The connecting stalk later develops into the umbilical cord.

• Moore, K.L., Persaud, T.V.N. and Torchia, M.G.,

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