OVERVIEW OF GENERAL

EMBRYOLOGY

Amany elshahidy
• There are three stages of prenatal
development:
the germinal, embryonic, and fetal stages.
I. The germinal stage The first two weeks after
conception
II. The embryonic period the third through the
eighth week
III. The fetal period the time from the ninth week
until birth.
 1 week events
st

1. Fertilization
2. Cleavage of zygot
3. Implantation
Summary of the first week showing development
Weeks 1 of Development
• begins when a sperm fertilizes an oocyte
resulting in the formation of a zygote
• The zygote undergoes cleavage, a series of
mitotic divisions, as it moves along the
uterine tube toward the
uterus(blastomeres)
• Morula stage(12-16 cell), which enters the
uterus about three days after fertilization
• A fluid-filled space called the blastocyst
cavity or blastocele, develops within the
morula
 implantation
The syncytiotrophoblast
invades endometrial
connective tissue and
erodes capillaries. Erosion
of endometrial blood
vessels causes maternal
blood to flow into cavities,
or lacunae, within the
syncytiotrophoblast
This blood flow represents
a primitive circulation (the
uteroplacental circulation)
 2 week events
nd

1. Bilaminar embryonic disc

2. Extra embryonic mesoderm
3. chorion
• Two important events occur in the blastocyst
at the end of the first week and beginning of
the second week after fertilization.
– First, the blastocyst adheres to the surface of the
endometrium and implantation begins.
– Second, the inner cell mass forms a bilaminar disk,
and, consequently, the second week of
development is sometimes called the bilaminar
disk stage.

• The trophoblast differentiates into two layersan

outer multinucleated cellular syncytium called the
syncytiotrophoblast and an inner cytotrophoblast
Inner cell mass
differentiation into a two-
layered, or bilaminar disc

The EMBRYOBLAST
differentiates into two
layers:
1- the EPIBLAST
2- the HYPOBLAST
Blastocyst is now
called
“Chorionic vesicle”
• Soon, large cavities develop in the extraembryonic
mesoderm, and when these become confluent, they
form a new space known as THE EXTRAEMBRYONIC
COELOM, or CHORIONIC CAVITY
 3 week events
rd

1. Gastrulation
2. Nurulation
3. Folding of embryonic disc
 Gastrulation
• the bilaminar embryonic disk is converted into
a trilaminar disk.
• formation of the primitive streak This
structure is a narrow trough with slightly
bulging sides that develops in the midline of
the epiblast toward the caudal end.
• The primitive pit surrounded by the elevated
primitive node is located at the cranial end of
the primitive streak.
• cells of the epiblast migrate to the primitive streak and
primitive node, detach from the epiblast, and grow beneath the
epiblast-a process -- called invagination
• After the cells have invaginated, some cells displace the
hypoblast to form the embryonic endoderm.
• Other cells position themselves between the endoderm and
epiblast to form a third germ cell layer, the embryonic
mesoderm.
• The remaining cells in the epiblast produce the ectoderm.
• The epiblast, therefore, forms all three embryonic germ layers:
the ectoderm, the endoderm, and the mesoderm.‘
• )
 Notochord development
• Early in the third week, cells invaginating in the primitive pit and node
region grow cranially until they reach the prochordal plate.
• They produce a cellular rod, the notochordal process, that runs
longitudinally in the midline
• The primitive pit extends into the notochordal process to form a small
central notochordal canal
• The canal eventually disappears, leaving a solid cylinder of cells, the
notochord.
• The notochord represents the early midline axis of the embryo, and
the axial skeleton forms around it.
• By the end of the third week the mesoderm separates the ectoderm
and endoderm everywhere in the embryonic disk, except for the
cloacal membrane in the caudal region and the prochordal plate at the
cranial midline area of the embryo
• In these two regions the endoderm and ectoderm are tightly adherent.
The prochordal plate is the future region of the buccopharyngeal
In summary
– Primitive node and
primitive pit
– Notochordal
process
– Notochordal canal
– Notochordal
endodermal plate
– Neurenteric canal
– Notochordal plate
folds
– Definitive
notochord
The notochord represents the
early midline axis of the
embryo, and the axial skeleton
forms around it.
 Neurulation
• Formation of neural tube
• the notochord induces the overlying ectoderm to thicken
and differentiate into the neural plate
• The neural plate grows caudally toward the primitive
streak.
• The lateral edges of the neural plate become elevated to
form the neural folds.
• A depressed groove called the neural groove forms
between the neural folds
• The neural folds approach each other and fuse in the
midline to form the neural tube.
• Fusion begins in the fourth week of
development in the central portion of the
embryo at 4th somite then extending caudally
and cranially.
• The last parts of the neural tube to fuse are
the cranial and caudal ends, known
respectively as the anterior neuropores and
the posterior neuropores
• The neural tube is the
primordium of the
central nervous system.
• The anterior region of
the neural tube
enlarges to form the
forebrain, midbrain,
and hindbrain.
• Eight bulges called
rhombomeres develop
in the hindbrain.
• Neural crest cells arise
from the neural folds
and migrate throughout
the body and
differentiate into
numerous varied.
• Neural crest cells from
each rhombomere
migrate to a specific
location
 Folding of the Embryo
in the 4th week of development the flat trilaminar embryonic disk folds in two
planes to form a more typical-appearing, cylindric, C-shaped embryo.
Folding in the cranial-caudal plane is mainly a result of rapid longitudinal growth
of the central nervous system.
Growth of somites accounts for much of the lateralmedial folding. Folding brings
the endodermal-lined yolk sac into the embryo and creates the primordial gut:
the foregut, midgut, and hindgut.
Folding of the head region ventrally incorporates part of the endodermal lining
into the embryo as the foregut.
The buccopharyngeal membrane separates the foregut and the primitive oral
cavity, which is called the stomodeum.
The stomodeum is lined by ectoderm, and thus the buccopharyngeal membrane is
lined by ectoderm on one side and endoderm on the other.
The buccopharyngeal membrane breaks down at the end of the third week,
allowing continuity between the foregut and stomodeum
Pharyngeal
(Branchial) Apparatus
• Develop during the 4th
week in utero a result of
migration of neural crest
cells into the head and neck
region
• Between stomodeum and
heart
• There are four pairs of
arches are numbered 1, II,
111, and IV beginning at the
cranial end (cranio-caudal
sequence)
• Arches V and VI are
rudimentary
• The fifth arch completely
regresses and does not give
rise to structures in the
adult. Arch IV is the result of
fusion of arches IV and VI
Cellular Origins
Externally is covered by ectoderm
Internally by endoderm
Each pharyngeal arch has a core of
embryonic connective tissue called
mesenchyme.
3rd week mesenchyme originally
develops from the mesoderm
during the 4th week neural crest cells
migrate from the brain into the arches
and differentiate into mesenchyme
Cellular Origins
Each pharyngeal arch has a specific
cartilage that forms the skeleton of the
arch .
It also has muscles, a nerve that
supplies the muscles and mucosa
derived from that arch, and arteries,
called an aortic arch
Summary of Derivatives of the Pharyngeal Arches
• Most congenital head and neck abnormalities
occur when pharyngeal apparatus structures
that should disappear during development
persist
 Development of the Face

• Derived from
5prominances which
develop around the
stomodeum during
the4th week
(frontonasal-2maxillary-
2mandibular)
• One of the first events in
formation of facial
structures is fusion of the
medial ends of the
mandibular prominences in
the midline to form the chin
and lower lip
• In the inferior and lateral
portion of the frontonasal
prominence, bilateral
localized areas of surface
ectoderm thicken to form
nasal placodes
• The mesenchyme along
the periphery of the nasal
placodes proliferates and
forms horseshoeshaped
ridges called the medial
nasal prominences and
lateral nasal prominences
• The center of the placode
becomes thinner,
eventually leading to loss
of ectoderm and
formation of nasal pits.
The nasal pits are the
precursors of the nostrils
and nasal cavities
• maxillary prominences
become larger and move
medially toward each
other and toward the
medial nasal prominences
• The medial nasal
prominences move toward
each other, fuse in the
midline, and form the
intermaxillary segment
• The intermaxillary
segment is of special
importance because it
gives rise to the philtrum
(middle portion) of the
upper lip ,four incisor
teeth, alveolar bone and
gingiva surrounding
them, and primary
palate.
• The nasolacrimal ducts (originally called the
nasolacrimal grooves) are bilateral epithelial structures
that form at the line of fusion between lateral nasal
prominences and maxillary prominences.
• Each nasolacrimal duct eventually connects the lacrimal
sac to the nasal cavity.
• It should be noted that fusion, or merging, of
prominences involves first a breakdown of the surface
epithelium at the area of contact. This allows the
underlying mesenchymal cells in the two prominences
to mingle with one another.
 Development of the Palate
• Starts week 6, but the process is not
completed until week 12.
• The most critical period during palatal
development is the end of the sixth week to
the beginning of the ninth week
• The entire palate develops from two
structures the primary palate (premaxilla) and
the secondary palate
The primary palate is
the triangular-shaped
part of the palate
anterior to the incisive
foramen.
The origin of the
primary palate is the
deep portion of the
intermaxillary
segment, which arises
from the fusion of the
two medial nasal
prominences
• The secondary palate gives rise to the
hard and soft palate posterior to the
incisive foramen.
• The secondary palate arises from
paired lateral palatine shelves of the
maxilla .
• These shelves are comprised initially
of mesenchymal connective tissue
and are oriented in a superior-
inferior plane with the tongue
interposed
• Later, the lateral palatine shelves
become elongated and the tongue
becomes relatively smaller and
moves inferiorly. This allows the
shelves to become oriented
horizontally, to fuse in the midline
Pathogenesis of Cleft
Lip and Cleft Palate

A result of failure
of fusion different
embryologic
structures
 Development of the Tongue
• The tongue develops
from several different
sources.
• anterior two thirds of
the tongue develops
from the 1st pharyngeal
arch
• posterior third develops
from arch III.
• The skeletal muscle of
the tongue develops
from myoblasts that
migrate into the tongue
from occipital somites
• near the end of the
fourth week as a
midline enlargement in
the floor of the
primitive pharynx
cranial to the foramen
cecum
(tuberculum impar)
• Two lateral lingual
swellings form adjacent
to the tuberculum
impar
• three structures fuse
together forming body
of the tongue
• The posterior third, or base,
of the tongue develops from
the hypobranchial eminence
• which is a midline swelling
caudal to the foramen
cecum
• The hypobranchial
eminence is comprised
primarily of mesenchyme
from arch III.
• The copula is a midline
enlargement derived from
arch II.
• The hypobranchial
eminence overgrows the
copula and fuses with the
tuberculum impar and
lateral lingual swellings.
• The copula disappears
without contributing to
formation
• The base of
the tongue is
derived from
the third
pharyngeal
arch
 Development of the Thyroid Gland
• The thyroid gland develops close
to the foramen cecum as an
endodermal thickening and then
as a pouch called the thyroid
diverticulum.
• The diverticulum migrates
ventrally but remains connected
with the developing tongue by the
thyroglossal duct.
• The thyroid gland reaches its final
location in the neck by about the
seventh week.
• The thyroglossal duct
degenerates, but the foramen
cecum persists on the dorsal
surface of the tongue.
pathologic conditions

• Remnants of the
thyroglossal duct may
persist after birth and give
rise to thyroglossal duct
cysts, most commonly in
the neck.
• All or part of the
developing thyroid may
remain in the region of the
foramen cecum, enlarge,
differentiate, and produce
a lingual thyroid.
 Development of the Skull
• is considered in two components.
– The neurocranium, the calvaria and base of the
skull
– The viscerocranium, the skeleton of the face and
associated structures
 Neurocranium
• Divided into 2 portions
– Membranous part,consists of flat bone which
surrounds the brain as a vault
– The cartilaginous part (chondrocranium) , forms
the bone of the base of the skull
 cartilaginous part
• The cartilage junctions between two bones are
called (synchondroses).
• New cartilage cells continually form in the center of
the synchondrosis, move peripherally, and then
undergo endochondral ossification along the lateral
margins.
• The occipital bone, the body of the sphenoid
bone,the ethmoid bone,the vomer bone of the
nasal septum and the petrous and mastoid parts of
the temporal bone.
 The membranous neurocranium
• superior portion of the frontal, parietal, and
occipital bone
• Sutures and fontanelles are present during
fetal and early neonatal life
• arises from the pharyngeal arches
– Cartilaginous, middle ear ossicles, the styloid
process of the temporal bone, the hyoid bone, and
the laryngeal cartilages
– membranous, maxilla, zygomatic bones, the
squamous temporal bones, and the mandible.
• These bones form by intramembranous ossification
except for the mandibular condyle and the midline of the
chin.
• The squamous temporal bones later become part of the
neurocranium