2nd Week of
Development:
Bilaminar Germ Disc
Summary
of
the human
developm
ent
during the
first week
Approximately 6 days after fertilization, the
blastocyst attaches to the
endometrial epithelium.
Simultaneously, the trophoblast starts to
proliferate and differentiate into two
layers:
- The cytotrophoblast
- The syncytiotrophoblast
Early stages of implantation: A – 6 days –
blastocyst attachment, B – 7 days –
invading blastocyst
8th day of
development
Cells of the inner cell mass
(embryoblast) also differentiate into
two layers:
- A layer of small cuboidal cells
adjacent to the blastocyst cavity,
known as the hypoblast layer
- A layer of high columnar cells
adjacent to the amniotic cavity, the
epiblast layer
At the same time, a small cavity appears
Together the layers form a bilaminar
within the epiblast. This cavity enlarges to
plate of the cells - flat embryonic
become the amniotic cavity.
disc.
Some Epiblast cells migrate
adjacent to the cytotrophoblast
and make the roof - amnion for
Implantation of the embryo, it’s just 0.1 mm in the amniotic cavity. They
9th day of development
At the abembryonic pole
flattened cells probably
originating from the hypoblast
form a thin membrane -
exocoelomic (Heuser’s)
membrane that lines the inner
surface of the
cytotrophoblast.
This membrane, together with
the hypoblast, forms the
lining of the exocoelomic
cavity, or primitive yolk
sac.
10-12th days of development
A new population of cells appears
between the inner surface of the
cytotrophoblast and the outer
surface of the exocoelomic cavity
(Hauser’s membrane or primary
umbilical vesicle). These cells,
derived from exocoelomic cavity
cells, form a fine, loose connective
tissue, the extra embryonic
mesoderm, which eventually fills
all of the space between the
trophoblast externally and the
*Theamnion
exocoelomic and
cavity is exocoelomic
also
called primary umbilical
membrane vesicle.
internally.
12th day of
development–
formation of chorion
Soon, large cavities develop in the
extraembryonic mesoderm, and when
these become confluent, they form a new
space known as the extraembryonic
cavity, or chorionic cavity.
This space surrounds the exocoelomic
cavity and amniotic cavity, except
where the germ disc is connected to
the trophoblast by the connecting
stalk.
By the 11th to the 12th day of
development, the blastocyst is
completely embedded in the
endometrial stroma, and the surface
epithelium almost entirely covers the
Establishment of
uteroplacental
circulation
Concurrently, cells of the
syncytiotrophoblast penetrate deeper
into the stroma and erode the
endothelial lining of the maternal
capillaries. Lacunae (small spaces)
appear in the
syncytiotrophoblast.
Endometrial capillaries, which are
congested and dilated, are known as
sinusoids.
The fluid in the lacunae –
embryotroph - passes to the
embryonic disc by diffusion.
Establishment of uteroplacental circulation
The trophoblast is
characterized by villous
structures. Cells of the
cytotrophoblast proliferate
locally and penetrate into
syncityotropho- blast, forming
cellular columns with syncytial
covering. This structure is
called primary villi.
13th day of
development
Trophoblastic lacunae are present at the
embryonic as well as the abembryonic pole, and
the uteroplacental circulation has begun. Note
the primary villi and the extraembryonic coelom
or chorionic cavity.
Hypoblastic cells in a localized area are
now columnar and form a thickened
circular area, the prechordal plate. This
plate indicates the site of the mouth and is
an important organizer of the head region.
Implantation site; Abortion
Detection of pregnancy;
- Threatened abortion bleeding with
Ectopic the possibility of abortion. Despite every
effort to prevent an abortion,
pregnancy approximately half of these embryos
ultimately abort.
- Spontaneous abortion is
pregnancy loss that occurs naturally
before the 20th week of gestation.
- Habitual abortion is the spontaneous
expulsion of a dead or nonviable embryo
or fetus in three or more consecutive
pregnancies.
- Induced abortion is a birth that is
medically induced before 20 weeks .
- Complete abortion is one in which all
products of conception (embryo and its
membranes) are expelled from the
uterus.
- Missed abortion is the retention of a
conceptus in the uterus after death of
