Survey of Embryonic 
Development
Human Anatomy and Physiology, 7e 
by Elaine Marieb & Katja Hoehn 
Copyright © 2007 Pearson Education, Inc., 
publishing as Benjamin Cummings. 
Diagrams showing the size of a human conceptus from fertilization to the early fetal stage 
Fertilization 
1-week conceptus 
2-week conceptus 
Embryo 
3-week embryo 
4-week embryo 
5-week embryo 
6-week embryo 
7-week embryo 
8-week embryo 
9-week fetus 
12-week fetus
Sperm nucleus 
Acrosome 
Acrosomal 
reaction 
Granulosa cells 
of corona radiata 
Zona pellucida 
Extracellular 
space 
Oocyte plasma 
membrane 
Cortical granule 
Human Anatomy and Physiology, 7e 
by Elaine Marieb & Katja Hoehn 
Copyright © 2007 Pearson Education, Inc., 
publishing as Benjamin Cummings. 
Sperm penetration and the cortical reaction (slow block to polyspermy 
Sperm 
Corona radiata 
Zona pellucida 
First polar body 
Fusion of oocyte 
and sperm plasma 
membranes 
Cortical 
reaction 
Sperm nucleus engulfed 
by oocyte cytoplasm 
Oocyte cytoplasm 
Oocyte in 
second meiotic 
division 
(a) 
(b)
(a) 
Human Anatomy and Physiology, 7e 
by Elaine Marieb & Katja Hoehn 
Copyright © 2007 Pearson Education, Inc., 
publishing as Benjamin Cummings. 
Events immediately following sperm penetration 
Daughter 
cells 
Anaphase of 
first cleavage 
division 
Sperm 
Extracellular space 
Second meiotic division 
of oocyte 
Second meiotic division 
of first polar body 
Detached 
sperm tail 
Sperm pro-nucleus 
Ovum 
nucleus 
Sperm and ovum 
chromosomes 
Zygote 
Male pronucleus 
Mitotic spindle 
Centriole 
Female pronucleus 
Polar 
bodies 
Corona 
radiata 
Zona 
pellucida 
(b) 
(c) 
(d) 
(e) 
(f) 
(g) 
(h)
(a) (b) (c) (d) (e) 
Sperm 
Human Anatomy and Physiology, 7e 
by Elaine Marieb & Katja Hoehn 
Copyright © 2007 Pearson Education, Inc., 
publishing as Benjamin Cummings. 
Degenerating 
zona 
pellucida 
Blastocyst 
cavity 
Inner cell 
mass 
Blastocyst 
cavity 
Trophoblast 
Zygote 
(fertilized 
egg) 
4-cell stage 
2 days 
Morula 
3 days 
Early blastocyst 
4 days 
Implanting blastocyst 
6 days 
Uterus 
Ovulation Endometrium 
Cavity of 
uterus 
Ovary 
Fertilization 
(sperm meets egg) 
Uterine tube 
Oocyte 
(egg) 
(a) 
(b) 
(c) 
(d) 
(e) 
Cleavage from zygote to blastocyst
0 4 8 12 16 20 24 28 32 36 
Human Anatomy and Physiology, 7e 
by Elaine Marieb & Katja Hoehn 
Copyright © 2007 Pearson Education, Inc., 
publishing as Benjamin Cummings. 
Hormonal changes during pregnancy 
Ovulation 
and fertilization 
Birth 
Human chorionic 
gonadotropin 
Progesterone 
Estrogens 
Gestation (weeks) 
Relavtive blood levels
(a) 
Human Anatomy and Physiology, 7e 
by Elaine Marieb & Katja Hoehn 
Copyright © 2007 Pearson Education, Inc., 
publishing as Benjamin Cummings. 
Implantation of the blastocyst 
Endometrium 
Uterine endometrial 
epithelium 
Inner cell mass 
Trophoblast 
Blastocyst cavity 
Lumen of uterus 
Endometrial stroma 
with blood vessels 
and glands 
Syncytiotrophoblast 
Cytotrophoblast 
Inner cell mass 
(future embryo) 
Lumen of uterus 
(b) (c)
Human Anatomy and Physiology, 7e 
by Elaine Marieb & Katja Hoehn 
Future opening 
between mouth 
and pharynx 
Head 
Copyright © 2007 Pearson Education, Inc., 
publishing as Benjamin Cummings. 
Formation of the three primary germ layers 
Bilayered 
embryonic disc 
Amniotic sac 
Yolk sac 
Amniotic sac (amnion) 
Yolk sac 
Cut edge 
of amnion 
Left 
Tail 
Primitive 
streak Hypoblast 
Right 
Epiblast 
Yolk sac 
(b) . . . turned 90˚(c) 3-D view (d) Section view 
in (e) 
(a) Embryo 
(See Figure 28.7b) 
(e) Bilayered embryonic disc, 
lateral-superior view
Human Anatomy and Physiology, 7e 
by Elaine Marieb & Katja Hoehn 
Copyright © 2007 Pearson Education, Inc., 
publishing as Benjamin Cummings. 
Formation of the three primary germ layers 
Head 
Cut edge 
of amnion 
Yolk sac 
(cut edge) 
Left Right 
Sections 
Tail 
Primitive streak 
Primitive 
streak 
Endoderm 
Mesoderm Definitive 
endoderm 
Epiblast 
Hypoblast 
Ectoderm 
(f) Bilayered embryonic 
disc, superior view 
(g) 14–15 days 
(h) 16 days
Head 
Human Anatomy and Physiology, 7e 
by Elaine Marieb & Katja Hoehn 
Neural Neural groove 
fold 
Copyright © 2007 Pearson Education, Inc., 
publishing as Benjamin Cummings. 
Neurulation 
(a) 17 days 
(b) 19 days 
Amnion 
Amniotic cavity 
Neural plate 
Ectoderm 
Mesoderm 
Notochord 
Endoderm 
Surface 
ectoderm 
Tail Yolk sac 
Cut 
edge of 
amnion 
Primitive 
streak 
Neural 
plate 
Future 
neural 
crest 
Notochord 
Notochord 
Cut edge 
of amnion 
Neural 
plate 
Primitive 
node 
Primitive 
streak 
Neural 
groove Neural 
crest 
Left Right
Tissues derived from the three 
germinal layers 
• Ectoderm: nervous tissues, epidermis 
and melanocytes. 
• Mesoderm: bones, muscles, 
mesenchyme, reproductive system, 
urinary system. 
• Endoderm: digestive system, respiratory 
system, endocrine system.
Human Anatomy and Physiology, 7e 
by Elaine Marieb & Katja Hoehn 
Copyright © 2007 Pearson Education, Inc., 
publishing as Benjamin Cummings. 
Events of placentation, early embryonic development, and extraembryonic membrane formation 
Maternal 
blood vessels 
Lacuna (intervillus 
space) containing 
maternal blood 
Endometrium 
Amniotic cavity 
Primary 
germ layers: 
Chorionic villus • Ectoderm 
Chorion 
Amnion 
Yolk sac 
Extraembryonic 
mesoderm 
Chorion 
being formed 
Lumen of uterus 
Proliferating 
syncytiotrophoblast 
Cytotrophoblast 
Amniotic cavity 
Bilayered 
embryonic 
disc: 
• Epiblast 
• Hypoblast 
Endometrial 
epithelium 
• Mesoderm 
• Endoderm 
Forming 
body stalk 
Allantois 
Extra-embryonic 
coelom 
(a) 71/2-day implanting 
blastocyst 
(b) 12-day implanted 
blastocyst 
(c) 16-day embryo
Embryonic membranes 
• Amnion: encases and protects embryo 
against mechanical and temperature 
trauma. 
• Yolk sac: transfers nutrients to embryo. 
Replaced by placenta in humans. 
• Allantois: repository of embryo wastes. 
Replaced by placenta in humans.
Events of placentation, early embryonic development, and extraembryonic membrane formation 
Human Anatomy and Physiology, 7e 
by Elaine Marieb & Katja Hoehn 
Decidua basalis 
Maternal blood 
Chorionic villus 
Umbilical blood 
vessels in 
umbilical cord 
Amnion 
Amniotic cavity 
Yolk sac 
Extraembryonic 
coelom 
Chorion 
Decidua 
capsularis 
Copyright © 2007 Pearson Education, Inc., 
publishing as Benjamin Cummings. 
Lumen 
of uterus 
(d) 41 / 2 - week embryo
Extraembryonic 
coelom 
Human Anatomy and Physiology, 7e 
by Elaine Marieb & Katja Hoehn 
Copyright © 2007 Pearson Education, Inc., 
publishing as Benjamin Cummings. 
Events of placentation, early embryonic development, and extraembryonic membrane formation 
Placenta 
Decidua basalis 
Chorionic villi 
Yolk sac 
Amnion 
Amniotic 
cavity 
Umbilical cord 
Uterus 
Lumen of 
uterus 
Decidua 
capsularis 
(f) 13-week fetus
Maternal blood 
in lacuna 
(intervillus space) 
Human Anatomy and Physiology, 7e 
by Elaine Marieb & Katja Hoehn 
Copyright © 2007 Pearson Education, Inc., 
publishing as Benjamin Cummings. 
Events of placentation, early embryonic development, and extraembryonic membrane formation 
Myometrium 
Maternal 
veins 
Maternal 
arteries 
Umbilical arteries 
Umbilical vein 
Connection to 
yolk sac 
Chorionic villus 
containing fetal 
capillaries 
Fetal arteriole 
Fetal venule 
Amnion 
Umbilical cord 
(g) 
Stratum basalis of 
endometrium 
Maternal portion 
of placenta 
(decidua basalis) 
Fetal portion of 
placenta (chorion)

2a embryonic development

  • 1.
    Survey of Embryonic Development
  • 2.
    Human Anatomy andPhysiology, 7e by Elaine Marieb & Katja Hoehn Copyright © 2007 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Benjamin Cummings. Diagrams showing the size of a human conceptus from fertilization to the early fetal stage Fertilization 1-week conceptus 2-week conceptus Embryo 3-week embryo 4-week embryo 5-week embryo 6-week embryo 7-week embryo 8-week embryo 9-week fetus 12-week fetus
  • 3.
    Sperm nucleus Acrosome Acrosomal reaction Granulosa cells of corona radiata Zona pellucida Extracellular space Oocyte plasma membrane Cortical granule Human Anatomy and Physiology, 7e by Elaine Marieb & Katja Hoehn Copyright © 2007 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Benjamin Cummings. Sperm penetration and the cortical reaction (slow block to polyspermy Sperm Corona radiata Zona pellucida First polar body Fusion of oocyte and sperm plasma membranes Cortical reaction Sperm nucleus engulfed by oocyte cytoplasm Oocyte cytoplasm Oocyte in second meiotic division (a) (b)
  • 4.
    (a) Human Anatomyand Physiology, 7e by Elaine Marieb & Katja Hoehn Copyright © 2007 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Benjamin Cummings. Events immediately following sperm penetration Daughter cells Anaphase of first cleavage division Sperm Extracellular space Second meiotic division of oocyte Second meiotic division of first polar body Detached sperm tail Sperm pro-nucleus Ovum nucleus Sperm and ovum chromosomes Zygote Male pronucleus Mitotic spindle Centriole Female pronucleus Polar bodies Corona radiata Zona pellucida (b) (c) (d) (e) (f) (g) (h)
  • 5.
    (a) (b) (c)(d) (e) Sperm Human Anatomy and Physiology, 7e by Elaine Marieb & Katja Hoehn Copyright © 2007 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Benjamin Cummings. Degenerating zona pellucida Blastocyst cavity Inner cell mass Blastocyst cavity Trophoblast Zygote (fertilized egg) 4-cell stage 2 days Morula 3 days Early blastocyst 4 days Implanting blastocyst 6 days Uterus Ovulation Endometrium Cavity of uterus Ovary Fertilization (sperm meets egg) Uterine tube Oocyte (egg) (a) (b) (c) (d) (e) Cleavage from zygote to blastocyst
  • 6.
    0 4 812 16 20 24 28 32 36 Human Anatomy and Physiology, 7e by Elaine Marieb & Katja Hoehn Copyright © 2007 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Benjamin Cummings. Hormonal changes during pregnancy Ovulation and fertilization Birth Human chorionic gonadotropin Progesterone Estrogens Gestation (weeks) Relavtive blood levels
  • 7.
    (a) Human Anatomyand Physiology, 7e by Elaine Marieb & Katja Hoehn Copyright © 2007 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Benjamin Cummings. Implantation of the blastocyst Endometrium Uterine endometrial epithelium Inner cell mass Trophoblast Blastocyst cavity Lumen of uterus Endometrial stroma with blood vessels and glands Syncytiotrophoblast Cytotrophoblast Inner cell mass (future embryo) Lumen of uterus (b) (c)
  • 8.
    Human Anatomy andPhysiology, 7e by Elaine Marieb & Katja Hoehn Future opening between mouth and pharynx Head Copyright © 2007 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Benjamin Cummings. Formation of the three primary germ layers Bilayered embryonic disc Amniotic sac Yolk sac Amniotic sac (amnion) Yolk sac Cut edge of amnion Left Tail Primitive streak Hypoblast Right Epiblast Yolk sac (b) . . . turned 90˚(c) 3-D view (d) Section view in (e) (a) Embryo (See Figure 28.7b) (e) Bilayered embryonic disc, lateral-superior view
  • 9.
    Human Anatomy andPhysiology, 7e by Elaine Marieb & Katja Hoehn Copyright © 2007 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Benjamin Cummings. Formation of the three primary germ layers Head Cut edge of amnion Yolk sac (cut edge) Left Right Sections Tail Primitive streak Primitive streak Endoderm Mesoderm Definitive endoderm Epiblast Hypoblast Ectoderm (f) Bilayered embryonic disc, superior view (g) 14–15 days (h) 16 days
  • 10.
    Head Human Anatomyand Physiology, 7e by Elaine Marieb & Katja Hoehn Neural Neural groove fold Copyright © 2007 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Benjamin Cummings. Neurulation (a) 17 days (b) 19 days Amnion Amniotic cavity Neural plate Ectoderm Mesoderm Notochord Endoderm Surface ectoderm Tail Yolk sac Cut edge of amnion Primitive streak Neural plate Future neural crest Notochord Notochord Cut edge of amnion Neural plate Primitive node Primitive streak Neural groove Neural crest Left Right
  • 11.
    Tissues derived fromthe three germinal layers • Ectoderm: nervous tissues, epidermis and melanocytes. • Mesoderm: bones, muscles, mesenchyme, reproductive system, urinary system. • Endoderm: digestive system, respiratory system, endocrine system.
  • 12.
    Human Anatomy andPhysiology, 7e by Elaine Marieb & Katja Hoehn Copyright © 2007 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Benjamin Cummings. Events of placentation, early embryonic development, and extraembryonic membrane formation Maternal blood vessels Lacuna (intervillus space) containing maternal blood Endometrium Amniotic cavity Primary germ layers: Chorionic villus • Ectoderm Chorion Amnion Yolk sac Extraembryonic mesoderm Chorion being formed Lumen of uterus Proliferating syncytiotrophoblast Cytotrophoblast Amniotic cavity Bilayered embryonic disc: • Epiblast • Hypoblast Endometrial epithelium • Mesoderm • Endoderm Forming body stalk Allantois Extra-embryonic coelom (a) 71/2-day implanting blastocyst (b) 12-day implanted blastocyst (c) 16-day embryo
  • 13.
    Embryonic membranes •Amnion: encases and protects embryo against mechanical and temperature trauma. • Yolk sac: transfers nutrients to embryo. Replaced by placenta in humans. • Allantois: repository of embryo wastes. Replaced by placenta in humans.
  • 14.
    Events of placentation,early embryonic development, and extraembryonic membrane formation Human Anatomy and Physiology, 7e by Elaine Marieb & Katja Hoehn Decidua basalis Maternal blood Chorionic villus Umbilical blood vessels in umbilical cord Amnion Amniotic cavity Yolk sac Extraembryonic coelom Chorion Decidua capsularis Copyright © 2007 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Benjamin Cummings. Lumen of uterus (d) 41 / 2 - week embryo
  • 15.
    Extraembryonic coelom HumanAnatomy and Physiology, 7e by Elaine Marieb & Katja Hoehn Copyright © 2007 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Benjamin Cummings. Events of placentation, early embryonic development, and extraembryonic membrane formation Placenta Decidua basalis Chorionic villi Yolk sac Amnion Amniotic cavity Umbilical cord Uterus Lumen of uterus Decidua capsularis (f) 13-week fetus
  • 16.
    Maternal blood inlacuna (intervillus space) Human Anatomy and Physiology, 7e by Elaine Marieb & Katja Hoehn Copyright © 2007 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Benjamin Cummings. Events of placentation, early embryonic development, and extraembryonic membrane formation Myometrium Maternal veins Maternal arteries Umbilical arteries Umbilical vein Connection to yolk sac Chorionic villus containing fetal capillaries Fetal arteriole Fetal venule Amnion Umbilical cord (g) Stratum basalis of endometrium Maternal portion of placenta (decidua basalis) Fetal portion of placenta (chorion)