Introduction
Introduction
These notes cover the first week of development,
including the fertilization process, morula and
blastocyst development, and transport in uterine
tube.
Reading
- Human Embryology (2nd ed.) Larson Ch1
p1-32
- The Developing Human: Clinically Oriented
Embryology (6th ed.) Moore and Persaud
- Before we Are Born (5th ed.) Moore and
Persaud Ch
- Essentials of Human Embryology Larson Ch1
p1-16
- Human Embryology Fitzgerald and
Fitzgerald
- Additional References- Selected
- Search PubMed-
Medline
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Computer
Activities
UNSW
Embryology:
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Embryo Images
Unit:
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Unit: Early cell Populations
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Video
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- BBC series The Human Body,
Episode 2
- "Ancient" Japanese video on
fertilization.
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Objectives
- Understand the abnormalities that occur
during this period of development. (page 2)
- Understand the mechanisms of gamete
formation. (page 3)
- Understand the mechanisms of cell division.
(page 4)
- Describe the differences between mitosis and
meiosis. (page 4a, b)
- Understand the mechanisms of fertilization,
both in vivo and in vitro. (page5
a, b)
- Describe the cleavage of the zygote. (page
6)
- Describe the processes in formation of the
blastocyst. (page7)
- Have a preliminary understanding of the role
and process in male sex determination and X
inactivation. (page 8, 9)

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Learning activities
- Discuss the similarities and differences
between fertilization processes in different
vertebrates.
- Discuss the morphological and chemical
changes which occur following
fertilization.
- Discuss the anatomical structures involved
in fertilization and development of the
embryo.
- Discuss the development of in vitro
fertilization technologies.
- Work through the individual separate notes
relating to this topic
- Gametogenesis
- Fertilization
- Cell Division
- Work through the Hypercell Program
(available only on School of Anatomy
computers) sections on
- Cell division
- Fertilization

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References
- Selected Lists of References from PubMed
March 1999 search results are available for
School of Anatomy computers without internet
access. Computers with internet access can
search from either Page
2 or PubMed
Internet Access
- Fertilization
- Blastocyst
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WEEK 1 Development Terms
- acrosome- the packet of enzymes in a
sperm's head that allows the sperm to dissolve a
hole in the coating around the egg, which allows
the sperm to penetrate and fertilize the
egg.
- blastocyst- [Greek, blastos =
sprout + cystos = cavity] early stage in
development before implantation, consists of
outer trophoblast and inner cell mass.
- capacitation- the process of
activation of the sperm so that fertilization of
the egg can occur.
- fertilization- The penetration of the
egg by the sperm and the resulting combining of
genetic material that develops into an embryo.
The union of two haploid gametes to form a
diploid cell or zygote.
- flagella-
- gamete-
- meiosis-
- mitosis-
- oocyte-The female reproductive cell,
also called an egg.
- polar body-
- sry- the gene locus on the Y
chromosome encoding the male "testis determining
factor"
- sperm- The male reproductive cell
(gamete).
- Xist- an untranslated RNA transcript
involved with inactivation of one of the X
chromosomes in females.
- X inactivation- the process of randomly
removing one of the 2 X chromosomes in each
female cell, ensuring correct gene dosage.
- ZP1- glycoprotein found in zona
pellucida of the egg.
- ZP2- glycoprotein found in zona
pellucida of the egg.
- ZP3- glycoprotein found in zona
pellucida of the egg.
- zona pellucida-
- zygote-
UNSW Embryology ISBN: 978 0 7334 2609 4
UNSW CRICOS Provider Code No. 00098G
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