Week 2
Introduction
Key events of human development during the second week (week 2) following fertilization or Clinical week 4 (LMP).
Week 2 is about the implantation process and blastocyst differentiation. Note that all cells produced from the initial fertilization event are defined as the "conceptus" and will include cells with both embryonic and extraembryonic futures. In the conceptus, this is a period of blastocyst "hatching" rapid blastocyst differentiation into extraembryonic and embryonic tissues and proliferation. In placental animals, this is the first physical interaction between the conceptus and the maternal uterine wall with adplantation and the commencement of implantaion.
- Week 2 Links: Lecture - Week 1 and 2 | Implantation
- Embryo Week: Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Week 4 | Week 5 | Week 6 | Week 7 | Week 8 | Week 9
Timeline
Event | ||
Implantation | ||
Stage 6 | Chorionic Cavity | |
Week 2 and 3 Movies
Implantation | Mesoderm | Chorionic Cavity | Amniotic Cavity | Week 3 |
Implantation
The second week of human development is concerned with the process of implantation and the differentiation of the blastocyst into early embryonic and placental forming structures.
- implantation commences about day 6 to 7
- Adplantation - begins with initial adhesion to the uterine epithelium
- blastocyst then slows in motility, "rolls" on surface, aligns with the inner cell mass closest to the epithelium and stops
- Implantation - migration of the blastocyst into the uterine epithelium, process complete by about day 9
- coagulation plug - left where the blastocyst has entered the uterine wall day 12
Normal Implantation Sites - in uterine wall superior, posterior, lateral
Uterus
- Endometrium - 3 layers in secretory phase of menstrual cycle: compact, spongy, basal
- Myometrium - muscular layer outside endometrium, contracts in parturition
- Perimetrium - tunica serosa of the uterus continuous with the peritoneal wall
Endometrial Layers
- Compact - implantation occurs in this layer, dense stromal cells, uterine gland necks, capillaries of spiral arteries
- Spongy - swollen stromal cells, uterine gland bodies, spiral arteries
- Basal - not lost during menstruation or childbirth, own blood supply
Decidual Reaction
- occurs initially at site of implantation and includes both cellular and matrix changes
- reaction spreads throughout entire uterus, not at cervix
- deposition of fibrinoid and glycogen and epithelial plaque formation (at anchoring villi)
- presence of decidual cells are indicative of pregnancy
Cervix - at mouth of uterus, secretes mucus (CMP), forms a plug/barrier, mechanical and antibacterial Vascular - increased number of blood vessels
Decidua
The endometrium becomes the decidua and forms 3 distinct anatomical regions (at approx 3 weeks)
- Decidua Basalis at implantation site
- Decidua Capsularis enclosing the conceptus
- Decidua Parietalis the remainder of uterus
- Decidua Capsularis and Parietalis fuse eventually fuse and uterine cavity is lost by 12 weeks
Bilaminar Embryo
- Human development about day 8 to 9
The outer trophoblast and inner embryoblast layers now both differentiate to form two distinct cellular layers. The trophoblast layer forms the syncitotrophoblast and cytotrophoblast layers. The embryoblast (inner cell mass) forms the epiblast and hypoblast layers. This early stage of embryo development is referred to as the bilaminar embryo.
Syncitiotrophoblasts
- secrete proteolytic enzymes, enzymes break down extracellular matrix around cells
- Allow passage of blastocyst into endometrial wall, totally surround the blastocyst
- generate spaces that fill with maternal blood- lacunae
- secrete Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG), hormone, maintains decidua and Corpus Luteum, basis of pregnancy diagnostic test, present in urine is diagnostic of pregnancy
- Later in development placenta will secrete hCG
MH - more information in lecture 4 and laboratory.
Human Chorionic Gonadotropin
- levels peak at 8 to 10 weeks of pregnancy, then decline and are lower for rest of pregnancy
- 0-1 week: 0-50 mIU/ml
- 1-2 weeks: 40-300 mIU/ml
- 3-4 weeks: 500-6,000 mIU/ml
- 1-2 months: 5,000-200,000 mIU/ml
- 2-3 months: 10,000-100,000 mIU/ml
- 2nd trimester: 3,000-50,000 mIU/ml
- 3rd trimester: 1,000-50,000 mIU/ml
Non-pregnant females: <5.0 mIU/ml Postmenopausal females: <9.5 mIU/ml
Week 2 Abnormalities
Abnormal Implantation
Ectopic Pregnancy | Movie - Ectopic pregnancy ultrasound
Abnormal implantation sites or Ectopic Pregnancy occurs if implantation is in uterine tube or outside the uterus.
- sites - external surface of uterus, ovary, bowel, gastrointestinal tract, mesentry, peritoneal wall
- If not spontaneous then, embryo has to be removed surgically
Tubal pregnancy - 94% of ectopic pregnancies
- if uterine epithelium is damaged (scarring, pelvic inflammatory disease)
- if zona pellucida is lost too early, allows premature tubal implantation
- embryo may develop through early stages, can erode through the uterine horn and reattach within the peritoneal cavity
Uterus Abnormalities
Endometriosis endometrial tissue located in other regions of the uterus or other tissues. This misplaced tissue develops into growths or lesions which respond to the menstrual cycle hormonal changes in the same way that the tissue of the uterine lining does; each month the tissue builds up, breaks down, and sheds. Endometriosis
Monoygotic Twinning
Monozygotic twins (identical) produced from a single fertilization event (one fertilised egg and a single spermatazoa, form a single zygote), these twins therefore share the same genetic makeup. Occurs in approximately 3-5 per 1000 pregnancies, more commonly with aged mothers. The later the twinning event, the less common are initially separate placental membranes and finally resulting in conjoined twins.
Table based upon: Twinning. Hall JG. [1]
References
- ↑ <pubmed>12957099</pubmed>
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Cite this page: Hill, M.A. (2024, June 16) Embryology Week 2. Retrieved from https://embryology.med.unsw.edu.au/embryology/index.php/Week_2
- © Dr Mark Hill 2024, UNSW Embryology ISBN: 978 0 7334 2609 4 - UNSW CRICOS Provider Code No. 00098G