2010 Foundations Lecture - Introduction to Human Development

From Embryology

Introduction

Dr Mark Hill

Human development is one of the most exciting topics to study not only as a medical student, but also for our fundamental understanding of the human body. This lecture is going to take you briefly through key concepts in human development, these will later be explored in more detail through the BGD course. The lecture will be followed by a practical class introducing online resources for independent study and working through similar embryology concepts.

Aims

  1. Purpose of learning embryology
  2. Basic facts about early human development
  3. Appreciate differences between the conceptus, embryo and fetus
  4. General understanding of the term “critical periods” of development

Concepts: Fertilization, Early conceptus, Germ layers, Embryo, Tissue origins, Timetable/stages of development, Fetus, Placenta

Background Lectures: Cell Structure (structure and function), Cell Division (mitosis, meiosis, lifespan, cell death), 4 Basic Tissues (Epithelial, Connective, Muscular, Nervous)