EMBRYOLOGY

/em bre-ol-je/

The science of the development of the individual during the embryonic stage and, by extension, in several or even all preceding and subsequent stages of life cycle. General definitions of embryology The branch of biology that deals with the formation, early growth, and development of living organisms Study of the formationand developmentof an embryo and fetus. Whymedical students should study Embryology? Know how a single cell develops into a newborn, containing numerous tissues and organs. Help us understand many complicated facts of adult anatomy. Explain why some children are born with organs that abnormal. Appreciate the factors responsible for maldevelopment to assist us in preventing or treating such abnormalities.

Some preliminary consideration Embryo= developing individual during 1sttwo months. Fetus = developing individual from 3rdmonth until birth. Gametes: are produced by testes and ovaries. Testis : produces gametes ( spermatozoa ). Spermatogenesis: process of producing spermatozoa. Ovary : produces gametes ( ova ). Oogenesis : process of producing ova. Fertilization : takes place when one spermatozoon enters an ovum. Zygote : the fused ovum and sperm. What is Embryology? Embryology is the study of the development of an individual before birth. Every individual spends 266 days38 weeks ( to be exact ) One celled structure pass stages to become organism having billions of cells, numerous tissues and organs are formed and come to function in perfect harmony.The most spectacular of these changes occur in the 1sttwo months ( the unborn baby acquires its main organs and just begins to be recognized as human ). 1sttwo months = Embryo. 3rdmonth until birth = fetus. 1st28 days post birth = Newborn baby .

Chromosome A structure in the nucleus containing a linear thread of DNA, which transmits genetic information and associated with RNA and histones; during cell division. Chromatid = one of the paired chromosome strands, joined at the centromere, which make up a metaphase chromosome, resulting from chromosome reduplication during the DNA synthetic phase of interphase.

Chromatin The more readily stainable protein of the cell nucleus, forming a network of nuclear fibrils. It is a DNA attached to a protein primarily (histone) structure base and is the carrier of the genes in inheritance. It coils to form the metaphase chromosome. Gene A segment of DNA molecule that contains all the information required for synthesis of a product ( polypeptide chain RNA molecule ).

 It is biologic unit of hereditary, self reproducing and transmitted from parent to progeny. Each gene has a specific position (locus) on the chromosome. DNA THE NUCLEIC ACID IN WHICH THE SUGAR DEOXYRIBOSE, constituting the primary genetic material of all cellular organism and the DNA viruses; and occurring predominantly in the nucleus. DNA is duplicated by replication and it serves as atemplate for synthesis of ribonucleic acid (RNA ) (transcription). Some facts about chromosomes Number of chromosomes in each cell is fixed for a given species and in man it is (46). This is referred to as diploid(or double number ). In spermatozoa and ova the number of chromosomes in only half the diploid number (23), this is called haploid or half number . There are (46) chromosomes in human cell (44) autosomal (2) are sex chromosomes. (44) autosomal chromosomes = (22) pairs. The chromosomes forming a pair being exactly alike.

Other facts Characters of parents are transmitted to offspring through codes borne on strands of DNA. Genes are made up of such strands of DNA. Genes are located on chromosomes. A typical cell contains (46) chromosomes = diploid number. A gamete contains (23) chromosomes = haploid number. The diploid number of chromosomes is restored as a result of fertilization.