Embryo

From WikiMD's Wellnesspedia

Embryo is a term used in biology to refer to the early developmental stages of a multicellular organism. In humans, it is the stage of prenatal development from the moment of fertilization until the end of the eighth week of gestational age, after which it is then referred to as a fetus.

Development[edit | edit source]

The development of the embryo follows fertilization, and continues as a cellular proliferation and cellular differentiation which leads to the development of many cell types, tissues and organs. This process is guided by the genetic information carried by the embryo's cells.

Stages of Embryonic Development[edit | edit source]

The stages of embryonic development include the zygote, morula, blastocyst, gastrula, and neurula stages. Each stage is characterized by specific cellular events and changes.

Zygote[edit | edit source]

The zygote is the initial cell formed when two gamete cells are joined by means of sexual reproduction.

Morula[edit | edit source]

The morula is an early stage embryo consisting of cells (called blastomeres) in a solid ball contained within the zona pellucida.

Blastocyst[edit | edit source]

The blastocyst is a structure formed in the early development of mammals, and it possesses an inner cell mass, which forms the organism, and an outer layer of cells, or trophoblast, which forms the placenta.

Gastrula[edit | edit source]

The gastrula is a phase early in the embryonic development of most animals, during which the single-layered blastula is reorganized into a multilayered structure known as the gastrula.

Neurula[edit | edit source]

The neurula is a stage in vertebrate embryonic development, in which the neural tube forms.

See Also[edit | edit source]


Embryo Resources

Find a healthcare provider anywhere in the world quickly and easily!

Wiki.png

Navigation: Wellness - Encyclopedia - Health topics - Disease Index‏‎ - Drugs - World Directory - Gray's Anatomy - Keto diet - Recipes

Search WikiMD


Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro) available.
Advertise on WikiMD

WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. See full disclaimer.

Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.


Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD