3 WEEK OF
rd
DEVELOPMENT
Dr. MRITUNJAY PANDEY
CHANGES IN 3 WEEK rd
Most significant change is conversion of bilaminar
germ disc into trilaminar disc by a process of
Gastrulation.
Gastrulation takes place with the advent of intra-
embryonic secondary mesoderm between the
ectodermal and endodermal layers of germ disc.
CHANGES IN GERM DISC
At about 18th day of development, the disc becomes
pear shaped; with a broad cephalic end and a narrow
caudal end.
Connecting stalk is attached to caudal end of disc.
The ectodermal layer differentiates into three
functional zones.
CHANGES IN GERM DISC
Cells occupying the cephalic end and adjacent
peripheral margin, known as Surface ectoderm.
Neuro-ectodermal cells are situated within
concavity of surface ectoderm and forms neural or
medullary plate.
Epiblast cells in caudal part of disc undergo rapid
differentiation to form Primitive streak.
PRIMITIVE STREAK
Appears at about 15th day of development.
A narrow median groove with slightly raised lateral
margins.
Formed by active migration and invagination of
pluripopotent ectodermal cells into the space
between epiblast and hypoblast- Gastrulation.
CHANGES IN GERM DISC
Some of the ingressing epiblast cells invade the
hypoblast and displace the cells of primary
endoderm, to form Definitive endoderm.
Some of the epiblast cells migrate bilaterally
through the primitive streak and occupy space
between epiblast and definitive endoderm to form
a third germ layer, Intra-embryonic mesoderm.
PRIMITIVE STREAK
At the cephalic end of the streak, the cells
proliferate to form a knob like extension,
called the primitive node or Hensen’s node.
The centre of Hensen’s node presents a
depression known as Primitive pit.
PRIMITIVE STREAK
Functions:
Gives rise to intraembryonic mesoderm
Formation of septum transversum
Formation of notochord
Determines cranio-caudal axis of embryo
Demarcates embro into right & left side
PRIMITIVE STREAK
Fate:
Primitive streak forms intraembryonic
mesoderm upto end of 3rd week of IUL.
Thereafter it regresses cranio-caudally and
completely disappear by the end of 4th week.
NOTOCHORD
Primitive pit surrounded by a cord of cells
extends in cephalic direction in the median
plane from hensen’s node to prechordal plate.
Intervenes between medullary plate and
endodermal layer of roof of the yolk sac.
This canalised cellular cord is known as
notochordal or head process (17th-18th day).
NOTOCHORD
The cells in the floor of the notochordal canal fuse
with the underlying endodermal cells of roof of yolk
sac.
Subsequently both group of cells disappear in the
cranio-caudal direction and the notochordal canal
communicates with the yolk sac.
CHANGES IN GERM DISC
A temporary neurenteric canal is formed
communicating fluid of the yolk sac with that of
the amniotic cavity.
The intercalation of the notochordal process forms
a notochordal plate along the roof of yolk sac.
CHANGES IN GERM DISC
The notochordal plate folds along its long axis and
gradually excalates from the roof of yolk sac, which is
lined by uninterrupted endodermal layer.
Notochordal plate forms a solid flexible cord of cells,
known as Definitive notochord.
Notochordal cells persists as nucleus pulposus.
CHANGES IN GERM DISC
An oval shaped bilaminar area known as bucco-
pharyngeal or oval membrane appears in the
prechordal plate due to failure of insinuation of
mesodermal cells.
At the caudal end, another bilaminar area, the
Cloacal membrane develops between primitive
streak and connecting stalk.
CHANGES IN GERM DISC
Cloacal membrane lies at the bottom of endodermal
cloaca during tail fold of embryo.
Divides into anal and urogenital membrane.
Cephalic to bucco-pharyngeal membrane, the
secondary mesoderm crosses the mid-line and forms
a horse-shoe shaped pericardial bar.
CHANGES IN GERM DISC
A tubular endodermal outgrowth known as the
allanto-enteric diverticulum or allantois arises
from dorsi-caudal end of yolk sac.
The primitive streak regresses at the end of 3rd week
and disappears by the 26th day of development.
CHANGES IN TROPHOBLAST
Primary chorionic villi are changed into the secondary
villi with the appearance of a central core of cells from
somatopleuric mesoderm.
At the end of third week, secondary villi are converted
into tertiary villi when the chorionic blood vessels
grows in mesodermal core.
CHANGES IN TROPHOBLAST
Each tertiary villi presents from centre to periphery a
layer of endothelial cells of the chorionic capillaries,
primary mesoderm, cytotrophoblast and
syncitiotrophoblast.
From the vascular tertiary villi, numerous branching
villi project into the intervillous space.
