General and Systemic Embryology

At the end of the course, students should be able to: 1. explain how the embryo forms from the zygote; 2. discuss the role of cleavage and gastrulation in animal development; 3. demonstrate an understanding of embryology and significance of prenatal diagnostic methods; 4. describe structural features of primordia in tissue and organs at different developmental stages; and 5. define risk periods in histo- and organogenesis, and to analyse the most often observed developmental anomalies.

Spermatogenesis, oogenesis; ovarian follicles; ovulation; corpus luteum; menstruation; uterine cycle; hormonal control of uterine cycle; fertilization; cleavage; implantation; reproductive technologies-IVF/surrogacy/embryo transfer; embryo manipulation & potency/twinning; molecular embryology and transgenesis; gastrulation; notochord, neurulation; derivatives of the germ layers; folding of the embryo; fetal membranes; placenta; development of limbs and teratology, growth and perinatology; congenital malformations – general introduction, the cardiovascular system, skin, structure of the nails and hair, macrophagic system; cellular immunology; lymphoid organs; glands – endocrine and exocrine, respiratory system, digestive system, urinary and genital systems,and electron micrograph studies of each organ.