Stages of development

Stage Period Events
Pre-embryonic period First 2 weeks • Fertilization
• Cleavage and blastocyst formation
• Implantation
• Formation of embryoblast and trophoblast
• Differentiation of embryoblast to two-layered (bilaminar) germ disc
• Differentiation of trophoblast into cytotrophoblast & syncytiotrophoblast
Embryonic period 3-8 weeks • Trilaminar germ disc formation with the formation of 3 germ layers
• Early organogenesis
• Formation of extraembryonic supportive organs and membranes such as placenta, umbilical cord, amnion, and allantois
Fetal period 9 weeks to birth • Growth and specialization of body structures

Domains

Embryology | Gallery