Embryonic Development

Definition

Embryonic development is the series of changes an embryo undergoes from fertilization to become a fetus, involving cell division, migration, and differentiation. This process lays the foundational structure for all organs and systems in the body.

Related terms

Fertilization:

The process where a sperm cell joins with an egg cell to form a zygote, marking the beginning of pregnancy.

Cell differentiation: The process by which cells become specialized in order to perform specific functions within the organism.

Gastrulation:

An early phase in embryonic development during which the single-layered blastula is reorganized into a multilayered structure known as the gastrula