ECTS credits ECTS credits: 3
ECTS Hours Rules/Memories Student's work ECTS: 46 Hours of tutorials: 1 Expository Class: 17 Interactive Classroom: 11 Total: 75
Use languages Spanish, Galician
Type: Ordinary Degree Subject RD 1393/2007 - 822/2021
Center Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry
Call: Second Semester
Teaching: Sin Docencia (En Extinción)
Enrolment: No Matriculable (Sólo Planes en Extinción)
- Comprehension of the cellular basis of reproduction and human development and the factors involved in the abnormal development
- Understanding that cellular diversity emerges as a consequence of cell specialization, which is the result of a differential expression of genes.
-Application of suitable methods for observation and troubleshooting of embryonic development.
- Image interpretation of embryonic development and organogenesis
I. LECTURES (17h)
UNIT I. Introduction to human development (1h)
Lesson 1. Introduction to embryology
Embryology meaning. The Embryology along history. Embryology latest developments.
UNIT II. Human reproductive biology (4h)
Lesson 2. Gametogenesis
Oogenesis and egg maturation. Hormonal control of oogenesis. Ovarian cycle and ovulation. Corpus luteum and corpus albicans.
Spermatogenesis. Maturation of male germ cells. Spermiogenesis. Hormonal control of spermatogenesis.
Lesson 3. Fertilization
Transport of gametes and sperm capacitation. Fertilization stages.
UNIT III. Cellular and molecular developmental biology (2h)
Lesson 4. Cellular mechanisms of development
Cellular potentiality. Cellular determination and differentiation. Regulation of cellular determination. Cellular induction.
Lesson 5. Molecular mechanisms of development
Genetic control of cellular determination. Epigenetics. Molecular processes of development. Regulation of gene expression: transcription factors. Cellular signaling processes: signal and receptor molecules. Adhesion mechanisms and cellular migration.
UNIT IV. Human biology of development (10h)
Lesson 6. First week of development: cleavage and embryogenesis
Characteristics of the zygote. Cleavage and morula. Formation of the blastula. Blastocyst implantation. Abnormal implantation. Properties of the embryo during cleavage.
Lesson 7. Second week of development: the bilaminar embryo
Bilaminar germ disk. Evolution of implantation during the second week. Formation of amniotic cavity. Formation of yolk sac. Changes of cytotrophoblast and syncytiotrophoblast. Emergence of extra-embryonic mesoderm.
Lesson 8. Third week of development: gastrulation
Gastrulation. Trilaminar germ disk. Formation of notochord and neurulation. Derivates of the three germinal layers. Differentiation of the somites. Formation of allantois. Cardiovascular system. Evolution of chorionic villi.
Lesson 9. Evolution from the fourth to the eighth week of development: organogenesis
Organogenesis. Embryonic folding. Evolution of the somites. Evolution of brain vesicles. Development of the extremities. Development of branquial arches and pharyngeal pouches. Face development. Development of systems.
Lesson 10. Evolution from the ninth week to birth: fetal period
Fetal growing. Fetal physiology. Development assessment techniques and methods of prenatal diagnosis
Lesson 11. Placenta and fetal annexes
Placenta and fetal membranes: structure, function and placental blood circulation. Amniotic cavity. Yolk sac. Allantois. Umbilical cord. . Delivery.
II: INTERACTIVE CONTENTS
1. Seminars (3h)
Seminar 1. Assisted reproductive techniques.
Seminar 2. Biomedical research with embryos.
Seminar 3. Teratology. Twin pregnancies.
2. Laboratory practices (8h)
Practice 1. Oogenesis
Microscopic study of female germ cells
Practice 2-3. Spermatogenesis
Microscopic study of male germ cells. Seminogram: concentration, vitality and mobility of sperm
Practice 4. Embryonic Development: cleavage, blastulation and gastrulation.
Microscopic study of frog morula, blastula and gastrula. Image interpretation
Practice 5. Diagnosis of embryonic and fetal age (I).
Microscopic study of fetal and embryonic samples. Study of the ossification pattern
Practice 6. Diagnosis of embryonic and fetal age (II).
Determination of fetal age: Metric and morphological parameters. Observation of fetuses with congenital malformations
Practice 7. Placenta and umbilical cord.
Macroscopic and microscopic study of umbilical cord and placenta.
Practice 8. Clinical cases.
Developmental abnormalities related with clinical cases
Basic
Carlson BM. Embriología humana y biología del desarrollo. 7ª ed. Madrid: Elsevier; 2025. (electronic access)
Flores V. Embriología Humana: bases moleculares y celulares de la histogénesis, la morfogénesis y las alteraciones del desarrollo. Madrid: Editorial Médica Panamericana; 2015.
Sadler TW. Langman. Embriología médica. 15ª ed. Madrid: Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins Wolters Kluwer Health; 2023.
Moore KL, Persaud TVN, Torchia MG. Embriología clínica. 11ª ed. Madrid: Elsevier; 2020. (electronic access)
Moore KL, Persaud TVN, Torchia MG. Antes de Nacer: Fundamentos de embriología y anomalías congénitas. 9ª ed. Madrid: Editorial Médica Panamericana; 2017.
Torchia MG, Persaud TVN. Embriología Clínica Básica. Madrid: Elsevier; 2022.
Complementary
Alberts, B. Bray D, Lewis J, Raff M, Roberts K, Watson J. Biología molecular de la célula. 6ª ed. Barcelona: Omega; 2016.
Arteaga-Martínez M, García Peláez MI. Embriología Humana y Biología de Desarrollo. 2ª ed. Madrid: Editorial Médica Panamericana; 2017.
Paniagua R. Biología Celular y Molecular. 4ª ed. Madrid: Mc Graw-Hill; 2017.
Webster S, de Wreede R. Embriología, lo esencial de un vistazo. Madrid: Editorial Médica Panamericana; 2013.
GENERAL
GC 5 - Recognise their own limitations and the need to maintain and update their professional competence, paying particular attention to the autonomous learning of new knowledge and techniques and to the motivation for quality.
CG 6 - Develop professional practice with respect to other health professionals, acquiring teamwork skills.
CG 7 - Understand and recognize the normal structure and function of the human body, at the molecular, cellular, tissue, organic and systems level, in the different stages of life and in both sexes.
CG 9 - Understand and recognize the effects, mechanisms and manifestations of disease on the structure and function of the human body.
GC 23 - Communicating effectively and clearly, both orally and in writing, with patients, family members, other professionals and the comunication media.
CG 31 - Knowing, critically evaluating, and knowing how to use clinical and biomedical information sources to obtain, organize, interpret, and communicate scientific and health information.
CG 36 - Be able to formulate hypotheses, collect and critically evaluate information for problem solving, following the scientific method.
CG 37 - Acquire the basic training for research activity.
SPECIFIC
CEMI.12 - Embryo development and organogenesis.
CEMI.18 - Handling of material and basic laboratory techniques.
CEMI.20 - Recognize with macroscopic and microscopic methods and imaging techniques the morphology and structure of tissue, organs and systems.
Students will have at their disposal the virtual classroom of the subject on the Moodle platform.
Here they will be able to access didactic material and digitalised support images. In addition, a public tutoring forum will be set up in the virtual classroom.
For the evaluation of the contents of the theoretical and interactive classes there will be a final exam that will represent 80% of the final grade. Continuous evaluation will represent 20% of the final grade.
The final evaluation test will consist of an exam with multiple-choice and single-answer questions and/or short questions. To obtain 50% in the evaluation of the lecture section and 50% in the evaluation of interactive teaching is the requirement for passing the subject.
Students who studied the subject in previous years will retain their attendance to practical classes and the marks obtained in the continuous assessment tests or activities, if any records exist.
In cases of fraudulent performance of exercises or tests, the provisions of the Regulations on the evaluation of students' academic performance and review of grades (Resolution of 15 June 2011, DOG do 21 July 2011) shall apply.
Individual study: 1h
Summaries and works: 10h
Total hours on site work: 30h
Total student´s personal work: 45h
The use of notes taken in previous courses and Embryology textbook is recommended.
Making drawings of the structures and their relationships. Visualisation of the recommended videos. The bibliographic resources can be used in their paper version or in digital form. In addition, periodic study of the contents is recommended and the use of tutorials/virtual classroom tutoring forums to resolve any doubts.
Ana Maria Muñoz Patiño
- Department
- Morphological Science
- Area
- Human Anatomy and Embryology
- Phone
- 881812221
- anamaria.munoz [at] usc.es
- Category
- Professor: University Lecturer
| 05.19.2026 10:30-13:00 | Grupo de examen | Medicine-Classroom 4 |
| 05.19.2026 10:30-13:00 | Grupo de examen | Medicine-Classroom 5 |
| 05.19.2026 10:30-13:00 | Grupo de examen | Medicine-Classroom 6 |
| 05.19.2026 10:30-13:00 | Grupo de examen | Medicine-Classroom 7 |
| 05.19.2026 10:30-13:00 | Grupo de examen | Medicine-Classroom 8 |
| 06.26.2026 12:30-15:00 | Grupo de examen | Medicine-Classroom 4 |
| 06.26.2026 12:30-15:00 | Grupo de examen | Medicine-Classroom 5 |
| 06.26.2026 12:30-15:00 | Grupo de examen | Medicine-Classroom 7 |
| 06.26.2026 12:30-15:00 | Grupo de examen | Medicine-Classroom 8 |