Embryo

The or the embryo (from Greek ἔμβρυον Embryon " newborn lamb ", " unborn fetus " of ἐν en "in" and βρύειν bryein " let sprout, swell "), even the seed or seedling, is a living being in the early form development. The science that deals with the embryonic development, cell differentiation and organ system, the embryology.

In animals made ​​up of a fertilized egg ( zygote ) newly developing organism is called an embryo, as long as he is still in the mother or in an egg case or egg shell. After the formation of the internal organs ( organogenesis ) - in humans from the ninth week of pregnancy - the embryo is (also spelled fetus ) as a fetus referred.

Literature and sources

• T. Sadler: Medical Embryology. 10th edition. Thieme, Stuttgart 2003, ISBN 3-13-446610-4.