ÚPMD / Reproductive embryology laboratory

Department Head

prof. MUDr. Jan E. Jirásek, DrSc.

Description of activity

Objects of research are evolutionary sequences of human embryos and fetuses. From the laboratory were published 3 atlases in English:

1. Atlas of Prenatal Morphogenesis, 1983, Martinus Nijhoff Publisher, Boston 1983
2. Atlas of the Embryo and Fetus, 2001, Parthenon Publishing Group, London, New York
3. Atlas of Human Prenatal Developmental Mechanics, 2004, Taylor and Francis, London New York

In this workplace the prenatal development of man is divided into 10 stages dependent on evolutionary physiology.
Development is demonstrated as a process of further differentiation and genetic inactivation (genetic sequences) yet with definitive morphological structure.

Picture.1-Bilaminar germinal disc, decomposition of the primary yolk sac. Stagg J 4-2, 131 days from conception.

Picture. 2 – Embryo 23mm long, stage 8-1, 52 - 53 days of age.