A look at early human embryonic development and the importance of darkness for embryogenesis

Keywords: Embryogenesis, Germinal stage, Embryo, Fetus, Light and dark, Fertilization

Abstract

Human development is a highly complex process where a single cell called zygote forms a multicellular body made up of trillions of cells. Human pregnancy takes about 10 lunar months or 40 weeks. Prenatal life is divided into three stages namely germinal, embryonic and fetal stages. All stages are critical, but the most important is the embryonic stage through which embryogenesis occurs. It normally occurs in the upper segment of the uterus into its endometrium, called decidua after occurrence of conception. Many factors can affect embryogenesis including the mother's use of medications and even the mother's psychological state. Of these factors, light may be. The embryo is surrounded by three regions of darkness These areas from the inside out are the amniotic cavity, the uterine cavity, and the abdominal cavity. Light could affect embryonic development either by direct toxic effect on the embryo, or indirectly by photo-oxidation of components in media. Therefore, it is necessary to study them in future studies to investigate the potentially harmful effect of light exposure on embryonic development. This may be useful to avoid potential obstacles to the IVF process as embryos can be exposed to light sources of varying intensity.

Author Biography

Abdelmonem Awad Mustafa Hegazy, Professor, Department of Human Anatomy and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Egypt.

Prof. Abdelmonem Awad Hegazy

(Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Egypt) 

MBBCH with honor, DGO, MSc, MD, PhD

Dr. Abdelmonem A. Hegazy is currently working as Professor of Human Anatomy and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Egypt & College of Biotechnology, Misr University for Science & Technology (MUST), Egypt.

He is also a Consultant of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Infertility. He is the former chairman of the Anatomy and Embryology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University (Egypt); and Professor in King Saud and Majmaah Universities (KSA) 2009-2013 and Misurata, Faculty of Medicine (Libya) 2000.

Prof Hegazy is a Global Goodwill Ambassador (GGA). He is also an Egyptian Ambassador for International Program for Prevention of Child Abuse ‘My Body is My Body’.

He is Editor-in-Chief of the following international journals: International Journal of Human Anatomy (USA); Women Health and Complications (UK), SAR Journal of Medical Case Reports (Bangladesh), Journal of Medical & Advanced Clinical Case Reports (India) & Editor-in-Chief of Journal of Frontiers Journal of Anatomical Variations (FJAV). He is the Former Editor-in-Chief of Zagazig University Medical Journal (Egypt).

Dr. Hegazy is also a referee of scientific research submitted for promotion of professors in Egyptian Universities (since 2016 Till Now). He is also Member of International Institutional Review Board – IRB (Hong Kong). Dr. Hegazy participates in Zagazig University academic, scientific, educational and professional development activities in the fields of medical sciences development, including basic and clinical research, policy implementation, design programs, set coursework plans, curricula, syllabi, scientific conference paneling, as well as designing and delivering a wide scope of continuous professional development programs, including training, strategic planning, research methodology, scientific thesis and dissertation writing; research proposal, medical ethics, organization’s behavior issues, all with emphasis on system and staff development. Dr. Hegazy is a member of Institutional Research Board (IRB) unit, Egyptian Medical Syndicate, Egyptian Society of Anatomy, and Postgraduate and Scientific Research Affairs Committee, Faculty of Medicine. His pool of academics consists of original research articles/books/book chapters in various national and international accredited publishing houses. Dr. Hegazy has plenty of scientific publications and projects with many citations. He has got many national and international honors and awards. Dr. Hegazy has been supervising post graduate students in their thesis works. He is also a well-known reviewer/referee/editorial board member in more than 150 international indexed journals.

Published
2022-06-15