EMEM0731p Embryology I - lecture

Faculty of Medicine
autumn 2025
Extent and Intensity
2/0/0. 6 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
Teacher(s)
prof. MVDr. Aleš Hampl, CSc. (lecturer)
PharmDr. Zuzana Holubcová, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Mgr. Kristína Valovičová (lecturer)
MUDr. Eva Mecová (assistant)
Guaranteed by
prof. MVDr. Aleš Hampl, CSc.
Department of Histology and Embryology – Theoretical Departments – Faculty of Medicine
Contact Person: PharmDr. Zuzana Holubcová, Ph.D.
Supplier department: Department of Histology and Embryology – Theoretical Departments – Faculty of Medicine
Timetable
Wed 11:00–12:40 A19/115
Prerequisites
( EMPR0511p Proped. of assis. reproduction || EMAR0511p Proped. of assis. reproduction ) && EMAD0611p Andrology - lecture
EMAR0511p EMAD0611p
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is only offered to the students of the study fields the course is directly associated with.
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Abstract
The goal of the course is for students to have a thorough understanding of female germ cell biology and to be able to implement this knowledge into clinical practice.
Learning outcomes
Graduates of the course will have a comprehensive and thorough overview of the biology of female germ cells.
Key topics

  • Origin, characteristics, migration, and proliferation of primordial germ cells
  • Mitosis and meiosis, homologous recombination, oocyte maturation, chromosomal segregation, gametogenesis disorders (azoospermia, egg aneuploidy)
  • Oogenesis and folliculogenesis (oocyte-follicular cell interaction, control of dormancy and activation of primordial follicles, follicle growth and selection, significance of atresia), experimental approaches to solving folliculogenesis disorders
  • Molecular mechanism of meiotic arrest (prophase I), oocyte maturation and MII arrest
  • Molecular mechanisms and disorders of ovulation, physiology and pathophysiology of the corpus luteum
  • Morphology and ultrastructure of the oocyte, morphological abnormalities and their clinical significance, in vitro aging)
  • Role of the cytoskeleton during oocyte development
  • Oocyte polarity and the role of maternal factors in somatic cell nuclear reprogramming
  • Regulation of transcription and translation during oogenesis, oocyte metabolism
  • Heredity and prevention of mitochondrial diseases
  • Influence of environmental factors on oocyte quality

Study resources and literature
    recommended literature
  • Coward K., Wells D.: Textbook of Clinical Embryology, 1st ed., Cambridge 2013.
  • Trounson A, Gosden R, Eichenlaub-Ritter: Biology and Pathology of the Oocyte. 2nd ed., Cambridge 2013. Gardner DK, Sakkas D, Seli E, Wells D: Human gametes and preimplantation Embryos. 1st ed. New York 2013.
  • In vitro fertilization. Edited by Kay Elder - Brian Dale. 2nd ed. New York: Cambridge University Press, 2000, xii, 310 p. ISBN 0521778638. info
Approaches, practices, and methods used in teaching
lecture
Method of verifying learning outcomes and course completion requirements
oral exam The condition for admission to the exam is participation in lectures by external lecturers (according to the syllabus for the given academic term)
Language of instruction
Czech
Follow-Up Courses
Further Comments
Study Materials
Listed among pre-requisites of other courses
The course is also listed under the following terms autumn 2023, autumn 2024.
  • Enrolment Statistics (recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/med/autumn2025/EMEM0731p