The Multi-Dimensional Human Embryo is a collaboration funded by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) to produce and make available over the internet a three-dimensional image reference of the Human Embryo based on magnetic resonance imaging. The collection of images is intended to serve students, researchers, clinicians, and the general public interested in studying and teaching human development.
Human Embryo Atlas (Image Slice Selector)
Download Datasets
(Available June 2001)
About the Multi-Dimensional Human Embryo Project
Technical Information (imaging techniques)
Links to related sites and References to Literature
Contact Information for Comments and Questions
Carnegie Stages
Carnegie stages are a system used by embryologists to describe the apparent maturity of embryos. An embryo is assigned a Carnegie stage (numbered from 1 to 23) based on its external features. This staging system is not dependent on the chronological age nor the size of the embryo. The stages, are in a sense, arbitrary levels of maturity based on multiple physical features. Embryos that might have different ages or sizes can be assigned the same Carnegie stage based on their external appearance because of the natural variation which occurs between individuals.
Postovulatory age is frequently used by clinicians to describe the maturity of an embryo. It refers to the length of time since the last ovulation before pregnancy. Postovulatory age is a good indication of embryonic age because the time of ovulation can be determined and fertilization must occur close to the time of ovulation. The terms "gestation", "pregnancy", and "conception" are usually avoided in describing embryonic age because fertilization is not universally accepted as the commencement of development (some consider implantation as the beginning of development)
For information:
brdsmith@umich.edu
Bradley R. Smith
Biomedical Visualization
School of Art and Design
University of Michigan
Ann Arbor, Michigan
USA
©2001 Bradley R. Smith
