What is the difference between the zygote and the embryo?

The beginning of pregnancy

Do you really know what the difference is between the zygote and the embryo? If you have answered no, do not worry as it is very common. In reproductive medicine, many terms that are completely unknown to ordinary people. Generally, until you are immersed in pregnancy you do not worry about differentiating those types of words.

However, knowing the differences can help you live your pregnancy more deeply. You will be able to know at all times what is the development of your baby and how it is growing in your belly. A very special way of experiencing pregnancy, and above all, a great help when it comes to understand the words that doctors say to you in many of your reviews.

During 40 weeks of gestation, your future baby will go through three stagesIt will first be a zygote, then it will go to the embryonic stage and finally it will be a fetus until it is born. Do you want to know what differences there are between zygote, embryo and fetus? We'll tell you then.

What is the zygote?

What is the zygote

The zygote is made up of a male gamete and a female gamete. Is about a single cell containing a nucleus and 46 chromosomes. These in turn contain genetic information from both parents, a total of 23 chromosomes from the father and 23 chromosomes from the mother.

The period of the zygote is very short, since it only lasts about 24 hours, but this condition does not detract from its importance. The zygote is the first stage of life, the most important moment of reproduction since without this new cell life could not exist.

What is the embryo?

What is the embryo

After those first 24 hours of existence, the embryonic period begins, which lasts approximately 8 weeks in the case of humans. The embryo arises from the segmentation of the zygote into different cells, increasingly specialized, which will provide the new living being with the physical characteristics of its species.

During the embryonic period cells will be segmented in different ways and the embryo receives different names for this reason:

  • Morula. Around the fourth day of the embryonic period, the embryo is made up of a large group of identical cells. Cells at this stage are grouped together creating a kind of blackberry, hence the term morula.
  • Blastocyst. Between the 5th and 6th day of the embryonic period, cells begin to specialize and divide into two groups. These cells will be responsible for creating the placenta and the rest of the tissues necessary for pregnancy to be possible.

The differences between zygote and embryo

Therefore, the main difference between the zygote and the embryo is the number of cells that form them in each case. They are as important one as the other, since without the existence of the zygote it would not be possible to create the organs that give rise to the new living being.


As we have already said, the zygote is the first stage of life, the first cell that arises from the union of the gametes of both parents. But if this cell does not advance and does not divide into cells, the pregnancy will not be viable and the baby will not exist. Cell division is what allows the placenta to form, the tissues that will protect the fetus throughout pregnancy and the substances that will make it possible for the new living being to grow and develop to be able to live outside the mother's womb.

Medical terminology is sometimes difficult to understand, however, it is exciting to know how a minimal expression of two living beings, a new life can be created. This is a brief introduction, but feel free to ask your doctor about this and any questions that may arise. Knowing the development of your future child at all times will help you visualize and experience your entire pregnancy in a special way.


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