INSIDEEMBRYO · FERTILITY GLOSSARY
Cleavage is the sequence of mitotic divisions that follows fertilisation during early preimplantation embryonic development. These divisions increase the number of embryonic cells, termed blastomeres, without producing a proportional increase in the overall volume of the embryo. Consequently, individual blastomeres…
Cleavage is the sequence of mitotic divisions that follows fertilisation during early preimplantation embryonic development. These divisions increase the number of embryonic cells, termed blastomeres, without producing a proportional increase in the overall volume of the embryo. Consequently, individual blastomeres progressively decrease in size during successive cleavage divisions. Human cleavage begins after completion of the first zygotic mitosis and continues through the multicellular preimplantation stages. Progressive cleavage is followed by compaction, morula formation and subsequent development of the blastocyst.
For education, not individual medical advice. Ask your fertility team about your care.