Blood – EMBRYOLOGY

Hemangioblasts are the common precursor cells that give rise to both hematopoietic (blood) cells and endothelial cells (which form blood vessels).

• During early embryonic development, hemangioblasts first arise in the yolk sac (also called the umbilical vesicle).

• This region is the site of primitive hematopoiesis and vasculogenesis, where blood islands containing hemangioblasts form.

• These hemangioblasts then differentiate into blood cells and vascular endothelial cells, establishing the primitive circulatory system.

Why Other Options Are Incorrect:

• Liver:

  • Site of definitive hematopoiesis later in fetal development but not where hemangioblasts originate.

• Spleen:

  • Secondary hematopoietic site during fetal life; does not produce hemangioblasts.

• Bone marrow:

  • Primary hematopoietic site after birth, not the origin of hemangioblasts.

• Mesoderm:

  • Germ layer from which hemangioblasts are derived, but hemangioblasts themselves specifically form in the yolk sac.

Prenatal age refers to the period of human development that occurs before birth—beginning at the moment of conception (fertilization) and continuing until the moment of delivery. It encompasses all stages of embryonic and fetal development.

This period is typically divided into:

1. Germinal period (0–2 weeks after fertilization)

2. Embryonic period (3–8 weeks)

3. Fetal period (9 weeks to birth)

The prenatal age is crucial because it is the time during which organogenesis occurs, and the fetus is especially sensitive to teratogens (agents that can cause birth defects).

Why the Other Options Are Incorrect:

1. From 6 months after conception to birth:

   • This only includes the final trimester of pregnancy and ignores earlier, critical stages such as fertilization and embryogenesis.

2. From 3 months after conception to birth:

   • This describes only the second and third trimesters, again omitting the early and very important stages of prenatal development.

3. After birth:

   • This refers to the postnatal period, which is entirely separate from prenatal age.

4. From birth till 1 year after:

   • This defines the infant or neonatal period, not prenatal.

• The thymus originates from the endoderm of the ventral wing of the 3rd pharyngeal pouch during embryogenesis.

• It migrates inferiorly and medially into the anterior superior mediastinum.

• During development, it becomes colonized by hematopoietic stem cells from the bone marrow and serves as the site for T-lymphocyte maturation.

⚠️ Interesting Point:

• The dorsal wing of the 3rd pharyngeal pouch gives rise to the inferior parathyroid glands.

• The thymus and inferior parathyroids both descend together during development.

❌ Why the Other Options Are Incorrect:

• 4th pharyngeal pouch:
   → Forms the superior parathyroid glands and the ultimobranchial body (C cells of thyroid).

• 1st pharyngeal pouch:
   → Forms the middle ear cavity and Eustachian tube.

• 3rd pharyngeal arch:
   → Gives rise to muscle and skeletal structures (e.g., stylopharyngeus muscle, part of hyoid bone), not glands.

• 2nd pharyngeal pouch:
   → Forms the palatine tonsils.

In early embryonic development, blood islands form in the extraembryonic mesoderm of the yolk sac. These are clusters of mesenchymal cells that differentiate into angioblasts, which are the precursors to blood vessels and blood cells.

Role of angioblasts:

• Angioblasts differentiate from mesenchymal cells.
• They form the endothelial lining of blood vessels.
• They are essential in vasculogenesis — the de novo formation of blood vessels.

Later, hemangioblasts, a common progenitor of both angioblasts and hematopoietic stem cells, also contribute to hematopoiesis.

Why the Other Options Are Incorrect:

• Definitive heart: Not a cell type — it’s a structure formed later in development.
• Chemoblasts: Not a recognized cell type in embryology.
• Fibroblasts: Produce connective tissue matrix, not blood islands.
• Hemoblasts: Often used synonymously with hematopoietic progenitors, but the key cells forming blood islands initially are angioblasts.
• Mesoblasts: Old term for mesodermal cells, but it is angioblasts specifically that organize into blood islands.

Definitive hematopoiesis is the process by which mature, functional blood cells (including enucleated red blood cells, all types of white blood cells, and platelets) are produced from hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs). It differs from primitive hematopoiesis, which occurs earlier and mainly in the yolk sac.

Let’s break down each option:

• It occurs in the yolk sac ❌
  → Incorrect statement (Correct answer). The yolk sac is the site of primitive hematopoiesis, not definitive. Definitive hematopoiesis begins later, initially in the aorta-gonad-mesonephros (AGM) region, then moves to the liver (fetal stage), and finally establishes in the bone marrow.

• Red blood cells produced are enucleated ✅
  → True. In definitive hematopoiesis, erythrocytes lose their nuclei, unlike in primitive hematopoiesis, where nucleated RBCs are formed.

• It produces a significant number of white blood cells ✅
  → True. Unlike primitive hematopoiesis, which mostly produces erythroid cells, definitive hematopoiesis also generates myeloid and lymphoid cells (WBCs).

• It occurs during fetal life ✅
  → True. Definitive hematopoiesis begins in the fetus and continues throughout life.

• It involves hematopoietic stem cells ✅
  → True. A hallmark of definitive hematopoiesis is the generation of multipotent HSCs capable of self-renewal and differentiation into all blood lineages.

In embryonic development, the cardiovascular system is the first to reach a functional state. This is crucial because the cardiovascular system is responsible for the transport of nutrients and oxygen to developing tissues and organs, which is essential for the growth and survival of the embryo.

• The heart begins to beat and pump blood around week 3 of embryonic development, before many other systems are fully formed.

• Blood vessels also start to develop early, allowing for nutrient exchange between the embryo and the mother through the placenta.

❌ Why the Other Options Are Incorrect:

• Nervous System
  ✘ The nervous system, though essential, begins its development soon after but is not fully functional until later in embryonic and fetal development, especially the brain and spinal cord.

• Excretory System
  ✘ The excretory system (kidneys) develops later and doesn’t reach full function until much later in fetal development.

• Skeletal System
  ✘ The skeletal system begins to form, but it does not function fully for movement or support until after birth.

• Respiratory System
  ✘ The lungs are one of the last systems to mature. Gas exchange via the placenta occurs until birth, when the lungs must take over.

The spleen develops during embryogenesis from mesenchymal cells that proliferate in a specific location related to the stomach’s mesenteries.

Key Points on Spleen Development:

• The dorsal mesogastrium is the mesentery attached to the dorsal (back) side of the stomach.

• The spleen originates as a condensation of mesenchymal cells within the two layers of the dorsal mesogastrium.

• This mesenchymal proliferation leads to the formation of the splenic primordium.

• The ventral mesogastrium, in contrast, is associated with the liver and lesser omentum, not the spleen.

Why the Other Options Are Incorrect:

• The two layers of ventral mesogastrium:
  Related mainly to liver development, not the spleen.

• Dorsal mesogastrium and septum transversarium:
  These are different structures; the septum transversarium is involved in diaphragm and liver development.

• Ventral and dorsal mesogastrium:
  They are two separate mesenteries on opposite sides of the stomach; spleen develops within the dorsal mesogastrium only.

• Ventral mesogastrium and septum transversarium:
  Again, these structures are not the site of spleen development.

The thymus originates from the endoderm of the 3rd pharyngeal pouch during embryological development. This pouch contributes to two major structures:

• The thymus (ventral wing)

• The inferior parathyroid glands (dorsal wing)

As the thymus descends into the anterior mediastinum, it pulls the inferior parathyroid glands with it. This is why the inferior parathyroids come from a higher pharyngeal pouch (3rd) but end up lower than the superior parathyroids (which arise from the 4th pouch).

❌ Why the Other Options Are Incorrect:

• 4th pharyngeal pouch
  ✘ Gives rise to superior parathyroid glands and parts of the ultimobranchial body (contributes to thyroid C cells), not the thymus.

• 1st pharyngeal pouch
  ✘ Forms middle ear cavity and auditory (Eustachian) tube, not related to thymus.

• 2nd pharyngeal arch
  ✘ Contributes to facial muscles and some bones/cartilage, but not to the thymus.

• 5th pharyngeal arch
  ✘ Rudimentary in humans and does not contribute to any major structure.

Primitive hematopoiesis begins early in the yolk sac, producing primarily large, nucleated erythrocytes to support the embryo’s immediate oxygen needs. In contrast, definitive hematopoiesis:

• Produces all blood lineages, including enucleated red cells and diverse white cells.

• Is permanent, eventually taking place in the fetal liver and later in bone marrow.

• Begins during fetal life, but does not originate in the yolk sac—it shifts to intraembryonic sites such as the aorta–gonad–mesonephros (AGM) region before colonizing the liver.

Thus, the statement that definitive hematopoiesis starts in the yolk sac is not a feature of DH.

❌ Why the Other Options Are Correct Features of Definitive Hematopoiesis:

• Many types of white blood cells are produced:
  DH gives rise to lymphoid and myeloid lineages, unlike primitive waves.

• Definitive hematopoiesis is permanent:
  It establishes lifelong blood production in the bone marrow.

• During DH, red blood cells do not have nuclei:
  Definitive erythrocytes are enucleated, as seen in adult blood.

• Definitive hematopoiesis begins in fetal life:
  It transitions from primitive yolk-sac activity to fetal liver around weeks 6–8.

The cardiovascular system is the earliest system to reach a functional state in the developing embryo — and it makes sense if you think about what an embryo critically needs to survive: nutrient and oxygen delivery, and waste removal. By the end of the 4th week, a circulatory system is actively pumping blood, delivering oxygen and nutrients from the chorionic villi (placenta) throughout the embryo.

❌ Why the Other Options Are Incorrect

🔍 Respiratory System

• Structural development (e.g., lung buds) begins around week 4.

• But it remains non-functional until birth, when the lungs expand and gas exchange begins.

• Surfactant production, necessary for lung function, only starts around week 24, and functional maturity is reached near full term.

🔍 Skeletal System

• Skeletal elements like cartilage start forming around week 5–6.

• Ossification begins later, and the system doesn’t become truly functional (for movement and support) until much later in development and after birth.

🔍 Excretory System

• The pronephros appears around week 4, but it’s nonfunctional.

• The mesonephros is transiently functional but limited.

• The metanephros (definitive kidney) begins to form in week 5 and becomes functional by week 10–12, excreting urine into the amniotic fluid.

🔍 Nervous System

• The neural tube closes around week 4, and neurons begin forming synapses shortly after.

• But true functional activity (e.g., reflexes or coordinated movement) is seen much later, around week 16 and beyond.

• Thus, despite early development, functional maturity lags behind.

🔹 Embryological Origin of the Palatine Tonsil:

• The palatine tonsil develops from the endoderm of the 2nd pharyngeal pouch.

• During development, the 2nd pouch epithelium proliferates and then invaginates, forming the tonsillar fossa and the crypts of the palatine tonsil.

• The surrounding mesodermal tissue contributes lymphoid cells, which populate the tonsillar tissue, giving it its immunological function.

Why not the others?

1. 1st pharyngeal pouch:

   • Forms the middle ear cavity and Eustachian tube.

2. 3rd pharyngeal pouch:

   • Forms the inferior parathyroid glands and thymus.

3. 2nd pharyngeal arch:

   • Gives rise to muscles of facial expression and some bones, not tonsils.

4. 3rd pharyngeal arch:

   • Forms stylopharyngeus muscle and parts of the hyoid bone, not tonsils.

Hematopoiesis, the process of forming blood cells, occurs in different anatomical sites depending on the stage of development.

Here’s a timeline of hematopoiesis:

1. Yolk sac:

   • First trimester (~3rd week of gestation)

   • Site of primitive hematopoiesis — forms mainly nucleated red blood cells.

2. Liver:

   • Main site during the second trimester

   • Becomes the primary hematopoietic organ from ~6 weeks to birth (though bone marrow gradually takes over toward the end of gestation).

3. Spleen:

   • Contributes during the second trimester, but less than the liver.

4. Bone marrow:

   • Becomes the primary hematopoietic site in the third trimester and continues throughout life.

5. Thymus:

   • Site for T-cell maturation, not general hematopoiesis.

Why the Other Options Are Incorrect:

• Yolk sac:
  Active only in early first trimester (primitive stage).

• Bone marrow:
  Begins hematopoiesis in late fetal life, not the second trimester.

• Thymus:
  Involved in immune cell development (T cells), not bulk hematopoiesis.

• Spleen:
  Participates to a lesser extent in hematopoiesis during the second trimester.

The development of the palatine tonsils can be traced to specific structures in the embryo, primarily from the pharyngeal pouches.

1. 3rd pharyngeal arch

• Incorrect: The 3rd pharyngeal arch contributes to the development of structures such as the greater horn of the hyoid bone and certain muscles like the stylopharyngeus. However, the palatine tonsils do not derive from the pharyngeal arches. The tonsils are derived from the pharyngeal pouches.

2. 3rd pharyngeal pouch

• Incorrect: The 3rd pharyngeal pouch contributes to the formation of the thymus and inferior parathyroid glands, but it is not involved in the formation of the palatine tonsils.

3. 2nd pharyngeal arch

• Incorrect: The 2nd pharyngeal arch gives rise to structures such as the stapes (ear bone), parts of the hyoid bone, and muscles like the muscles of facial expression. It does not contribute directly to the formation of the palatine tonsils.

4. 2nd pharyngeal pouch

• Correct: The palatine tonsils are primarily derived from the 2nd pharyngeal pouch during embryonic development. The tonsils develop as epithelial outgrowths from this pouch, and later become lymphoid tissue. The 2nd pharyngeal pouch is crucial in the formation of tonsillar tissue that serves an important immune function in the oropharynx.

5. 1st pharyngeal pouch

• Incorrect: The 1st pharyngeal pouch is responsible for forming structures like the middle ear cavity, the eustachian tube, and the tympanic membrane (eardrum). It does not give rise to the palatine tonsils.

🔄 Overview of the Cell Cycle:

1. G1 Phase (Gap 1):

   • Cell grows in size

   • Synthesizes mRNA and proteins required for DNA replication

   • Prepares for the S phase — but it’s pre-replicative, not “premitotic”

2. S Phase (Synthesis):

   • DNA replication occurs here

   • Each chromosome is duplicated → forming sister chromatids

3. G2 Phase (Gap 2):

   • Cell continues to grow

   • Checks for DNA errors

   • Prepares for mitosis, but it is not the same as mitosis

4. M Phase (Mitosis):

   • Actual cell division occurs (prophase → metaphase → anaphase → telophase → cytokinesis)

❌ Why the Other Options Are Incorrect:

❌ G2 is the same as the mitotic phase

• G2 is prior to mitosis, not the same.

• G2 involves growth and final preparation; mitosis is actual cell division.

❌ I phase is the mitotic phase

• There is no “I phase” in the standard naming of the cell cycle.

• This option is factually incorrect.

❌ S phase is synthesis of organelles

• Organelles are primarily synthesized during G1 and G2 phases.

• The S phase is dedicated to DNA replication, not organelle production.

❌ G1 is pre-mitotic phase

• G1 is actually pre-S phase, not pre-mitotic.

• The phase just before mitosis is G2.

Blood islands are clusters of mesodermal cells that give rise to the earliest blood cells and blood vessels during embryonic development.

• These blood islands form first in the yolk sac (also called the umbilical vesicle), around the third week of embryonic development.

• They are the initial sites of hematopoiesis (blood cell formation) and vasculogenesis (formation of blood vessels).

• Later in development, blood formation shifts to the liver, spleen, bone marrow, and eventually to the bone marrow as the primary site postnatally.

Why Other Options Are Incorrect:

• Thymus:
  Involved in T-cell maturation; it is not a site of early blood formation.

• Liver:
  Becomes a major hematopoietic organ after blood islands form in the yolk sac, around 6 weeks of gestation.

• Bone marrow:
  Hematopoiesis begins here much later in fetal development (around the 5th month).

• Spleen:
  Also a fetal hematopoietic organ but after the liver stage.

DiGeorge syndrome (also known as 22q11.2 deletion syndrome) results from a developmental defect of the 3rd and 4th pharyngeal pouches, leading to a variety of clinical manifestations. The hallmark of this condition is a T-cell immunodeficiency, not B-cell.

Let’s break down each option:

✔️ Correct Statements in the Context of DiGeorge Syndrome:

• Defect in 3rd & 4th pharyngeal pouch:
  ✅ Correct. This affects the development of the thymus and parathyroid glands.

• Tetany:
  ✅ Correct. Due to hypocalcemia from underdeveloped or absent parathyroid glands, leading to muscle spasms or tetany.

• T cell immunodeficiency syndrome:
  ✅ Correct. The thymus is hypoplastic or absent, impairing T-cell maturation, making the child more susceptible to viral and fungal infections.

• Heart and blood vessel enlargement:
  ✅ Correct in context. Congenital heart defects (like truncus arteriosus, tetralogy of Fallot, and interrupted aortic arch) are common in DiGeorge syndrome.

❌ Incorrect Statement (Answer):

• B cell immunodeficiency syndrome:
  ❌ Incorrect.
  In DiGeorge syndrome:

  • B cells are usually normal in number.

  • The problem lies with T cells due to absent or underdeveloped thymus.

  • While antibody production may be somewhat affected (because T cells help B cells), it is not a primary B-cell disorder.

• The spleen develops from mesoderm, specifically mesenchymal cells located in the dorsal mesogastrium during the 5th week of gestation.

• It is a lymphoid organ, not derived from the same layer as the gut tube (which is endodermal).

🔹 Why Mesoderm?

• Mesoderm gives rise to:

  • Muscles

  • Bones

  • Connective tissue

  • Blood cells and hematopoietic organs

  • Lymphatic system, including the spleen

• The spleen is unique: while it’s associated with the gastrointestinal tract, it is not derived from endoderm like the stomach or intestines.

❌ Why the Other Options Are Incorrect:

• Mesenchymal tissue:
   → Describes a type of connective tissue formed from mesoderm, not a germ layer itself.
   → So while technically true that spleen arises from mesenchyme, the embryological germ layer is mesoderm.

• Endoderm:
   → Forms the gut tube, respiratory tract, liver, and pancreas—but not the spleen.

• Ectoderm:
   → Gives rise to skin, nervous system, lens, etc.—nothing to do with spleen.

• Neuroectoderm:
   → Specifically forms brain, spinal cord, retina, and neural crest derivatives, not the spleen.

The spleen develops from a mass of mesenchymal cells that originate in the dorsal mesogastrium during the 5th week of intrauterine life. The dorsal mesogastrium is a double layer of peritoneum that suspends the developing stomach from the posterior abdominal wall.

The splenic primordium lies between the two layers of the dorsal mesogastrium, making this the correct answer.

❌ Why the Other Options Are Incorrect:

• The two layers of ventral mesogastrium
  ➤ This mesogastrium is associated with the liver and lesser omentum, not the spleen.

• Ventral and dorsal mesogastrium
  ➤ These are separate structures; the spleen forms within the dorsal mesogastrium, not between it and the ventral one.

• Ventral mesogastrium and septum transversarium
  ➤ This region is involved in liver and diaphragm development, not the spleen.

• Dorsal mesogastrium and septum transversarium
  ➤ Again, these are anatomically distinct. The spleen arises within the dorsal mesogastrium, not between it and another structure.

✅ Correct Answer: Mesodermal cells

Why?
Hemangioblasts are specialized mesodermal cells that serve as the common precursor to both:

• Endothelial cells (which line blood vessels)

• Hematopoietic cells (which form blood)

They arise from the extraembryonic mesoderm, particularly in the yolk sac, during early embryonic development, and play a critical role in:

• Vasculogenesis (formation of new blood vessels from scratch)

• Primitive hematopoiesis

Thus, hemangioblasts are a key mesodermal population linking blood and vascular development.

❌ Why the other options are incorrect:

 Ectodermal cells

• Ectoderm gives rise to the nervous system, skin, and sensory organs, not blood or vasculature.

 Precursor cells

• While tempting, “precursor cells” is a functional description, not a germ layer classification.

• It’s not specific to the embryological origin being asked.

 Endodermal cells

• Endoderm forms gut epithelium, liver, pancreas, and related organs — not vascular or blood-forming tissues.

 Progenitor cells

• Again, a functional term, not a developmental layer.

• Hemangioblasts give rise to progenitor cells, but they themselves originate from mesoderm.

Rho(D) immune globulin (RhoGAM) is administered to Rh-negative mothers to prevent sensitization to Rh-positive fetal red blood cells. Sensitization occurs when fetal Rh⁺ RBCs cross into maternal circulation, causing the mother to form anti-D antibodies, which can affect future pregnancies—leading to erythroblastosis fetalis (hemolytic disease of the newborn).

When to Administer RhoGAM:

1. At 28 weeks of gestation (≈7th month)

   • This is prophylactic, to prevent maternal sensitization during the late third trimester when fetal cells may leak into the maternal bloodstream.

2. Within 72 hours after delivery, only if the baby is Rh-positive

   • This prevents sensitization after any possible fetal-maternal hemorrhage during birth.

3. Also given after any potential mixing of fetal and maternal blood (e.g., miscarriage, amniocentesis, trauma).

Why Other Options Are Incorrect:

• One week before pregnancy:
  There is no risk of fetal blood exposure before conception, so it has no effect.

• After birth / Few weeks / One month after birth:
  Too late. RhoGAM must be given within 72 hours post-delivery for effectiveness. Delayed administration doesn’t prevent sensitization.

Thymocytes originate from hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) in the bone marrow, which are mesodermal in origin. Therefore, a defect in the mesoderm would impair the production and availability of thymocytes. Even though thymocytes mature in the thymus, which is derived from both endodermal (thymic epithelium) and neural crest (capsule and connective tissue) components, the cells themselves (i.e., the lymphoid progenitors) originate from the mesoderm.

Thus, if there is a defect in the mesoderm, the hematopoietic stem cells and therefore thymocytes would be directly affected.

❌ Why the Other Options Are Incorrect:

• Nurse cells (Sertoli cells)
  ➤ These are derived from the intermediate mesoderm (urogenital ridge), but they are not immune cells, and the question focuses on cells primarily affected by a mesoderm defect — thymocytes, as part of hematopoiesis, are more central to this.

• Thymic epithelial cells
  ➤ Derived from the endoderm (third pharyngeal pouch), they form the structural and functional framework of the thymus but are not mesodermal.

• Neural crest cells
  ➤ These come from the ectoderm and give rise to diverse structures like peripheral nerves, melanocytes, and facial cartilage — not primarily affected by mesodermal defects.

• None of these
  ➤ Incorrect because thymocytes are clearly mesoderm-derived and would be affected by a defect in that germ layer.

🔹 Why Cardiovascular system is correct:

The cardiovascular system is the first organ system to become functional during embryonic development. Here’s why:

• The growing embryo rapidly increases in size and metabolic demand.

• To ensure oxygen and nutrient delivery, the heart begins to form by the third week of gestation.

• By day 21–22, the primitive heart tube begins to beat, and circulation starts shortly afterward.

This early functionality is essential for supporting further development of all other organ systems, making it the first functional system in the embryo.

❌ Why the other options are incorrect:

• Nervous system
  Begins forming early (neurulation in week 3), but does not reach full functionality until much later. Functional neural circuits develop postnatally.

• Respiratory system
  Develops later and only becomes functional at birth, when the newborn takes its first breath. In utero, the lungs are fluid-filled and non-functional.

• Excretory system
  The pronephros and mesonephros appear early, but they are temporary. The metanephros (permanent kidney) becomes functional much later in fetal life.

• Skeletal system
  Cartilaginous models begin forming in weeks 5–6, but ossification and full function develop well into the postnatal period.

Among all the special senses, visual acuity is the most underdeveloped at birth.

Understanding Visual Development in Neonates:

• Newborns have very limited vision:

  • Visual acuity is about 20/400 to 20/800, meaning they can only clearly see objects 8–12 inches away.

  • Their retina, especially the fovea centralis, is still developing.

  • Myelination of the optic nerve and visual pathways is incomplete.

  • Full visual acuity continues to develop over the first year of life, reaching near-adult levels by 6–12 months.

Why the Other Options Are Incorrect:

• Taste:
  Well-developed in neonates; they can differentiate between sweet and bitter.

• Touch:
  One of the most developed senses at birth. Vital for bonding and feeding.

• Hearing:
  Functional even before birth; fetuses can hear maternal sounds in utero.

• Olfaction:
  Active in newborns; they can recognize their mother’s scent.

• Phonation:
  Not a special sense—this refers to sound production, not sensation.

During fetal development, the process of hematopoiesis (blood cell formation) occurs in different locations at different stages of gestation.

• From 2 to 7 months of gestation, the liver is the primary site of hematopoiesis.

Timeline of Hematopoiesis in Fetal Development:

• Yolk sac (3-8 weeks gestation): Early blood cell formation begins in the yolk sac.

• Liver (2-7 months): After the yolk sac, the liver becomes the main site of hematopoiesis during this period. It continues to produce blood cells, particularly erythrocytes (red blood cells), until later in fetal development.

• Spleen (3-7 months): The spleen also plays a supporting role in hematopoiesis, but its contribution is secondary to the liver during this time.

• Bone marrow (after 7 months): As the fetus nears term, the bone marrow gradually takes over as the primary site of hematopoiesis, continuing throughout postnatal life.

❌ Why the Other Options Are Incorrect:

Yolk sac:

• Hematopoiesis occurs in the yolk sac early in pregnancy (around the 3rd week) but is no longer the primary site by the 2nd month.

Yellow marrow:

• Yellow marrow contains fat and is associated with adult hematopoiesis. It is not involved in fetal hematopoiesis.

Red marrow:

• Red marrow becomes the primary site of hematopoiesis only after birth, particularly after 7 months of gestation.

Spleen:

• The spleen plays a role in hematopoiesis during this period, but it is not the main site during 2-7 months of gestation; the liver is more dominant.

✅ Correct Answer:  It is the arise of vessels from determined group of mesodermal cells (hemangioblasts)

Why?
Vasculogenesis is the de novo formation of blood vessels from mesoderm-derived precursor cells, called hemangioblasts.

• Hemangioblasts → form angioblasts (precursors of endothelial cells)

• These endothelial precursors organize into blood islands and primitive vascular networks.

This process occurs early in embryonic development, especially in the yolk sac, before the heart and major vessels like the aorta even form.

It is distinct from angiogenesis, which is the sprouting of new vessels from pre-existing vasculature.

❌ Why the other options are incorrect:

It is the arise of vessels from the heart

• Incorrect. The heart is a later-forming structure. Vasculogenesis precedes the heart’s function.

 It is the arise of vessels from the subclavian artery

• Subclavian arteries form much later in development.

• They arise from aortic arches, not involved in vasculogenesis.

 It is the arise of vessels from the aorta

• This describes angiogenesis, not vasculogenesis.

• The aorta itself arises via vasculogenesis.

It is the arise of vessels from pre-existing vessels

• This defines angiogenesis, not vasculogenesis.

 Blood islands contain two important types of precursor cells:

1. Angioblasts

• These are the precursors of endothelial cells, the cells that line blood vessels.
• They migrate and coalesce to form primitive vascular channels, a process called vasculogenesis.
• Angioblasts help organize the vascular framework of the embryo, beginning with blood islands in the yolk sac.

2. Hemangioblasts (sometimes called hemoblasts)

• These are common precursors for both blood cells and angioblasts.
• So while hemoblasts may play a broader upstream role, angioblasts are the specific players in forming the vascular parts of blood islands.

In this context, since the question specifically asks which precursor cells play a part in the formation of blood islands, angioblast is the most precise and direct answer.

❌ Why the Other Options Are Incorrect:

• Hemoblast – Although this may sound like a candidate, it is a more general and less frequently used term, often referring to early hematopoietic cells. It’s not the best descriptor for the vascular component of blood islands.

• Mesoblast – Outdated term, sometimes used synonymously with mesoderm; not a specific cell type contributing directly to blood island formation.

• Fibroblast – Connective tissue cells; involved in structural framework and wound healing, not vasculogenesis or hematopoiesis.

• Definitive heart – This refers to the formed cardiac structure, not a precursor cell or component of early blood islands.