Anatomy 3 Flashcards
What does neurulation mean
- this refers to the formation and closure of the neural tube
describe how neurulation happens
- the notochord induces the overlying ectoderm to thicken and differentiate into the neuroectoderm and form the neural plate
- the neural plate then folds dorsally to give rise to the neural groove which then becomes the neural tube
- the converging edges of the neuroectoderm become the neural crest cells
- the neural tube is open at both ends at the anterior and posterior neuropores
- the anterior neuropore closes days 25-26 whereas the posterior neuropore closes days 27-28
- the neural crest cells then form a column of cells along both sides of the neural tubes
- they differentiate into peripheral nerves, endocrine glands, connective tissues and other specialised tissues
- the rostral cephalic part of the neural tube becomes the adult brain
- the casual part becomes the adult spinal cord
- The lumen of the neural tube gives rise to the ventricular system of the brain and central canal of the spinal cord.
what does the notochord eventually become
The notochord forms the nucleus pulposus of the intervertebral disk in adult
what do the anterior and posterior neuropores do
The anterior and posterior neuropores connect the lumen of the neural tube with the amniotic cavity.
when does the anterior and posterior neuropore close
- the anterior neuropore closes days 25-26 whereas the posterior neuropore closes days 27-28
what does the rostral cephalic part of the neural tube become
adult brain
what does the caudal part of the neural tube become
spinal cord
What does the lumen of the neural tube give rise to
- it gives rise to the ventricular system of the brain and central canal of the spinal cord
what do cranial neural crest cells develop into
- bones of the neurocranisum
- meningitis
- connective tissue
- several components of cranial nerves = these cells enter the pharyngeal arches and pouches to give rise to thyme cells
what do the trunk region of neural crest cells differentiate into
1) Pigment producing melanocytes that travel through the dermis into the ectoderm to colonize skin and hair follicles.
2) Migrate to each sclerotome (differentiated mesoderm) to form the dorsal root ganglia, sympathetic neurons, parasympathetic nerves, adrenomedullary cells, and Schwann cells of the gut, abdomen and pelvis.
what is the most common neural tube defect
spina bifida
what are the two types of spina bifida
- spina bifida cystic
- spina bifida occulta
Name two examples of spinal bifida cystica
Myelominingeocele
meningocele
describe a myelomeningocele
- most serious form of spina bifida cystica
- sac containing both CSF and nerves and parts of the spinal cord
describe a meningocele
- sac containing CSF and meninges only
- less common and usually not less severe
what is a spina bifida occulta
- most common dn mildest form
- one or more vertebrae have malformed
- can present with a small tuft of hair or dimple or birth mark
what happens if the anterior neuropore does not close
lead to cranial neural tube defects
give two examples of a cranial neural tube defect
- encephalocoele
- anencephaly
What is anencephaly
- when the baby is born without parts of the brain and skull
- cerebrum fails to develop normally
when can ancencepahly be detected
- 11-14 weeks using ultrasound (this is the time of skull ossification)
- use of maternal serum alpha fetoprotein - during pregnancy a small amount of AFP crosses the placenta and enters the meters blood stream but a high amount can indicate that the foetus has an open neural tube defect
what is maternal serum alpha fetoprotein made by
foetus and placenta
what is an encephalocele
- this is herniation of meninges and brain tissue outside the cranium usually in the midline
what does a canal meningocele contain compared to an encephalocele and ventriculocele
A cranial meningocele contains only meninges;
an encephalocele contains brain tissue;
a ventriculocele contains part of the ventricle within the herniated part of the brain.
what vitamin reduces the number of neural tube defects
- folate