Cardiac Embryology Flashcards
development of the heart - step 1 [formation of primitive heart tube]
*heart forms from mesoderm derived from the primitive tube
*the linear heart tube begins to beat as soon as it is formed, around day 15
*at days 18-20, the mesodermal cells expand anteriorly while forming a tube that encircles the endocardial cells
development of the heart - step 2 [division into 5 segments]
*primitive heart tube is divided into 5 regions; from superior (arterial pole) to posterior (venous pole), the regions are:
1. truncus arteriosus
2. bulbus cordis
3. primitive ventricle
4. primitive atrium
5. sinus venosus
structures that will ultimately form from each segment of primitive heart tube
- truncus arteriosus → ascending aorta & pulmonary trunk (pulmonary arteries)
- bulbus cordis → outlet of ventricles/RIGHT VENTRICLE
- primitive ventricle → inlet of ventricles/LEFT VENTRICLE
NOTE - ATRIOVENTRICULAR CANAL FORMS BETWEEN PRIMITIVE VENTRICLE & PRIMITIVE ATRIUM - primitive atrium → right & left atria
- sinus venosus → left & right horns:
left horn → coronary sinus
right horn → part of right atrium
development of the heart - step 3 [heart looping]
*as the primitive heart tube grows longer, it begins to fold in on itself, bulging and looping TOWARD THE RIGHT (normal looping):
-primitive ventricle moves down, anteriorly and toward the right
-primitive atrium moves up, posteriorly and toward the left, eventually moving behind the primitive ventricle
note - heart looping is usually complete between days 30-35
development of the heart - step 4 [septation of the heart & great vessels]
*3 septa need to form within the heart for it to mature and become functional:
a. septation of the atria (to form RA & LA)
b. septation of the ventricles (to form RV & LV)
c. septation of the great vessels (to form aorta & pulmonary trunk)
note - these septations occur “simultaneously”
endocardial cushions
*4 swellings of the heart tube at the junction between the primitive atrium and primitive ventricle
*crucial for both atrial and ventricular septation
*help form the atrial & ventricular septa, as well as the AV valves (mitral & tricuspid)
*composed of several cell types, including NEURAL CREST CELLS
development of the heart - step 4a [ATRIAL septation, detailed]
*atrial septation is the process of dividing the primitive atrium into a right & a left atrium
1. foramen primum: the original opening between what will become the RA & LA
2. septum primum: this fold grows downward from the atrial roof to fuse with the endocardial cushions & close the foramen primum
3. foramen secundum: forms in the septum primum by apoptosis, leaving the new foramen secundum as the only opening b/w RA & LA (foramen primum is closed off)
4. septum secondum: this fold grows downward from the roof & walls of the RA and expands to cover most of the foramen secundum; simultaneously, the superior part of septum primum degenerates, creating the FORAMEN OVALE
5. atrial septation: at birth, foramen ovale valve & septum secundum FUSE to form atrial septum; foramen ovale is now closed
development of the heart - step 4a [ATRIAL septation, SIMPLE]
foramen primum → closed by septum primum, & foramen secundum forms (via apoptosis) → septum secundum covers most of the foramen secundum & foramen ovale forms → at birth, foramen ovale valve & septum secundum fuse to close off foramen ovale
foramen ovale
*the hole that is located in the septum between the 2 atria of the fetal heart
*permits blood to bypass the lungs by flowing directly from the right atrium to the left atrium in the fetus
*covered by a flap-like portion of the septum primum, known as the valve of the foramen ovale
*closes off shortly after birth due to the fusion of the foramen ovale valve with the septum secundum → blood cannot pass between the atria anymore (normal adult cardiac circulation)
development of the heart - step 4b [VENTRICULAR septation, detailed]
*ventricular septation is the process of dividing the primitive ventricle into the RV & LV through the formation of the interventricular septum
*interventricular septum has 2 parts:
1. muscular portion: begins in floor of primitive ventricle & grows upward toward the endocardial cushions
2. membranous portion: forms from the endocardial cushions & aorticopulmonary septum; grows downward to fuse with the muscular portion
development of the heart - step 4b [VENTRICULAR septation, SIMPLE]
*interventricular septum forms in the primitive ventricle by FUSION OF THE MUSCUALR PORTION (arises from the floor of primitive ventricle) WITH THE MEMBRANOUS PORTION (arises from the endocardial cushions)
*the formation of the interventricular septum results in the division of the primitive ventricle into a right ventricle and a left ventricle
development of the heart - step 4c [TRUNCAL septation, detailed]
*truncal septation is the process of dividing the truncus arteriosus into the pulmonary trunk and the ascending aorta so that each ventricle has its own outflow tract
1. neural crest cells migrate to into the truncus wall & form 2 parallel vertical bulges (truncal ridges) opposite each other along the length of the truncus
2. as the truncal ridges ascend in the wall, their locations gradually shift 180 degrees, forming a SPIRAL
3. these parallel ridges grow across the lumen and fuse to form the 180 degree spiraled AORTICOPULMONARY SEPTUM, which separates the ascending aorta and pulmonary trunk
development of the heart - step 4c [TRUNCAL septation, SIMPLE]
neural crest cells form truncal ridges along the length of truncus arteriosus → truncal ridges ascend and shift 180 degrees → ridges fuse and form 180 degree spiraled aorticopulmonary septum → separation of the aorta & pulmonary trunk
development of the heart - step 4c [truncal septation]: RESULTING ANATOMIC LOCATIONS OF AORTA & PULMONARY TRUNK
*pulmonary trunk lies on the left side of the aorta before branching into the pulmonary arteries
*right pulmonary artery must travel underneath aortic arch to reach the right lung
*resulting blood flow due to the spiral of the aorticopulmonary septum:
1. venous blood travels from right ventricle through the pulmonary artery (which lies left)
2. arterial blood travels from left ventricle through the aorta (which lies right)
development of the heart - step 5 [development of the AV VALVES]
*recall: the atrioventricular canal region was the invagination between the primitive ventricle and primitive atria
*during heart tube folding, the AV canal moves midline and connects largely over the left ventricle with some extent into the RV. It will continue to move midline and expand in order to be centered equally over both ventricles as the ventricles are growing
*AV valves start off as a common valve that divide equally over the ventricles
*different sets of endocardial cushions will start to expand and fuse together which will pinch the valve in an anterior / posterior manner to septate the valves