^ Chapter 6 - 3rd to 8th weeks: The embryonic period Flashcards
What happens in the embryonic period, or the period of organogenesis?
The three germ layers (ectoderm, mesoderm, and endoderm) gives rise to a number of specific tissues and organs.
When does the embryonic period, or period of organogenesis, occure?
It occurs from 3rd to 8th weeks
When does the main organ systems become established, rendering the major features of the external body form recognizable by the 2nd month?
By the end of embryonic period
When does the germ layer have the shape of a disk that is broader in the cephalic than in the caudal region?
At the beginning of the third week of development
When does the neural plate form?
At the beginning of the third week
Neuroectoderm
- Cells of the neural plate make up the neuroectoderm
- Their induction represents the initial event in the process of neurulation
What cause the induction of the neural plate?
The upregulation of fibroblast growth factor (FGF) signaling together with inhibition of the activity of bone morphogenic protein 4 (BMP4), a transfoming growth factor-B (TGF-B) family member responisble for ventralizing ectoderm and mesoderm, causes induction of the neuronal plate.
BMP4
BMP4 permeates the mesoderm and ectoderm of the gastrulating embryo, ectoderm is induced to form epiderims, and mesoderm forms intermediate and lateral plate mesoderm
Which proteins inactivate BMP (bone morphogenic protein)
Noggin, chordin, and follistatin
Where can we find noggin, chordin, and follistatin?
They are present in the organizer (primitive node), notochord, and prechordal mesoderm
What cause the mesoderm to become notochord and paraxial mesoderm (dorsalizes mesoderm)?
Noggin, chordin, and follistatin neuralize ectoderm by inhibiting BMP and cause the mesoderm to become notochord and paraxial mesoderm (dorsalizes mesoderm).
Induction of caudal neural plate structures (hindbrain and spinal cord) depends on which two secreted proteins?
- WNT3a
- FGF
Retinoic acid (RA)
Appears to play a role in organizing the cranial-to-caudal axis because it can cause respecificaton of cranial segments into more caudal ones by regulating expression of homeobox genes.
What is neurolation?
Neurolation is the process whereby the neuronal plate forms the neural tube.
When does the neural plate become elevated to form neural folds and the depressed midregion forms the neural groove?
By the end of the 3rd week.
What does the neural crest undergo as it leaves neuroectoderm by active migration and displacement to enter the underlying mesoderm?
Neural crest undergoes an epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition as it leaves the neuroectoderm
Mesoderm def.
Refers to the cells derived from the epiblast and extraembryonic tissue
Mesenchyme def.
Refers to the loosely prganized embryonic connective tisuue
Dorsal pathway through the dermis
Is where the crest cells will enter the ectoderm through holes in the basal lamina to form melanocytes in the skin and hair follicles
Ventral pathway through the anterior half of each somite to become (the crest cells):
- Sensory ganglia
- Sympathetic and enteric neurons
- Schwann’s cells
- Cells of the adrenal medulla
Neural crest cells that leaves the neural tube before closure contribute to the:
- Craniofacial skeleton
- Neurons for cranial ganglia
- Glial cells
- Melanocytes
- Other cell types
Neural crest also refered to as
the fourth germ layers, because it is important and it contributes to so many organs.
SNAIL and FOXD3
specify cells as neural crest
SLUG
promotes crest cell migration from the neuroectoderm
The fate of the entire ectodermal germ layer depends on….
BMP concentrations
High level of BMP
induce epidermis formation
Intermediate levels of BMP at the border of the neural plate and surface of ectoderm
Induce neural crest
Very low concentration of BMP
Cause formation of neural ectoderm
What regulates the neural crest cell migration, proliferation, and differentiation
- BMPs
- other members of TGF-B family
- FGFs
Ectodermal thickenings
- The otic placodes
- The lens placodes
Where does the structures needed for hearing and maintenace of equlibrium come from?
Otic placodes -> Otic vesicles -> structures needed for hearing and maintenace of equlibrium come from
Placodes –> lenses for eyes
During the 5th week
The ectoderm gives rise to:
gives rise to organs and structures that maintain contact with the outside world:
● The central nervous system
● The peripheral nervous system
● The sensory epithelium of the ear, nose, and eye
● The epidermis, including the hair and nails.
In addition, it gives rise to:
● Subcutaneous glands
● The mammary glands
● The pituitary gland
● And enamel of the teeth
Neural crest derivates
- Connective tissue and bones of the face and skull
- Cranial nerve ganglia
- C cells of the thyroid gland
- Conotruncal septum in the heart
- Odontoblasts
- Dermis in face and neck
- Spinal (dorsal root) ganliga
- Sympathetic chain and preaortic ganglia
- Parasympathetic ganlia of the gastrointestinal tract
- Adrenal medulla
- Schwann’s cells
- Glial cells
- Meninges (forebrain)
- Melanocytes
- Smooth muscle cells to blood vessles of the face and forebrain
Paraxial mesoderm is formed by the
17th day
The lateral plate (thin mesoderm layer) is divided into 2 layers:
- The somatic or parietal mesoderm layer
2. The splanchnic or visceral mesoderm layer
Which lateral plate layer covers the yolk sac?
The splanchnic or visceral mesoderm layer
intraembryonic cavity is formed by
the layers of the lateral plate
What connects the paraxial and lateral mesoderm?
The intermediate mesoderm
The intraembryonic cavity is continous with the…
extraembryonic cavity
When does the paraxial mesoderm to be organized into segments?
By the beginning of the 3rd week