CNS Embryology

Question 1

What are the 3 primary brain segments?

Answer 1

1. Prosencephalon
2. Mesencephalon
3. Rhombencephalon

Question 2

What are the distinct segments of the Prosencephalon and Rhombencephalon?

Answer 2

Pro: Telenchephalon, Diencephalon.
Rhom: Metencephalon, Myelencephalon.

Question 3

What do each of the brain segments become?

Answer 3

1. Telencephalon=Cerebrum
2. Diencephalon: Thalamus, hypothalamus, Pineal, putuitary gland, eyes.
3. mesencephalon: Midbrain
4. Metencephalon: Pons and cerebellum
   Myelencephalon: Medulla oblongata

Question 4

What do the cranial NCC become? Characteristics?

Answer 4

Responsible for tissues of facial region. Origin specifies destination.

Question 5

Circumpharyngeal NCC mark the pathway for what two cell groups? What do they do?

Answer 5

1. Vagal crest cells=To gut for parasympathetic innervation.

2. Cardiac crest cells=To heart and great vessels.

Question 6

What are the 3 main pathways of the Trunk NCC?

Answer 6

1. Dorsolateral: Melanocytes
2. Ventrolateral: Sensory ganglia
3. Ventral: Sympathoadrenal.

Question 7

What are astrocytes?

Answer 7

Cells that maintain blood brain barrier and assist in migration of developing neurons.

Question 8

What are Oligodendrocytes?

Answer 8

Produce and maintain myelin sheaths.

Question 9

What are microglial cells?

Answer 9

Specialized immune cells that clear unwanted debris

Question 10

What are Ependymal cells?

Answer 10

Form lining of fluid filled ventricles of CNS and produce CS fluid.

Question 11

What are PNS neruoglial cells (satellite cells)?

Answer 11

Provide structural and metabolic support to neurons.

Question 12

What are Schwann cells?

Answer 12

Myelinate axons.