Development of the CNS Flashcards
when does human brain development begin?
3rd post conception week and continues well into late adolescence/early adulthood and beyond
what influences the process of brain development?
genes and environment
timing is everything!
genes carry the information which when decoded will determine:
the correct sequence and evolution of the brain from conception to neuronal proliferation, migration and reorganisation
development of dendritic and axonal interconnections.
They also determine the development of synapses, complex chemical structures called receptors and the chemical messaging substances called neurotransmitters
what is the intrauterine environment?
Maternal health and disease (maternal PKU)
Insults which may be continuous throughout pregnancy /episodic (e.g. alcohol exposure, Cytomegolovirus infection)
Placental function and fetal nutrition
what is the extrauterine environment?
Physical factors such as Nutrition, environmental toxins
Emotional and social factors e.g. neglect and lack of stimulation
Exposure to drugs, alcohol and other related substances
brain development in the embryonic period:
conception to week 9
brain development in a foetus
week 9 to 40/42
brain development continues
postnatally
in adolescence
when does the embryonic period being?
after conception and continues until gestational week 8
what happens in the embryonic period?
2 layered embryo epiblast and hypoblast primitive streak and primitive node migration of cells determined by nodal signaling
gastrulation results in?
development of a three layered embryo:
ectoderm
mesoderm
endoderm
what does the ectoderm give rise to?
skin, nails, hair and neural tissue
what does the mesoderm give rise to?
muscle, bone, cartilage and vascular system
what does the endoderm give rise to?
gut and respiratory system
what is the first well defined neural structure to form?
neural tube
