Development of the Upper and Lower Limb Flashcards
When do Upper limb buds + lower limb buds appear
Upper limb buds-day 26 or 27,
lower limb buds- 1 or 2 days later.
Upper limb buds develop opposite -
he caudal cervical segment,
lower limb bud develop opposite-
lumbar and upper sacral segment.
Limb buds consist of-
– A mesenchymal core
– Covered by ectoderm
wht starts off the process of limb
development ( elongation )
Activation of mesenchymal cells in the lateral
mesoderm
Paraxial mesoderm-
• Divides into 42-44 pairs
of somites
Intermediate mesoderm
• Urogenital system
Lateral plate mesoderm
– Subdivision of the intraembryonic(secondary) mesoderm
– Forms the connective tissue of the limbs
Somites give rise to-
Sclerotome,Myotome,Dermatome
The Homeobox (HOX) gene initiates
Limb development
Activation of mesenchyme induces formation-
of an apical ectodermal ridge (AER)
Mesenchyme condenses and gives rise to -
skeleton & connective tissue
Apical ectodermal ridge (AER)
– Ectodermal thickening at the apex of each limb bud
– Inductive influence on limb mesenchyme
Progress zone (AER)
Stimulates proliferation of mesenchyme
– Proximodistal axis (AER)
Growth and development of the limbs
Proximodistal Axis -
Signaling Center - (AER)
Molecular Signal-Fibroblast growth
factors (FGF-2,-4,-8)
Anteroposterior Axis
Signaling Center-Zone of polarizing
activity (ZPA)
Molecular Signal-Sonic hedgehog (Shh)
Dorsoventral Axis
Signaling Center-Dorsal ectoderm + Ventral ectoderm
Molecular Signal- Wnt-7a (dorsal)+ En-1 (ventral)
Limb Development – 28 days
Limb buds appear as small elevations of the ventrolateral body wall
– Upper limb buds appear by 26th – 27th day
• Opposite C5-T1 spinal segments (
– Lower limb buds appear ~2 days later
• Opposite L4–S3 spinal segments