Embryology 4 Flashcards
how does ectoderm differentiate between epidermis (skin) and CNS/PNS?
- if ectoderm receives BMP signals is normal ectoderm
- if doesn’t receive BMP signals then becomes neural ectoderm
How deactivate neural BMP?
- node & notochord (head mesoderm) provide anti-BMP inhibitory molecules
- allow overlaying ectoderm to ignore BMP instructions to become epidermis
- allows the ectoderm’s default neural fate to proceed
What is the natural fate of ectoderm?
-all ectoderm is poised to become neural; but prevented from doing so by BMP signals
Where does head ectoderm/ the BMP-inhibiroty signals come from?
- as Hensen’s node regresses, head mesoderm lays don and forms notochord
- notochord & node release the signals at the cranial end of the primitive streak
Steps of neural tube formation?
1) neuroectoderm forms neural plate
2) neural plate invaginated to form groove
3) neural folds appear on each side of neural grooves
4) neural folds fuse to form neural tube (loosing contact w/ some old neighbor cells and making contact with new ones)
What does the neural tube form?
-the brain & spinal cord
How make the neural plate
- opposite& adjacent to primitive streak ectoderm tissue thickens & flattens to become the neural plate
- starts thickening on anterior side…moves posteriorly
- made around the notochord
Notochord involvement with the neural plate?
- is a distinctive rod underneath the forming tube
When does the neural tube close?
- 22 days is theorized, but is always completely closed by 28
Steps of neural tube closure?
1) fusion of tube begins in cervical region, proceed in cranial & caudal directions
2) fusion temporarily delayed at poles, creates cranial and caudal neuropore
Mechanisms of neural tube closure?
- originally believed had 1 bilateral zipper that closed tube from 1 closing point
- now believe have 3-5 closing points, not as uniform; is complex
broad 3 steps in neural tube formation?
1) thickening
2) elevation
3) closure
* doesn’t happen EVERYWHERE; can have secondary neurolation instead*
secondary neurolation
- instead of cells forming a circle, cells accumulate together then cells/tissue are cut out of center to form tube
- see multiple holes/ lumen that then fuse
- often done in the tail region mice
- is evidence of it in human
secondary neurolation in humans?
- at our caudal end
- happens later (after 28 days)
- the ventral aspect of neural tube
Spina Bifida? Main types?
- Abnormal closure of the caudal neural tube during weeks 3 & 4; ranges in severity
- causes splitting of the vertebral arches
1) Spina bifida occulta (most common)
2) Spina bifida cystica
Spina bifida occulta
- have missing bone (lamina) section w/ exposed dura
- have spinal cord w/ nervous sytem in tact
- rarely locomotive defect but are missing spinal cord cover
- -usually in 1 or 2 discs (sometimes 3)
- occurs up to 5% of population,
- often can carry and not notice, may just look like harry mole on lower spine w/ no seocndary effects
Spina bifida cystica 2 types
1) Meningocele: Protrusion of meninges
2) Myelomeningocele: Neural tissue protrusion; typically very truamtic
Spina bifida meningocele
- Protrusion of meninges
- from no symptoms, to very severe
- spine is in normal place, no nerve damage, missing lamnia bone cover
Spina bifida Myelomeningocele:
- protrusion of the neural tissue (much more severe) because the neural tube is outside the spine
- leg-muscle &trunk weakness sometimes paralysis
- leads to leakagge of spinal fluid, get developmental effects
karytoype 2 malformation
-seen with Spina bifida Myelomeningocele, when have leakage of spinal fluid, causes hypothalamus to sink down into spinal column, leads to brain clogging & swelling
Rachischisis (split spine)
- severe/ complete form of spina bifida
- tube not closed, have very long “split” of spine
- very few cases make to term, suaully don’t survive as babies
Exencephaly
- failure of cephalic (anterior, cranial) part of neural tube to close
- Vault of skull doesn’t form; necrosis of malformed brain occurs
- leads to anecephaly (lack of brain)
- brainstem remains but fetus lacks mechanism for swallowing, hydramnios occurs in last 2 months of gestation.
hydramnios
- when excess amniotic fluid accumulates during pregnancy due to baby not being able to take up fluid very well since lungs are damaged
- ends up drowning in the fluid
Exencephaly vs. Spina bifida
Exencephaly in failure to close the anterior/cranial/ cephalic part of the neural tube
Spina bifida is the failure to close the caudal part of the neural tube