Embryology Flashcards
developmental organization of the CNS- major events
neurulation- 0-4 weeks neuronal proliferation- 4-12 weeks neural migration- 12-26 apoptosis- 16 weeks- childhood synaptogenesis- week 18 through adolescence myelination- week 28 through adulthood
Most neuronal production and migration occurs
during the third through fifth months of development
Neurulation
Neural tube formation
Neuronal Proliferation
Mitotic division and fate determination
Neural Migration
Axonal growth cones navigate to target synapses
Synaptogenesis and apoptosis
Synaptic machinery is formed at synapses, unused synapses die off
Myelination
Mature neurons are myelinated by oligodendrocytes
Gliogenesis
takes place during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy and early postnatal development
Glia outnumber neurons 10:1 in the fully developed brain
Glial abnormalities related to Alzheimer’s, Multiple Sclerosis, Schizophrenia, Depression
Morphogen
a signal produced from a defined localized source forms a concentration gradient as it spreads through surrounding tissue. The graded signal then acts directly on cells, in a concentration-dependent manner, to specify gene expression changes and cell fate selection.
notochord’s job
The presence of the notochord is required for the formation of the neural plate from overlying ectoderm. Spemann organizer blocks ectodermal cells from making each other become epidermis
BMP- bone morphogenic protein
Noggin- blocks the effects of BMP –> nervous tissue default
notochord eventually becomes nucleus pulposus (mesoderm derived)
Steps of neurulation
1) Formation of a neural plate
2) Neural plate becomes neural groove surrounded by crests
3) Groove becomes closed neural tube in highly ordered fashion
neural tube closure defects
Craniorachischisis
Spina Bifida
- spina bifida occulta (doesn’t look like it didn’t close… tuft of hair)
- Mengingocele (Protrusion of dura and arachnoid)
- Meningomyelocele (Meningocele + spinal cord and nerves protruding (most common)
- Syringomyelocele - syrin is a cyst in the spinal cord (Meningomyelocele + central canal of spinal cord is distended) (most rare)
Anencephaly - not a viable fetus
Encephalocele - herniation of brain
Factors in neural tube defects
Neural Tube Defects often related to elevated levels of alpha-fetoprotein
Folic Acid levels need to be sufficient to allow for proper neural tube closure
when would the neural tube defects happen?
week 3– neural groove and folds, 3 primary vesicles visible, cervical and cephalic flexures, motor neurons appear
week 4- neural tube starts to close (day 22), rostral end of neural tube closes (day 24), cuadal end of neural tube closes (day 26), neural crest cells begin to migrate. Secondary neurulation starts, motor nerves emerge.
rostral vs caudal neural tube defects
rostral- anencephaly and encephalocele
caudal- spina bifida