Embryology and Defects Flashcards
how does gestational timing differ with embryological timing?
Embryological timings are usually about 2 weeks less than the gestational time frames
GA uses LMP (2 weeks ahead/greater)
embryological age is the true foetal age
when does gestational timing starts from?
last menstrual period
which trimester has the most rapid weight gain in the foetus?
1st
what system is used to measure development of the embryo?
Carnegie stages
what is a blastocyst?
consists of a bilayer of epiblast and hypoblast
present at ~9-10 days
0.1 cm wide
give rise to all the tissues of the foetus
what is an embryo?
small developing conceptus present at ~5-6 weeks and is around 1cm wide.
what is a foetus?
after 8 weeks of development the conceptus can be referred to as the foetus (recognisable human)
developing conceptus
what is a conceptus?
anything derived from a fertilised egg
where are red blood cells produced in the embryo?
liver
what 4 process allow cells to reach embryological development?
o Proliferate
– in response to GF, receptor expression, cell survival
– all via para- or autocrine signalling.
o Move
– chemoattractants, cognate receptors, facilitated (via remodelling and proteases)
o Differentiate
– paracrine regulation, receptor expression, loss of proliferation.
o Cell loss
– PCD controlled by mainly paracrine factors.
what do the different signalling methods mean?
- paracrine
- autocrine
(- endocrine)
o Paracrine – to adjacent cells.
o Autocrine – to oneself.
- endocrine over long distances via vasculature but this does not occur in embryo development due to a lack vasculature
what is meant by concentration signalling?
the strongest signals are received by cells located closest to the source of the signalling molecules.
what is meant by a bud in development e.g limb bud?
If the source cells are at the tip, the highest levels of proliferation will remain at the tip and thus a “bud” will form towards the apex
With +ve stimuli and –ve stimuli, asymmetrical development
how does the formation of embryological structures depend on factors (to achieve their shapes etc)?
gradients of factors, combinations of factors, temporal changes in factors or responses to them.
what animal models are used to make sense of the complexity of the multiple influences driving embryology?
o Chick – limbs, mainly with wings.
o Fish – eyes.
o Mouse – knock-out or knock-in with tissue specificity.
our genes are similar to these animals
what are HOX genes?
group of related genes that specify regions of the body plan of an embryo along the head-tail axis of animals (AP) e.g. differences in the vertebrae, CNS divisions, patterns in the limbs.
what is HOX activation controlled by?
Activation of HOX is controlled by retinoic acid, a derivative of vitamin A.
HOX genes provide body plan of embryo
what does the conceptus start off as?
bilaminar disc inside a blastocyst
– comprised of an epiblast and a hypoblast layer
what is the result of gastrulation of the conceptus (day 14-18)?
3 layers created:
- ectoderm
- mesoderm
- endoderm
gastrulation is one of many complexes series of changes that occur to the blastocyst bilayer
where does gastrulation take place?
what happens in it?
occurs down the primitive streak
a. Epiblast cells migrate towards the centre.
b. Epiblasts then differentiate into the mesoderm cells and move down into the new mesoderm layer (between epi- and hypoblast)
c. The hypoblast cells apoptose and are replaced by endoderm cells (which has differentiated from mesoderm cells)
gastrulation is the process by which the blastula cells migrate and divide to form the 3 primary germ layers of the gastrula
(neurulation refers to the folding of the neural plate into the neural tube)
what does the endoderm develop into?
- lining of the organs
- becomes gut, liver, pancreas and lungs.
what does the mesoderm develop into?
muscles, kidneys, heart, blood and skeleton
MK-HBS
what does the ectoderm develop into?
skin and the CNS
what does the ectoderm proliferate into after gastrulation?
proliferates to form the neural plate i.e. CNS
(with no proliferation at the neural groove due to negative stimulation of notochord)
and the neural fold’s fold over and form the neural canal.
what happens at day 28?
the yolk sac is pinched off into the umbilical cord (allantois)
what starts to develop in the 2nd month of development?
o Limbs develop – days 28-56.
o Face develops.
o Internal tissues develop
– heart, lungs and gut.
by which day will the conceptus look human?
day 56
what is left open when the embryo tissues fuse down the midline at day 22-23?
the anterior and posterior neuropore
what day should the neuropores have closed by?
day 25-28
what is the consequence of incomplete closure of the posterior neuropore?
Spina bifida
incomplete neurulation
what are the types of spine bifida?
o Myelomeningocele
– neural tissue in bulge. The spinal cord is therefore affected
o Meningocele
– no neural tissue in bulge, may have CSF instead
- the membrane bulges out, the meninges is stuck in the vertebrae
o Spina bifida occulta
– hair growth over area affected, no growth.
there is no formation of vertebrae at the bulge suggesting that bone growth is dependent on neural tissue growth
what is consequence of incomplete closure of the anterior neuropore?
anencephaly
how can incomplete spina bifida be treated and prevented in the first place?
o Surgery can help anatomical but not functional problems
o Folic acid can prevent but must be taken VERY early
as the problem manifests 4 weeks PF so must be taken early (take 3 months earlier)
what is anencephaly?
due to failed closure of anterior/rostral neuropore
literally means “lack of head” but is reduced brain development.
females affected more than males
how can anencephaly and spina bifida be prevented?
early intake of folic acid
- 3 months before conception
(70% of SB cases due to lack)
how does the heart develop from day 20- week 8 to make the primitive heart?
- The two endocardial tubes fuse into a primitive heart tube (21).
a. Endocardial tubes develop in the mesoderm and come together as the body cavity closes around day 21.
b. The primitive heart tube is joined at the cranial end in like a horseshoe (McDonald’s arc shape) which is then split to form the muscular tube (snap at the apex)
- The heart then undergoes a turning action (anti-clockwise) to form the primitive heart (23-28) and the 4 chambers form.
what day does blood flow through the heart begin?
day 22
when does the ductus arterioles and foramen oval close?
at birth when the heart shifts from single cycle flow in the foetus to a figure of eight loop flow
what is the role of the ductus arteriosus and patent foramen oval?
The ductus arteriosus and patent foramen ovale act as shunts to the blood supply (so that the blood avoids the pulmonary system)
when does the forelimb bud appear?
day 27-28
when does the hindlimb bud appear?
day 29
when do the limbs fully form by?
day 56
what is budding of the limbs?
Budding is growth from the lateral plate mesoderm which is done rapidly under control of special signalling regions.
what causes achondroplasia? what does this affect?
FGFR3 (fibroblast growth factor receptor 3) gain of function mutation:
stops the conversion of cartilage to bone resulting in too much cartilage
–> Affects the elongation of limbs rather the detail (i.e. primary formation is not affected)
what was thalidomide originally used for?
to treat morning sickness
what did thalidomide affect in developing babies?
Mainly affected limbs but also eyes, heart, alimentary/urinary tracts, blindness and deafness
o Amelia – “prolonged exposure” to thalidomide.
o Phocomelia – “short exposure” to thalidomide.
what is thalidomide currently used for?
used to treat leprosy and some cancers.
how did thalidomide affect limb development?
it damages developing vessels and therefore deprived adjacent cells of nutrients and prevented proper growth
particularly in the limbs so leads cell death in the developing limb bud
why may thalidomide be used for cancers?
it affects vessel development therefore may affect angiogenesis for tumour survival
what molecules are involved the regulation of limb development?
o Shh
– Sonic Hedgehog protein – zone of polarising activity.
o FGF8
– Fibroblast-like Growth Factor-8
– apical ectodermal ridge.
name another condition affecting limb development
polydactyly
what are the development stages of the foetal kidney?
1) Pronephros (no excretory function)
- the most immature form
2) Mesonephros (limited excretory function)
- intermediate phase
3) Metanephros (definitive kidney)
- most developed
what happens when the mesonephros has developed?
o Metanephric ducts grow out of the cloaca and begin to form the kidneys.
o Mesonephric ducts begin to differentiate into gonads (testes)
– ducts mainly apoptose in females.
what are some kidney developmental errors?
o Renal agenesis
– degeneration of ureteric bud:
Unilateral – L>R.
Bilateral – “Potter’s syndrome” Oligohydramnios.
o Abnormal shaped kidneys.
o Abnormal ureter
– bifid ureter, double kidneys, supernumerary kidney (extra kidney).
o Pelvic or horseshoe-shaped kidney
– kidney doesn’t ascend or kidneys fuse caudally to horseshoe shape.
o Bladder exstrophy.