Embryology of congenital malformations Flashcards
what are the three germ layers of the epiblast embryologically
ectoderm
mesoderm
endoderm
what do each of the three germ layers go on to form
ectoderm
- epidermis
- nervous system
mesoderm
- bone
- muscle
- blood cells, etc
endoderm
- gut
- pharynx
- lungs
when does the CNS start to appear embryonically and what occurs at this time
beginning of the third week
how does the neural tube develop
thickening of the ectoderm anterior to primitive node = NEURAL PLATE
edges thicken and move up to form NEURAL FOLDS
neural folds migrate towards each other and fuse at midline = NEURAL TUBE
when do the anterior and posterior ends of the neural tube close
anterior (cranial/rostral) neuropore - 25 days
posterior (caudal) neuropore - 27 days
what does failure of the neural tube to close properly cause
neural tube defects
give 3 examples of neural tube defects
anencephaly
encephalocoele
spina bifida
what causes anencephaly
failure of the anterior neuropore to close
what are the consequences of anencephaly
skull fails to form
brain tissue degenerates
incompatible with life
what causes encephalocoele
failure of the rostral neural tube to close
what are the consequences of encephalocoele
herniation of cerebral tissue through a defect in the skull
most frequent in the occipital region
causes variable degrees of neurological deficits
what causes spina bifida
defective closure of the caudal neural tube
what are the consequences of spina bifida
affects the tissues overlying the spinal cord
causes non-fusion of the vertebral arches
neural tissue may or may not be affected
severity ranges from minor abnormalities to major clinical symptoms
what is the most minor form of spina bifida
spina bifida occulta
what occurs in spina bifida occulta
failure of embryonic halves of vertebral arch to grow and fuse
occurs in L5 and L6 vertebrae
usually no clinical symptoms
may result in dimple with small tuft of hair
what is spina bifida cystica
protrusion of the spinal cord and or/meninges through the defeat in the vertebral arches
what are the three types of spina bifida cystica
spina bifida with meningocele
spina bifida with meningomyelocele
myeloschisis
what occurs in meningocele
protrusion of meninges and cerebrospinal fluid
what occurs in meningomyelocle
nerve roots and/or spinal cord included in the protruding sac
neurological deficits - loss of sensation and muscle paralysis
what determines the area affected in meningomyelocle
the level of the lesion
what is meningomyelocle associated with
hydrocephalus
what occurs in myeloschisis
most severe form
spinal cord in affected area open due to failure of neural folds to fuse
what can decrease the risk of spina bifida during pregnancy
folic acid supplements
what types of prenatal diagnosis techniques are used for neural tube disorders
maternal blood screening
- high a-fetoprotein (AFP) in serum - leaks from foetal liver
amniocentesis
- high levels AFP in amniotic fluid
ultrasound
- anencephaly from 12 weeks
- spina bifida from 16-20 weeks
what are risk factors for neural tube disorders
genetic predisposition
nutrition - too like folate, too much vit A
environmental - hyperthermia
drugs - sodium valproate
when do the brain vesicles begin to form
begin with the closure of he anterior neuropore - 25 days