Lectures 11, 12: CNS Development Flashcards
The nervous system develops from this germ layer, except for these two exceptions…
Ectoderm; microglia and dura mater = mesoderm
Describe gastrulation
Portion of the ectodermal germ layer becomes destined to form the nervous system, forming the neural plate
Describe neurulation
Rapid cell proliferation of the neural plate –> neural groove between neural folds –> neural tube, which separates from the surface ectoderm
Cells lining the neural groove give rise to cells of the ____
CNS
How does the PNS arise?
Cells from the margins of the neural tube detach from the neural folds to form clusters of neural crest cells
What days do the neural tube, anterior and posterior neural pore close?
22, 24, 26
Describe histogenesis
Neural precursor cells (eventually neuro/glioblasts) proliferate and migrate from the neural tube, forming 1) Germinal zone; an internal ependymal layer that will become the ependymal lining of the ventricular system and the epithelium of the telechoroidia and choroid plexus, 2) Mantle zone; a middle layer of cells that will become the gray matter of the CNS, and 3) Marginal zone; an external layer composed of cell processes; this will become the white matter of the CNS
Sulcus limitans
Divides the alar (dorsal) and basal (ventral) half of the neural tube
What happens to the rostral neural tube?
Vesicle formation! Prosencephalon, mesencephalon, rhombencephalon
By the end of the __th week, we have a 5-vesicle brain. What are these and where did they come from?
Pros –> telencephalon, diencephalon; mes –> mesencephalon; rhomb –> metencephalon, myelencephalon
What flexure divides met from myelencephalon? This region also forms the…
Pontine flexure; cerebellum
Describe the flexures
- Mesencephalic flexure (3rd week); 2. Cervical flexure (divides hindbrain/spinal cord); 3. Pontine flexure (near cerebellar region)
Describe the relevance of alar/basal plates for the spinal cord
Alar –> sensory nuclei; Basal –> motor nuclei
Discuss the 3 ways in which brainstem cell column development is different from the spinal cord
(1) In the medulla and pons, the alar plate lies lateral (not dorsal) to the basal plate (2) there are migrations of neuroblasts of both plates from the ventricular floor to other locations, and (3) “special” sensory and motor structures of the head require new/different cell groups for innervation
All cranial nerves except these two are recognizable by which week?
I, II; 5-6 weeks
The rhombic lip is derived from this structure and will become this structure
Tela choroidea; Cerebellum
When is the cerebellum first apparent? Describe development.
5-6 weeks; Up and outward cell proliferation causes the 2 rhombic lips to fuse in the midline to form the cerebellar plate, which covers the IVth ventricle. The fused lips become dumbell-like, forming the vermis and the two hemispheres
At the level of the diencephalon, the sulcus limitans is called what?
Hypothalamic sulcus
Describe telencephalon development
Rapid growth of the telencephalon results in the formation of two (bilateral) expansions, and in rearward growth of the two growing telencephalic hemispheres over the diencephalon
What is the name of the structure separating telencephalon from diencephalon?
Transverse cerebral fissure
What is the most rostral structure of the early telecephalon? What is it’s significance?
Lamina terminalis; only location where nerves can interconnect the two cerebral hemispheres: contains the rudiments of the corpus callosum, anterior commissure and optic chiasm
In what order do the cerebral lobes develop?
Parietal, frontal, occipital, temporal
Describe the “C”-shaped growth
Because the growth of the telencephalon is caudalward, it begins to arch over the tela choridea of the diencephalon, forming the C-shaped underlying structures (lateral ventricles, caudate, fornix)
What accomplishes the secondary fusion of the telecephalon and diencephalon?
Internal capsule
When does neuronal proliferation occur? What about neuronal migration?
2-4 months; 4-9 months
When does myelination begin? When is it most active?
2nd trimester; first 2 years of life
Describe the ordering of myelination
Early for motor-sensory roots, special senses and the brainstem (structures necessary for reflexive behaviors and survival). The corticospinal tract starts to myelinate at 36 weeks gestation and myelination is completed by the end of the 2nd year of life. Myelination begins at the proximal end of the axon (short axons myelinate first).
What are the 4 key postnatal developments?
- Myelination; 2. Postnatal neurogenesis (learning, memory, mood regulation); 3. Critical periods; 4. Synapse formation, stabilization, pruning, plasticity
What are the three stages of CNS development that can be disrupted?
- Neurulation (3-4 weeks gestation); 2. Prosencephalic (5-6 weeks); Cortical formation (8-24 weeks)