Limb Development Flashcards
Musculature is derived from what embryonic precursor?
Paraxial mesoderm –> somite –> myotome
Bones are derived from what embryonic precursor?
Lateral plate mesoderm –> somatic region
Tendons are derived from what embryonic precursor?
Lateral plate mesoderm –> somatic region
By what week of development are both limb buds present?
Week 4
By what week in development does primary ossification of the limbs begin?
Week 12
By what week in development do hand/foot plates appear and chondrification begins?
Week 5
By what week in development does the embryo begin showing separation of digits?
8th week
By what week in development do digital rays of feet appear, osteogenesis begins, and rotation of limbs occurs?
7th week
By what week of development do digital rays of hands appear and limb skeleton is cartilaginous?
6th week
Which limbs form first, upper or lower?
Upper limb buds form at 24 days
Lower limb buds form at 28 days
Limb bud formation is due to proliferation of __________ cells from ______ ______ mesoderm (somatic region)
This causes the limb bud to bulge outward
Mesenchymal; lateral plate
What are the 3 axes of the limb buds?
Proximal/distal
Cranial/caudal
Dorsal/ventral
What structures are associated with the proximal/distal axis of the upper limb bud?
Shoulder = proximal
Digits = distal
What structures are associated with the cranial/caudal axis of the upper limb bud?
Cranial = hallux
Caudal = phalanx 5
What structures are associated with the dorsal/ventral axis of the upper limb bud?
Dorsal = dorsum of hand
Ventral = palm of hand
What is the stylopod as it refers to limb structure?
Humerus or femur
What is the zeugopod as it relates to limb structure?
Radius + ulna; tibia + fibula
What is the autopod as it relates to limb structure?
Hand; foot
What molecular interaction is resposible for initiating limb bud outgrowth?
Fgf10 from mesenchyme (lateral plate mesoderm) activates Wnt signaling
Wnt then induces Fgfs in the ectoderm - this is a positive feedback loop
What region of the limb bud controls proximal-distal outgrowth of the limb?
Apical Ectodermal Ridge (AER)
What does the AER secrete that allows for continued limb outgrowth?
Fgf8
[Fgf soaked beads induce supernumerary limbs; Fgfs can mimic the functions of the AER itself]
What would be the result of experimental removal of the AER?
Limb development ceases
What would be the result of experimental addition of AER material?
Wing/limb is duplicated
What would be the result of experimental replacement of upper limb mesenchyme with lower limb mesenchyme?
Leg develops in place of arm
What would be the result of experimental replacement of limb mesenchyme with nonlimb mesenchyme?
AER regresses; limb development ceases
What would be the result of AER replacement by FGF bead?
Wing/limb develops normally
The AER is responsible for limb outgrowth, but not limb identity. What gene clusters are expressed in limb buds that correspond to identity of structures?
Hox gene clusters
Hox11 paralogs are responsible for formation of what aspect of limb structure?
Zeugopod
Hox9-10 paralogs are responsible for formation of what aspect of limb structure?
Stylopod
Hox12-13 paralogs are responsible for formation of what aspect of limb structure?
Autopod
__________ = genes related to each other due to descent from a common ancestral DNA sequence (commonly duplication)
Paralogues
Hox expression pattern correlates with the identity of elements along the __________-________ axis
Proximal-distal