MSK Session 3 Flashcards
How are somites formed?
Paraxial mesoderm aggregates into pairs of blocks either side of the neural tube
What is the origin of the musculoskeletal system?
Somites and lateral plate mesoderm
How are somites further organised after formation?
Into bone, muscle and skin precursors within the somite
Why does development of the MSK system not take place until relatively late, in the fourth week of development?
It is not necessary for the developing embryo like the CVS or NS
Where do the limb buds appear?
On the ventral-lateral body wall
Why is the UL always more developed than the LL?
It appears ~2 days before
What is the structure of a limb bud?
Core of proliferating mesenchymal cells which are similar to CT cells
Proliferate at a greater rate than the surrounding cells which form the bud
Describe the development of limb buds.
Somatic layer of lateral plate mesoderm
Activation of mesenchyme w/in lateral mesoderm layer
Flexible mesenchyme core proliferates to elongate limb bud
Apical ectodermal ridge regulates elongation
What is the entire embryo covered by?
Endoderm
What does the limb bud need to grow?
Thickening of endoderm at apex
What is the function of the apical ectodermal ridge?
Orchestrate proximal to distal limb development
Ensure limb develops to required length
Regression for proper digit growth
Marks dorsal-ventral limb boundary
What is the final stage of limb development?
Appearance of paddles
What is the function of the dorsal/ventral ectoderm?
Exert dorsalising and ventralising influences over mesenchyme core
What are the corresponding postnatal axes to the embryonic axes of limb development?
Anterior (head) = superior Dorsal = posterior Proximal = proximal Posterior (tail) = inferior Ventral (belly) = anterior Distal = distal
What are the three degrees of symmetry in the embryo?
Side to side
Front and back
Top and bottom
Where is the anrterio-posterio axis of the developing limb?
From the 1st digit to 5th
What makes up the dorsal aspect of the developing limb?
Back of hand and top of foot
What makes up the ventral aspect of the developing limb?
Palm of hand and sole of foot
Where is the proximo-distal axis of the developing limb?
Base of limb to tips of digits
What is the function of the AER as the limb elongates?
Secretes signalling molecules to the underlying mesenchymal cells to prevent their differentiation and continue proliferation
What happens to the proximal mesenchyme as the limb elongates?
Stops receiving signals from AER so it differentiates into constituent tissues
How does the zone of polarising activity generate asymmetry in the limbs?
Determines the anterior-posterior axis
What effect does the ZPA have on the hands and feet?
Ensures they are mirror images of each other
Where is the ZPA located?
Posterior base of the limb bud
What controls patterning as well as maintaining the AER?
ZPA
What are the controllers of axial specification?
Anterio-posterio = ZPA Proximal-distal = AER Dorsal-ventral = ectoderm
How are hands and feet formed?
Limb buds flatten and flare into digital rays
What are digital rays?
Mesenchyme condensations w/in plates
Describe the formation and subsequent sculpture of hand and foot plates.
Flattening and flaring of limb buds –> digital rays form –> AER regresses so only on apexes of digital rays –> interdigital spaces progressively sculpted by programmed cell death
Why is the AER only maintained at the tips of the digital rays?
To allow for their elongation
What can be seen postnatally between the fingers?
Remnants of interdigital spaces
What is amelia?
Complete absence of a limb
What is meromelia?
Partial absence of one or more limb structures
What is phocomelia?
Hands or feet close to trunk due to interference w/AER
What can cause phocomelia?
Thalidomide exposure
What is polydactlyly?
Genetic recessive trait causing extra digits
What is syndactyly?
Error in interdigital space formation causing fusion of digits by CT or bone
Which limb is more affected by limb defects?
UL
What joins the three discrete bones in the hip?
Triadiate cartilage
How do myogenic precursors arrive in the limbs?
Migrate from outside limb buds in somites into limbs
What happens to the myogenic precursors after they have migrated into the limb bud?
Coalesce into 2 common muscle masses either side of newly formed central skeletal elements
What do the two common muscle masses formed by myogenic precursors give rise to?
Ventral = flexor Dorsal = extensor
How do individual muscles email innervated once they have split from the common masses?
Take innervation from somite linked w/spinal cord with them
How do the flexor and extensor compartments compare in the UL and LL?
UL: flexor = anterior, extensor = posterior
LL: flexor = posterior, extensor = anterior
Why do the upper and lower limb have opposite arrangements of flexor and extensor compartments?
Rotation of limbs which affects LL much more
How do the limbs rotate after ventral extension?
UL = laterally LL = medially
How doe the limbs compare before and after rotation?
Before = thumbs up, elbows out, soles facing each other, knees out After = thumbs out, elbows down, soles down, knees up
Why is rotation of the LL not as fixed?
It is more mobile
How do the thumb and big toe rotate?
Thumb = laterally
Big toe = medially
What are maintained during rotation?
Ventral axial lines
What lies on the pre-axial line?
Thumb and big toe
What lies on the post-axial line?
Little finger and toe
Which spine segments do the upper limb buds appear opposite?
Caudal cervical
Which spinal segments do the lower limb buds appear opposite?
Lumbar and sacral
Why do spinal nerves enter the limb bud early in its development?
Needed along with AER for development
What is a myotome/dermatome?
Strip of skin/muscle-group of muscles supplied by a single nerve which can be examines clinically
Why is the regular organisation of dermatomes and myotomes seen in the embryo not seen later on in development?
Distorted due to loss of symmetry and limb bud rotation
What are the ventral axial lines?
Mid axillary lines that spilt the arm in half along the longitudinal axis
How do muscles become innervated by the brachial plexus?
Muscles are compartmentalised and nerves grow into common muscle masses
What happens to all anterior divisions of the brachial plexus that innervate the flexors?
Regroup to form lateral and medial cords to supply the flexors
What happens to the posterior divisions of the brachial plexus that innervate the posterior components?
Regroup to form posterior cord to supply extensors
What forms the superior border of the cubital fossa?
Imaginary line between lateral and medial elicondyles
What forms the medial border of the cubital fossa?
Lateral border of the pronator teres
What forms the lateral border of the cubital fossa?
Medial border of brachioradialis
What is the cubital fossa?
Depression on the anterior surface of the elbow joint that marks the area of transition between the anatomical arm and forearm
What forms the floor of ten cubital fossa?
Proximally = brachialis Distally = supinator
What forms the roof of the cubital fossa?
Skin and fascia reinforced by the bicipital aponeurosis
What structure does the median cubital vein run through?
Bicipital aponeurosis