Neurulation Flashcards
Mammalian Brains
Look very different but actually just slight
modifications of the same theme
Subcortical areas common amongst vertebrates
Similar structures in all mammalian brains
Central Nervous System (CNS)
Cell bodies in the brain and spinal cord
Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)
Cell bodies outside the brain and spinal cord
Cerebrum, cerebellum. brainstem, spinal cord
Anatomical references
Rostral – Latin for beak
Caudal – Latin for tail
Dorsal – Latin for back
Ventral – Latin for belly
Cerebrum
Split into two hemispheres by sagittal fissure. Largest and most rostral part of the brain
HEMISPHERES MEDIATE SENSATION AND MOVEMENT IN CONTRALATERAL BODY.
LEFT HEMISPHERE – RIGHT BODY; RIGHT HEMISPHERE – LEFT BODY
Cerebellum
LATIN FOR LITTLE BRAIN
CONTAINS AS MANY NEURONS AS THE CEREBRAL HEMISPHERES DESPITE BEING SMALLER
IT IS THE MOVEMENT CONTROL CENTER AND HAS EXTENSIVE CONNECTIONS
ROSTRALLY TO CEREBRUM AND CAUDALLY TO SPINAL CORD
CONTROL IN THE CEREBELLUM IS IPSILATERAL
RIGHT CONTROLS RIGHT SIDE OF BODY; LEFT CONTROLS LEFT SIDE OF BODY
Brain stem
Pathway to spinal cord.
Also the area of regulation of vital organs.
MOST PRIMITIVE PART OF THE BRAIN
COMPLEX NEXUS OF FIBER TRACTS AND NUCLEI
FIBER TRACTS CONNECT CEREBRUM TO SPINAL CORD AND CEREBELLUM
NUCLEI CONTROL BASAL BODY FUNCTIONS INCLUDING: BREATHING, CONSCIOUSNESS, BODY TEMPERATURE, ETC.
DAMAGE TO THE BRAIN STEM IS TYPICALLY FATAL
Spinal cord
MAJOR CONDUIT BETWEEN BODY AND BRAIN
ENCLOSED BY BONY VERTEBRAL COLUMN
NERVES ENTER AND EXIT THE CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM FROM THE BODY IN THE SPINAL CORD
Dorsal Root
Sensory info enters the spinal cord
Cell bodies of sensory neurons situated outside the spinal cord in Dorsal Root Ganglia.
Central projection leave cell body and enter dorsal horn of the spinal cord
These are afferent (“carry to”) projections
Ventral root
Motor info leaves the spinal cord
Cell bodies of neurons in the ventral horn of the spinal cord.
Axons of these neurons exit the spinal cord to innervate muscle in the periphery
These are efferent (“carry from”) projections
Neural tube formation
Neurulation: process by which the neural plate becomes the neural tube
Endoderm - viscera (internal organs)
Mesoderm - muscle and bone
Ectoderm - NS, neural crest, and skin
Neural crest
Formed by the ectoderm
Specialized tissue that gives rise to pigment cells, peripheral glia, some peripheral neurons, enteric nervous sustem, and craniofacial bones
Neurulation
The process by which the neural plate becomes the neural tube
Primary Neurulation
Cells surrounding the neural plate direct the plate cells to proliferate, invaginate, and pinch off from the surface to form a hollow tube
Secondary Neurulation
Neural tube arises from cells that coalesce into a solid cord that subsequently hollows to eventually form a hollow tube
Only occurs caudal to the sacral vertebrae in mammals
The Steps of Primary Neurulation
1) After neural plate formation, edges thicken and move up to form neural folds.
2) Neural groove appears in center of plate.
3) Neural folds migrate towards the embryonic midline.
4) Neural folds fuse creating a hollow tube.
In humans, evidence that neural tube closure begins in ~3 places
Open Ends of the Neural Tube
At the end of neurulation, open ends of the neural tube are: Anterior neuropore
Posterior neuropore
Folic acid
Neurulation happens within the first few weeks of pregancy
Often before pregnancy is known
Estimated 90% of birth defects due to lack of folic acid. The exacr reason for its importance is unknown.
No Anterior closure - anencephaly
No posterior closure - spina bifida
1/500 births has neurulation defect due to nutritional deficits
3 Primary Brain Vesicles
Entire brain develops from these primary vesicles
Prosencephalon - forebrain
Mesencephalon - midbrain
Rhombencephalon - hindbrain
First steps of neural differentiation are swelling of anterior neural tube leading to formation of primary vesicles
Differentiation
The process by which structures become functionally specialized
Differentiation of the Forebrain
1) Vesicles sprout off the sides of the prosencephalon.
Two telencephalic vesicles, two optic vesicles
Residual central structure that remains is diencephalon
2) Retina develops from the optic vesicle.
Part of forebrain, not PNS
Formation of the Retina from the Optic Vesicle
1) Optic vesicles grow and invaginate
2) Form the optic stalks and the optic cups
3) These become the optic nerves and the retinas in the adult
4) Retinas and optic nerves are derived from the neural tube