UNSW Embryology

Embryology Home Page

Neural System Development - text only page

School of Anatomy

Page 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |WWW

Cell Biology Lab

Page Links | Reading | Computer Activities | Objectives | Learning activities | Development Overview | Pig Overview | |References | About Notes
| Page 2 | Abnormalities | OMIM | Self Assessment Questions | Medline | Page 3 | Pig Stage 13/14 | Page 4 | Human | | Page 5 | Selected Human highpower | WWW Links

Reading

  • Human Embryology (2nd ed.) Larson
  • The Developing Human: Clinically Oriented Embryology (6th ed.) Moore and Persaud
  • Before we Are Born (5th ed.) Moore and Persaud
  • Essentials of Human Embryology Larson
  • Human Embryology Fitzgerald and Fitzgerald
  • Search PubMed- Medline

Computer Activities

UNSW Embryology:

Embryo Images Unit:

Early Cell Populations & Establishment of Body Form, Nervous System Development

Objectives

  •  

Learning activities

UNSW Embryology Program

| Pig Embryo | Human Embryo | Selected Human (high power)

Pig Embryo

G7: In the pig embryo identify the cerebral vesicles and flexures; first study the sagittal section. Identify the forebrain, midbrain and hindbrain. The roof of the hindbrain is thin (formed by a membrane only).

Al-7: Midbrain and hindbrain. The isthmus can be observed on A3-4 as a constriction between the mid- and hind-brain.

The hindbrain is already subdivided into two parts, the slim myelencephalon and the wider metencephalon. The boundary between these two parts is roughly at the level of the otic vesicles A3-4. identify the optic cup and stalk, which are derived from the forebrain B2-6. Caudally one can identify the spinal cord along the entire length of the embryo.

B1-7, C1-5: Forebrain.

Study the histological appearance of the neural tube in the pig embryo. Identify the venricular and marginal zones. Also identify the sulcus limitans separating the alar and basal plates C1; Dl. Notice the position of the spinal ganglion (D.R.G.) ventrolateral to the spinal cord (P:D3).

Human Embryo

 

Al-4 In the human embryo identify the large telencephalic vesicles and the choroid plexus. The cavity in these (the lateral ventricles) communicate with the ventricle of the diencephalon (3rd ventricle) through the interventricular foramen

A3: inside the lateral ventricle

Al-2: Distinguish the wall of the forebrain.

A3-4: The basal part of the telencephalon forms the basal ganglia, a solid mass. Posteromedially these basal ganglia are in contact with the diencephalon. The large masses in either side of the diencephalon form the thalami.

Al-7, B1: The diencephalon. In these levels the brain comes into section twice, because of the cephalic flexure, but in A2-4 the two parts are connected.

Al-5: Ventral to the thalamus you can identify the hypothalamus.

A6-7, B1: The hypothalamus

A6: the lamina terminalis, original anterior end of the neural tube. Notice the position of the optic nerves in relation to the hypothalamic part of the diencephalon (B1).

B2-3: Further caudally the pituitary gland is seen, the neural part of which is a derivative of the diencephalon.

Al-7: The midbrain (mesencephalon). Its dorsal part is the mesencephalic vesicle, a large, thin-walled structure (A2-6) which overlaps the initial part of the metencephalon (A6-7).( The ventral part of the mesencephalon is seen to be continuous with the diencephalon in A3-4. The tectal recess, an extension of the roof the mesencephalic vesicle is seen in A6.

A6: The junction between the mesencephalon and metencephalon is called the isthmus. The main metencephalic derivatives are the pons and cerebellum.

The ventricular lumen of the hind brain is the 4th ventricle (A7, B1-7, C1-3). The roof of the metencephalic part of the 4th ventricle is formed by the developing cerebellum (B2-3), beyond which the ventricle forms two large lateral recesses (B2-3). In more caudal sections the roof of the ventricle is seen as a thin membrane only, bearing choroid plexus.

B2-3: the root of the trigeminal nerve and its ganglion.

The myelencephalic part of the hind brain will form the medulla oblongata, the embryonic appearance of which is hardly different from the fully developed structure. The vagus nerve and its ganglion are seen to leave the base of the brain in B7, through the jugular foramen.

At all levels where the brain is present notice the meninges enveloping it and creating the large subarachnoid space which is filled with cerebrospinal fluid.

Study the histological appearance of the spinal cord. Note the alar and basal laminae, the dorsal root ganglia and the sympathetic trunk.

Human Embryo- high power

A2: a high power picture of the wall is seen. Identify in this picture the ventricular zone, intermediate zone and cortical plate. Mitotic activity occurs in the ventricular zone to produce neuronal and glial cells which migrate through the intermediate zone to the cortical plate.

B1: observe the root of the trigeminal nerve and its ganglion.

 

Self Assessment Questions

1. Describe the development of the neural tube. What structures develop from neurectoderm?

2. List the derivatives of neural crest tissue.

3. What are the developmental differences between the brain and spinal cord?

4. Describe the main features of ependymal development.

5. Describe the development of brain ventricles.

6. How and where is the choroid plexus developed?

7. Describe the development of the cerebellum.

8. Construct and label simple diagrams showing the early development of the CNS and define the following terms:

(a) neural plate

(b) neural groove

(c) neural folds

(d) neural crest

(e) neuropores

9. What elements of the CNS and peripheral nervous system are derived from the neural crest?

DEVELOPMENTAL ABNORMALITIES

 

SPINA BIFIDA (MENINGOMYELOCELE)

The main objective in using Spina Bifida as a teaching model is to stress the main features in an integrated approach to the total care of the Spina Bifida patient.

Questions related to Spina Bifida

(a) Describe the possible processes involved in the abnormal development of the C.N.S. in Spina Bifida. At what time in development would these abnormal events occur?

(b) What is amniocentesis? Would this procedure be useful in the diagnosis of Spina Bifida? Give reasons for your answer.

(c) What is the effect of the lesion on the bladder, bowel and limbs? Describe the differences on these areas between lesions at the following levels:

a. Cervical

b. Thoraco-Lumbar

c. Sacral

(d) If the lesion is at higher thoracic levels, why would the prognosis for the patient be poor?

(e) Compare and contrast the following:

(i) Transection

(ii) Brown-Sequard Syndrome (Hemisection)

(iii) Spina Bifida

OMIM Database Online Mendelian Inheritence in Man Database. OMIM

Internet Search OMIM database with the keyword "lung" or the above abnormality names.

Note: This database is an external link, not accessible from some computers in the School of Anatomy.
A List of the 570 entries found, searching for "lung" is available for these computers.

About Notes

  • Lecture notes from the Anat 3311 1997 Science Embryology course compiled and written by Dr Mark Hill. Some notes derived from historic class notes.
  • Note Links to OMIM Entries are copies of originals for computers without internet access. Computers with internet access can directly access the database.

Links

Serial Sections Homepage
Human Homepage
Pig Homepage

m.hill@unsw.edu.au
Date Last Modified: 11/3/99
This site maintained by Dr M. Hill