UNSW Embryology

Development of the organs of Vision, Audition, Equilibrium and Olfaction

© Dr Mark Hill (2011)

Acknowledgements

Introduction

This section of notes is a introduction to development of senses (sight, smell, hearing and balance) through the development of the specialized sense organs (eye, nose and ear). Portions of the eye, nose and ear appear very early in development as specialized surface regions (placodes) on the embryo, these regions must be connected to the central nervous system by neural pathways that originate as extensions of the central nervous system. There are now more specific notes on each sensory system Hearing and Balance, Vision_Development, Smell and Taste development.

Page Links: Introduction | Reading | Computer Activities | Objectives | Learning activities | Development Overview | Stage 13 | Terms | References

Related Pages: Week 4 Sensory Placodes | Hearing | Vision_Development | Smell | Taste

Reading

• Human Embryology (2nd ed.) Larson Ch12: p375-409
• The Developing Human: Clinically Oriented Embryology (6th ed.) Moore and Persaud Ch19: p491-511
• Essentials of Human Embryology Larson Ch12: p252-272
• Before We Are Born (5th ed.) Moore and Persaud Ch20: p460-479
• Human Embryology, Fitzgerald and Fitzgerald
• Search PubMed- Medline

Objectives

• Understand the early development of the eye, defining optic vesicles, optic stalks, optic fissure, optic cups, lens placodes and lens vesicles.
• Understand the development of the retina, ciliary body, iris, lens, choroid, sclera and cornea.
• Understand the development of external, middle and internal ear, including otic placode, otocyst, endolymphatic duct and semicircular canals.

Computer Activities

UNSW Embryology:

• Stage 13/14 Embryo
  • Eye | Ear | Nose
• Stage 22 Embryo
  • Eye | Ear | Nose
• Selected High Power Stage 22
  • Eye | Ear
• Hearing and Balance development
• Components of the Eye
• Histology also look at WWW Links
• Serial Sections
  • Human Selected(optic nerve, optic retina, lens)
  • Stage 22 Head Images
  • Stage 13/14 Head Images
  • Human Systems

Embryo Images Unit:

Eye Development and Ear Development

Links below require Internet connection.

• Eye Development
  • Eye Fields-Optic Vesicle (Weeks 3-4)
  • Optic Cup, Lens Vesicle, Choroid Fissure, Hyaloid Artery (Weeks 5-6)
  • Cornea, Anterior Chamber, Pupillary Membrane, Lens, Retina (Weeks 7-8)
  • Iris, Cilliary Body (Weeks 9-15)
  • Eyelids (Weeks 8-10)
• Ear Development
  • Inner Ear
  • Middle Ear
  • External Ear

References

For more recent review and research articles see specific notes on each Sensory System Hearing | Vision_Development | Smell | Taste

Selected Lists of References from PubMed March 1999 search results are available for Department of Anatomy computers without internet access. Computers with internet access can search from either Page 2 or PubMed Internet Access

PubMed March 1999Eye Development Reviews | Ear Development Reviews | Nose Development Reviews | Selected Research Articles and Reviews