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Development of the organs of Vision, Audition, Equilibrium and Olfaction - text only page

School of Anatomy

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Cell Biology Lab

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Reading

Moore Ch19: p423-439 Larson Ch12: p309-359

Computer Activities

UNSW Embryology:

Human Systems, Human Selected(optic nerve, optic retina, lens), Head Set

Pig Head Set,

Embryo Images Unit:

Eye Development, Ear Development

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.

Learning activities

  • Identify the eye in the 6mm pig, and 27mm human embryo microfiche cards.
  • Examine developing eye in slide No.56.
  • Identify the developing ear (external, middle and inner) in the 6mm pig and 27mm human embryo microfiche cards.

DEVELOPMENTAL ABNORMALITIES

OMIM Database Online Mendelian Inheritence in Man Database. OMIM

Internet Search OMIM database with the keyword senses 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 search results for "senses" is available for these computers.

Self Assessment Questions

  • Describe the main steps in the development of the lens.
  • Describe the development of the retina.
  • Compare the optic nerve with other cranial nerves.

CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM REVIEW EXERCISES

1. Using simple sketches describe the development of the spinal cord, the dorsal root ganglia and spinal nerves.

2. Construct and label simple diagrams showing the early development of the C.N.S. Define the following terms :

Term
Definition

Neural plate

Neural groove

Neural folds

Neural crest

Neuropores

Primary and secondary brain vesicles

3. Illustrate the development of the pituitary.

4. Prepare labelled diagrams of the early development of eyes. Define the following terms:

Term
Definition

Optic grooves

Optic vesicles

Optic stalks

Optic fissures

Optic cups

Lens placodes

5. Briefly describe the development of the retina.

6. Briefly describe the development of the Inner, Middle and External Ears. Define the terms:

Term
Definition

Otic placode

Otic pit

Otic vesicle (otocyst)

Endolymphatic duct and sac

Semicircular ducts

7. What elements of the C.N.S. and peripheral nervous system are derived from the neural crest?

References

There is also a selected list of Research Articles and Reviews from PubMed related to cardiac development and abnormalities.

A Selected List of References from PubMed March 1999 search results for "" and "" is available for School of Anatomy computers without internet access.

PubMed Database

Online Medline Database PubMed- Medline

National Library of Medicine (US) search service to access the 9 million citations in MEDLINE and Pre-MEDLINE (with links to participating on-line journals), and other related databases.

Internet Search this database or use the form below with the keyword senses or related topics. You can also restrict to reviews or by date published.

Search Field: Mode:

PubMed

PubMed Search Results Number as of March 1999.

Pig Embryo

EAR

Pig Embryo

Al: Thin caudolateral walls of rhombencephalon.

A2: Otocyst (R). Apex of otocyst (anlage of L endolymphatic sac)

A3: Otocyst; surrounding mesenchyme = otic capsule. Note proximity of otocyst to wall

of rhombencephalon. Superior glossopharyngealganglion. Vestibulo-cochlear-facial ganglion complex (R). Trigeminal ganglion.

A4: Indentation in rostral margin of otocyst = anlage of utriculosaccular canal. Note alignment of superior cardinal vein (LS) in relation to the nerve trunks (XS). Trigeminal ganglion. Dorsal end of 1st pharyngeal arch and groove. Note variation in height of cells of L otocyst wall.

A5: Facial ganglion (R). "Floor" of L otocyst. Note on R, the former position of the otocyst in relation to the 2nd pharyngeal arch.

A6: 1st, 2nd arches, grooves and pouches on R. Inferior glossopharyngeal and facial ganglia on L.

A7,B1: 1st pharyngeal pouch opening into pharynx.

Human Embryo

EYE

Human Embryo

A7: Mesencephalon. Rostral extensions of superior cardinal vein

B1: Developing diencephalon. Rathke's pouch. Lens pit (derived from thickened ectoderm of lens or "optic" placode).

B2,B3: Optic cup with optic ventricle. Note unequal thickness of walls of optic cup (inner wall; sensory retina: outer wall; pigment epithelium). Lens pit. Note position of eye with respect to maxillary arch. Hyaloid vessels near ventral margin of optic cup.

B4: Junction of optic stalk to wall of prosencephalon (diencephalon). Small branches of hyaloid blood vessels in region between lens pit and optic stalk.

B5: Continuity of optic ventricle and single forebrain ventricle via optic stalk. Note proximity of eye to nasal placode (R).

B6: Hyaloid vessels ventral to optic stalk. Optic mesenchyme (mesectoderm) arising directly from epithelium of dorsal surface of optic cup. Nasal placodes.

B7: Tangential section through optic cup, with surrounding optic mesenchyme. Nasal

placode Interorbital ligament. Bridge of nose.

A6:Interorbital ligament. Nose. uppereyelids. Cornea. Anteriorchamber. Lens. Vitreous body. Sensory retina. optic ventricle (artefact). Pigment epithelium. Conjunctival

sac. Primordium of lacrimal glands (near lateral fornix of conjunctival sac).

A7: Medial rectus m. Primordium of nasolacrimal ducts. Upper eyelid (lateral). Lower eyelid (medial).

B1: Optic nerve. Note extensive temporal region of retina. Primordium of nasolacrimal ducts.

B2: Medial and lateral rectus m. Pigment epithelium. Note relationship of eye to nasal capsule, sphenoid cartilage and trigeminal ganglion. Primordium of nasolacrimal ducts (cut obliquely).

B3: On L, note course of maxillary division of trigeminal in relation to position of eye (superior to this level).


Human Embryo (selected sections)

A3,A4: Optic ventricle (artefactually enlarged). Optic nerve. Sensory retina. Pigment epithelium. Choroid and sclera (not separable).

A5: Sensory retina with optic nerve fibre layer and young retinal ganglion cells. note radial orientation of deeper retinal cells. Pigment epithelium. Sclera plus choroid.

A6: Anterior corneal epithelium and posterior corneal endothelium. Corneal stroma. Angle of anterior chamber with developing trabecular meshwork. Anterior and posterior lens epithelium. Note change in height of lens cells at the equator of the lens. Double-layered epithelium of iris arising from rim of optic cup. Stroma of iris lies anteriorly across lens. Kink in internal wall of optic cup indicates site where the ciliary body will form.


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