BGDA Practical 3 - Gastrulation

Introduction

Gastrulation means "gut forming" and converts the inner cell mass which then formed the bilaminar embryo (epiblast, hypoblast) into the trilaminar embryo (ectoderm, mesoderm, endoderm). The process involves the migration of cells from the epiblast layer through the primitive streak to form first the endoderm layer and then a second intermediate layer the mesoderm layer. Once all cells have left the epiblast layer it now becomes the ectoderm layer. These three germ cell layers (ectoderm, mesoderm, endoderm) will form in a layer specific manner all the future tissues of the developing embryo. Approximate cross-section of an 18 day human conceptus. Identify the 3 layers of the trilaminar embryo: ectoderm (columnar cells), intraembryonic mesoderm (mesenchymal cells, endodermal cells (cuboidal single layer). Identify primitive groove with dense cluster of primitive streak cells below it. (Image: Nishimura etal., 1977)

Stage 7

Features: embryonic disc, primitive node, primative streak, primitive groove, yolk sac Facts: Week 3, 15 - 17 days, 0.4 mm View 1: embryonic disc, showing the epiblast viewed from the amniotic (dorsal) side. Events: Gastrulation is continuing as cells migrate from the epiblast, continuing to form mesoderm. Mesoderm lies between the ectoderm and endoderm as a continuous sheet except at the buccopharyngeal and cloacal membranes. These membranes have ectoderm and endoderm only and will lie at the rostral (head) and caudal (tail) of the gastrointestinal tract.	Gastrulation: Through the primitive streak cells migrate continuously through week 3 into week 4. Initial cells replace hypoblast as an epithelial layer the endoderm. Later migrating cells spread between the two epithelial layers to form mesoderm.
Axes: embryonic disc is shown rostral (head) to top and caudal (tail) to bottom. Left and right are the lateral margins of the disc as shown.

Gastrulation

Carnegie Stage 7 and 8, gastrulation, migration of cells through the primitive streak to form endoderm and mesodermal layers of embryo.

Scanning electron micrograph showing the early forming 3 layers: ectoderm, mesoderm and endoderm. The embryonic disc has been broken to expose these early layers that form the entire embryo. Ectoderm - columnar epithelium Mesoderm - embryonic connective tissue (mesenchyme) Endoderm - cuboidal epithelium The amniotic cavity would lie above the ectoderm layer. The yolk sac would initially lie below the endoderm layer, later this would be the gastrointestinal tract within the embryo.

<html5media height="500" width="390">File:Mesoderm_001.mp4</html5media> Click Here to play on mobile device

Now observe this brief animation of mesoderm development during week 3. Mesoderm Development This animation shows the migration of mesoderm throughout the embryonic disc during gastrulation. The pink arrow show how mesodermal cells spread out between the ectoderm and endoderm layers, forming the third (middle) layer of the trilaminar embryo. Axial process - the arrow running from the primitive node upward is the axial process which will later form the notochord. 2 regions where no mesoderm is found, at the upper and lower ends of the gastrointestinal tract. cranial (top) - buccopharyngeal membrane caudal (bottom) - cloacal membrane. Prechordal plate - lies above the buccopharyngeal membrane and is the cardiogenic mesoderm, that will form the heart. Links: MP4 version | Gastrulation | Mesoderm | Week 3

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Cite this page: Hill, M.A. (2024, April 18) Embryology BGDA Practical 3 - Gastrulation. Retrieved from https://embryology.med.unsw.edu.au/embryology/index.php/BGDA_Practical_3_-_Gastrulation

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© Dr Mark Hill 2024, UNSW Embryology ISBN: 978 0 7334 2609 4 - UNSW CRICOS Provider Code No. 00098G