Sensory - Vision Development

Introduction

These notes introduce the development of the eye: induction and regional specification of the eye structures, maturation and formation of retina and optic tectum neuronal connections. The adult eye has contributions from several different embryonic layers eventually forming neuronal, supportive connective tissue, optical structures, and muscular tissues. Additional pages are being developed to cover specific issues of this anatomical structure.

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Timeline

Weeks 3-4 Eye Fields-Optic Vesicle

Weeks 5-6 Optic Cup, Lens Vesicle, Choroid Fissure, Hyaloid Artery

Weeks 7-8 Cornea, Anterior Chamber, Pupillary Membrane, Lens, Retina

Weeks 9-15 Iris, Ciliary Body

Weeks 8-10 Eyelids

Retinotopic Map

This neuroscience term describes how the developing retina is precisely "mapped" onto the visual cortex through a series of signaling and activity dependent mechanisms. This follows from Hubel and Wiesel (1981 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine) key discoveries (1959-70) of how in development system matching occurs in the visual system. The topographic map establishes an ordered neuronal connection between sensory structures and the central nervous system.

The retinotectal map (eye to brain) of birds (lower vertebrates):

temporal (posterior) retina is connected to the rostral (anterior) part of the contralateral optic tectum

nasal (anterior) retina to the caudal (posterior) tectum

ventral retina to the dorsal (medial) tectum

dorsal ventral (lateral) tectum

retinal waves a form of coordinated spontaneous activity that occurs in the developing retina. These waves of electrical activity (action potentials) are thought to have a role in establishing the initial retinotopic map by correlating/coordinating the activity of neighbouring retinal ganglion cells.

EphA/ephrin-A molecular signaling also thought to have a role in establishing the initial retinotopic map.

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Cite this page: Hill, M.A. (2024, April 26) Embryology Sensory - Vision Development. Retrieved from https://embryology.med.unsw.edu.au/embryology/index.php/Sensory_-_Vision_Development

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