CRISOLOGO ALLEN

BS BIOLOGY 2-A

DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY LABORATORY

TASK

Describe each part and state its function if there is any. Fill out the Activity Sheet.

PARTS OF THE AMPHIBIAN NEURULA DESCRIPTION

(Dorsal Surface)
Neural plate The thickened layer of tissue that eventually forms the
neural tube during embryological development. During
the neural plate stage, the dorsal ectoderm overlying the
notochord thickens to form the neural plate. The
transformation of the dorsal ectoderm overlying the
notochordal process into an elongated patch of thickened
epithelial cells known as the neural plate is the embryo's
first obvious
morphological response to neural induction.

Neural fold A new population of neural crest cells forms the dorsal
region of the folding neural tube during neurulation,
specifically from a region known as the neural folds;
this neural fold defines the boundary between neural and
non-neural ectoderm. The neural folds elevate bilaterally
and approach each other in the dorsal midline, a process
with
morphology differences between the cranial and
spinal regions.

Blastopore The blastopore is the first opening in the embryo – the

point of invagination during gastrulation.
The blastopore will eventually become either the
mouth or the anus.

PARTS OF THE AMPHIBIAN NEURULA DESCRIPTION

(Transverse Section)
Neural plate The thickened layer of tissue that eventually forms the
neural tube during embryological development. During
the neural plate stage, the dorsal ectoderm overlying the
notochord thickens to form the neural plate. The
transformation of the dorsal ectoderm overlying the
notochordal process into an elongated patch of
thickened epithelial cells known as the neural plate is
the embryo's first
obvious morphological response to neural induction.
Neural fold A new population of neural crest cells forms the dorsal
region of the folding neural tube during neurulation,
specifically from a region known as the neural folds;
this neural fold defines the boundary between neural
and non-neural ectoderm. The neural folds elevate
bilaterally and approach each other in the dorsal
midline, a
process with morphology differences between the
cranial and spinal regions.

Notochord The notochord is a cellular rod that runs along the

longitudinal axis of the embryo, just ventral to the
central nervous system. Although it is the original
longitudinal support for the body phylogenetically and
ontogenetically, the notochord also plays an important
role as a prime mover in a series of signaling episodes
that transform unspecialized embryonic cells into
definitive tissues and organs. Inductive signals from the
notochord, in particular, stimulate the conversion of
overlying surface ectoderm into neural tissue, specify
the identity of certain cells within the early nervous
system, transform certain mesodermal cells of the
somites into vertebral bodies, and stimulate the earliest
steps in dorsal pancreas development.

Endoderm Endoderm cells can be found in the epiblast at the

primitive node and the rostral primitive streak. During
embryonic development, the endoderm is the innermost
germ layer that forms the linings of the respiratory and
gastrointestinal tracts, as well as their associated
organs.

Mesoderm Mesoderm formation is an epigenetic process that

begins very early in development but continues for a
long time. When the underlying dorsal mesoderm (and
prechordal plate in the head region) signals the
overlying ectodermal cells to elongate into
pseudostratified columnar neural plate cells, the process
of neurulation begins.

Neural tube Shallow transverse folds that extend perpendicular to

the long axis divide the early neural tube into visible
segments. The closure of the neural tube is required for
the subsequent development of posterior tissues such as
the vertebral arches and cranial vault, paraspinal
muscles, and posterior skin of the head and back.
Archenteron Archenteron is also known as gastrocoel because it is
the cavity of the gastrula. Archenteron develops from
endoderm and mesoderm. . The endo- and mesodermal
portion of the archenteron roof located in front of the
notochordal anlage is responsible for the formation of
the head and thus plays an important role in the spatial
organization of the embryo.

C. Answer the following:

1. What are the three major fates or derivatives of the vertebrate ectoderm?

 Ectoderm divides into two parts during neurulation. The first is the surface ectoderm, which gives
rise to tissues such as the epidermis, hair, and nails on the body's outer surface. The second type is
the neuroectoderm, which forms the embryo's nervous system. The neuroectoderm divides further
into the neural tube, which serves as the embryo's central nervous system's precursor, and the
neural crest, which is a collection of mobile cells shed from the junction between the neural tube
and the epidermis after the neural tube forms. Many of the bones and connective tissues of the head
and face, as well as parts of the peripheral nervous system, are formed by the neural crest. The
neural crest aids in the formation of dorsal fins in fish and the carapace in turtles.

2. Enumerate the derivatives of the following:

a. Surface ectoderm
 Epidermis
 Hair
 Nails
 Sebaceous glands
 Olfactory epithelium
 Mouth epithelium - ( that will further develop into anterior pituitary, tooth enamel and cheek epithelium)
 Lens cornea

b. Neural crest
 Peripheral nervous system- (that will further develop into schwann cells, neuroglial cells,
sympathetic nervous system and parasympathetic nervous system)
 Adrenal medulla
 Melanocytes
 Facial cartilage
 Dentine of teeth

c. Neural plate/neural tube

 Brain
 Neural pituitary
 Spinal cord
 Motor neurons
 retina