ORGANOGENESIS

YMES 100

DR ZN TSHABALALA
RESOURCES
• The Developing Human: Clinically Oriented Embryology
(11th edition)
- Chapter 5 (Pages 65 – 78 and 80)
• Primal Pictures link
• Osmosis video link
• Complete Anatomy
- Use your device
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
• Describe in detail the phases of development
- Growth, morphogenesis and differentiation
• Describe the embryonic folding in both the horizontal and
vertical planes
• Identify and discuss the trilaminar germ layer development
• Describe the anatomical structures derived from each of the
trilaminar germ layers
• Associate external embryonic characteristics with
developmental stages and gestational age
INTRODUCTION
 Introduction
• All external and internal structures are established
• By end of the period
- Main organ systems have started developing
- Embryo has human features
• Exposure to teratogens may cause birth defects
 Introduction
• Development divided into 3 phases
• Growth
- Cell division and elaboration
• Morphogenesis
- Development of parts or entire organ systems
• Differentiation
- Arrangement of cells into specific organs
EMBRYONIC FOLDING
 Embryonic folding
General
• Folding of the flat trilaminar germ layer
- Into a cylindrical embryo
• Folding occurs in median and horizontal (transverse) planes
 Embryonic folding
Median plane folding
Head fold
• Cranial neural folds form the primordium of the brain
- At the beginning of the 4th week
• Developing brain initially projects dorsally into the amniotic cavity
• Later, the developing forebrain grows cranially
- Beyond the oropharyngeal membrane
- Overhangs the developing heart
 Embryonic folding
Median plane folding
Head fold
• Concurrent movement of structures to the ventral surface
- Septum transversum
- Primordial heart
- Pericardial coelom
- Oropharyngeal membrane
 Embryonic folding
Median plane folding
Head fold
• Part of the umbilical vesicle endoderm incorporates into embryo
- Will develop into the foregut
• Foregut lies between
- Forebrain and primordial heart
• Oropharyngeal membrane separates
- Foregut from the stomodeum (Primordial mouth)
 Embryonic folding
Median plane folding
Head fold
• After folding
- Septum transversum lies caudal to the heart
- Develops into central tendon of the diaphragm
• Folding affects embryonic coelom arrangement
- Primordium of the body cavity
 Embryonic folding
Median plane folding
Head fold
• After folding, the pericardial coelom
- Lies ventral to the heart
- Lies cranial to the septum transversum
• At this stage, intraembryonic coelom
communicates with extraembryonic coelom
 Embryonic folding
Median plane folding
Tail fold
• Folding of the caudal end of the embryo
- From growth of the distal part of the neural tube
• Caudal eminence projects over cloacal membrane
• Endodermal layer incorporates into embryo as hindgut
- Future transverse, descending and sigmoid colon and the rectum
- Its terminal part slightly dilates to form the cloaca
 Embryonic folding
Median plane folding
Tail fold
• After folding, primitive streak lies caudal to the cloacal membrane
• Connecting stalk is now connected to the ventral surface
- The future umbilical cord
• Allantois is partially incorporated into the embryo
- Projects into connecting stalk from the umbilical vesicle
 Embryonic folding
Horizontal plane folding
• Produced by rapidly growing spinal cord and somites
• Primordia of the ventrolateral abdominal wall
- Fold towards the median plane
- Rolls embryonic disc edges ventrally
• Abdominal cavity formation incorporates endodermal layer
- To form the midgut (Primordial small intestines)
 Embryonic folding
Horizontal plane folding
• Midgut initially has a wide connection to the umbilical vesicle
- Reduction of the connection will form the omphaloenteric
(vitelline) duct
• Attachment of the ventral region to the amnion also reduces
• Communication area reduces as umbilical cord forms
- Between intra- and extraembryonic coelomic cavities
- Caused by ventral fusion of the lateral folds
GERMINAL DERIVATIVES
 Germinal derivatives
Ectoderm
• Gives rise to a number of structures
- Central and peripheral Nervous System
- Sensory epithelia of the eyes, ears and nose
- Neural crest cells forms spinal cord and cranial nerve cells
- Full list on page 67
 Germinal derivatives
Mesoderm
• Gives rise to a number of structures
- Connective tissue
- Cartilage
- Heart
- Pleura
- Full list on page 67
 Germinal derivatives
Endoderm
• Gives rise to a number of structures
- Epithelial lining of digestive and respiratory tract
- Thyroid and parathyroid glands
- Epithelial lining of urinary bladder
- Full list on page 67
ORGANOGENESIS
FOURTH WEEK
 Organogenesis
Fourth week
• Embryo is almost straight, with 4 to 12 somites
dorsally
• Neural tube is formed opposite the somites
- Widely open at caudal and rostral neuropores
• First pharyngeal arches are visible by 24 days
- Major part contributes to the mandible
- Rostral extension contributes to the maxilla
• Heart produces a large ventral heart prominence
• Rostral neuropore begins closing
 Organogenesis
Fourth week
Visible at 26 days
• Embryo is curved from median plane folding
• Three pharyngeal arch pairs
- Rostral neuropore is now closed
• Forebrain produces prominent elevation on the
head
• Upper limb buds are recognizable at 26/27 days
• Otic pits which are primordial internal ears
• Lens placodes which are future lenses of the eyes
 Organogenesis
Fourth week
• Fourth pair of pharyngeal arches
- Appear by the end of the fourth week
• Lower limb buds visible by the end of fourth week
• Caudal eminence can be observed
• Rudiments of the cardiovascular system formed
• Caudal neuropore closed by the end of the week
FIFTH WEEK
 Organogenesis
Fifth week
• Minor changes occur during this week
• Head grows, exceeding other regions
- From rapid development of the brain
and facial prominences
• Face soon contacts heart prominence
 Organogenesis
Fifth week
• 2nd pharyngeal arch outgrows the 3rd and 4th arches
- Forms lateral depressions (Cervical sinus)
• Mesonephric ridges are visible
- Site of developing mesonephric kidneys
SIXTH WEEK
 Organogenesis
Sixth week
• Embryos show spontaneous movements
- Of the trunk and developing limbs
- Also exhibit reflex responses to touch
• Upper limbs begin to show regional differentiation
- Development of elbows and hand plates
- Digital rays begin to develop in hand plates
• Development of lower limbs occurs
- 4-5 days after upper limbs
 Organogenesis
Sixth week
• Auricular hillocks develop as small swellings
- Around the pharyngeal groove
• Auricular hillocks will form the pinna (Auricle)
• Pharyngeal groove will form the external acoustic
meatus
• Eyes become obvious with the presence of retinal
pigmentation
• Head enlarges and cervical region bends
- Over the heart prominence
 Organogenesis
Sixth week
• Later, the trunk and neck begin to straighten
• Intestines enter extraembryonic coelom
- In the proximal part of the umbilical cord
- An event called umbilical herniation
SEVENTH WEEK
 Organogenesis
Seventh week
• Limbs undergo significant change in this week
• Notches appear between the digital rays
- Indicating hand and foot digits
• Communication between the gut and umbilical vesicle
is reduced
• Upper limb ossification begins by the end of the week
EIGHTH WEEK
 Organogenesis
Eighth week
• Hand digits are clearly separated, but webbed
- At the beginning of the week
• Notches are clearly visible on the digital feet rays
• Caudal eminence is visible, but appears as a stub
• Scalp vascular plexus appears and forms a band
• All limb regions are differentiated and digits split
- By the end of the week
• Purposeful limb movements first occur
 Organogenesis
Eighth week
• Primary ossification of the femur begins
• Caudal eminence disappears completely
• Hands and feet move towards each other ventrally
• Distinct human characteristics present by end of week
- Head still disproportionately large
• Eyelids established and fused by end of the week
- United by epithelial fusion
• Intestines remain in the umbilical cord proximally
• External genitalia is visible, but not distinctive enough