FOLDING OF THE EMBRYO

DR MICHAEL OKU
ANATOMY DEPARTMENT
 FOLDING OF THE EMBRYO

• Soon after the formation of notochord, the

process of neuralation begins.
• with thickening of ectoderm cranial to the
notochord to form the NEURAL PLATE the
later NEURAL TUBE.
• The intra-embryonic mesoderm is the divided
into an area immediately surrounding the
notochord called
• The paraxial mesoderm
• laterally it forms the lateral plate mesoderm
• Between the above two is an intermediate
mesoderm
SUBDIVISIONS OF INTRA-EMBRYONIC MESODERM
• The paraxial mesoderm undergoes
segmentation to form somites,
• while small cavities appear in the
lateral plate mesoderm which
coalase to form a bigger cavity called
the intra-embryonic coelom.
INTRA-EMBRYONIC COELOM
• With formation of intraembryonic coelom, the
lateral plate mesoderm splits into;
• Somatopleuric or parietal intraembryonic
mesoderm (in contact with ectoderm) and
• Splanchnopleuric or visceral intraembryonic
mesoderm in contact with endoderm.
• The intraembryonic coelom gives rise to the
pericardial, pleural and peritoneal cavities.
INTRA-EMBRYONIC COELOM
• The heart is therefore formed from the
cardiogenic area (splanchnopleuric mesoderm
in the floor of the intraembryonic coelom) in
the floor of the intraembryonic coelom).
• Cranial to this area, the intraembryonic
mesoderm is unsplit and form the septrum
transversum (contribute to development of
diaphragm and liver).
• The 10 yolk sac gets smaller and becomes lined
with cubic cells. It is then known as 20 yolk sac.
• Thereafter, there is progressive increase in the
size of the embryonic disc with the head and
tail ends remaining relatively close. This leads
to bulging of the disc into the amniotic cavity.
• With further growth, the embryonic disc now
folds on itself forming the head and tail folds.
• As this is formed, part of the yolk sac becomes
enclosed in the embryo – the primitive gut is
formed.
• A major part of the GIT is formed from the
primitive gut.
• Initially, the yolk sac is in wide communication with the
primitive gut.
• The cranial part of the primitive gut is called the foregut
and part caudal to this communication is called Hindgut.
• A third intervening part called midgut also exist as these
changes continues the communication becomes smaller
and a narrower channel connects the yolk sac to the
primitive gut.
• This is called the vitellointestinal duct or vitelline duct
or yolk stalk. The duct becomes elongated and later
disappears.
• During formation of head and tail folds, similar
folds are formed on each side known as lateral
folds.
• The embryo becomes lined all through by
ectoderm except in the region of the
vitellointestinal duct.
• Here, a circular aperture called the UMBILICAL
OPENING develops.
• The amniotic cavity expands greatly and covers the
embryo on all sides filled with amniotic fluid.
• The tube of the amnion and structures within the
region of umbilical opening forms the umbilical
cord.
• These structures are: (a) Vitellointestinal duct and
remnants of yolk sac (b) mesoderm of connecting
stalk later forms the Wharton’s jelly (c) blood
vessels from embryo to placenta (d) small part of
extraembryonic coelom.
• The allantoic diverticulum (endodermal
diverticulum) arises from the yolk sack in the
caudal end of embryonic disc before the
formation of tail fold.
• It contributes to the development of the
urinary bladder.
POSITION OF ORGANS BEFORE AND AFTER HEAD AND TAIL FOLDS

• Before the formation of head and tail folds,

from cranial to caudal ends of the embryonic
disc, structures seen on the midline are as
follows;
• (i)Septum transversum (ii)Developing heart
and pericardial cavity (iii) Prochordal plate
(iv)Neural plate (v) Cloacal membrane (vi)
primitive streak
• Soon after formation of head and tail fold, the
pericardial cavity now lies on the ventral side
of the embryo with the heart occupying the
roof of the cavity.
• The septum transversum now lies caudal to
the heart.
• The diaphragm and liver develops in
relationship with the septum transversum
later on.
• The foregut is closed cranially by the buccopharyngeal
membrane formed in the region of prochordal plate.
When it breaks down, there is communication with
the external environment by the foregut.
• The neural tube which later develops to form the
brain becomes the most cranial structure of the
embryonic disc.
• Cranially, there is a developing brain, below there is a
bulging pericardium, and the stomatodeum lies in
between.