CTB Theme 3 Flashcards
what is involved in the establishment of the ‘body plan’
- Fertilisation
- Initially the cells proliferate
- Organisation into a body- gastrulation
- 3 sheets of cells develop- ecoderm, mesorderm and endoderm
- Forms a primitive embryo where a head develops at one end and a tail at the other.
- Correct folding is governed my mesenchymal- epithelial interaction
- Organogenesis- organs form
what are the derivatives of the ectoderm (outer layer)
epidermal cells of skin and oral/dental epithelium
cns- neurone of brain
neural crest- pigment cell and CRANIOFACIAL TISSUES (cartilages, bone, teeth)
what are the derivatives of the mesoderm (middle layer)
notochord bone tissue tubule cell of the kidney red blood cells facial muscle
what are the derivatives of the endoderm (internal layer)
digestive tube
pharynx
respiratory tube
what are the derivatives of germ cells
sperm
egg
what is the period where the embryo is subjected to teratogens which can causes malformations in organ systems
4-12 weeks
what are examples of early head formation defects
Holoprosencephaly
•Facial midline defect due to deficiency in forebrain tissue.
•Caused by mutations in Shh pathway genes.
Anencephaly
•Abnormal brain development due to failure of neural tube closure- c
•Caused by teratogens or malnutrition, e.g.:
-High retinoic acid (Vitamin A) levels can interfere with Hox gene expression
-Folic acid (Vitamin B9) deficiency- can prevent craniofacial diseases
why is folic acid advised for pregnant women
(Vitamin B9)
can prevent craniofacial diseases
outline the development of the head fold
21 day human embryo
The folding of the early embryo is a crucial developmental event. (e.g. head formation).
The plate of the 3 germ layers can be seen, structures start to form.
outline the development of the head and mouth for a 16 day old embryo (1/4)
Three germ layers: Ectoderm, Mesoderm, Endoderm
Expansion of the neural plate- formation of head fold
Cells proliferate
outline the development of the head and mouth for a 18 day old embryo (2/4)
Oropharyngeal membrane develops.
It separates the future mouth (stomodeum) from the pharynx and acts as a transient cell signalling centre to “pattern” the oral cavity- It breaks down eventually so it doesn’t interfere with other development
outline the development of the head and mouth for a 22 day old embryo (3/4)
Formation of the future mouth (stomodeum).
Note the rotation of the heart- more inwards
outline the development of the head and mouth for a 30 day old embryo (4mm) (4/4)
Rudiments (anlagen) of most organs are established!
Oropharyngeal membrane starts to break down.
Yellow tube forms the oesophagus
Pharyngeal arches 1,2,3 become prominent
outline the basic structure of the pharyngeal arches
Each arch is covered externally by ectoderm and internally by endoderm.
The internal mesodermal core becomes infiltrated by migrating cranial neural crest cells that migrate into the pharyngeal arches .
=> 1 nerve, 1 cartilage, 1 artery per arch
outline the formation of neural crest cells
- Neural crest cells are induced molecularly at the border between neuroectoderm (forms brain and spinal cord) and epidermis (forms skin)
- Neural plate invagination and formation of neural folds (spinal column) generates an “open tube”.
- Neural folds fuse to form the neural tube. Neural crest cells begin to migrate along pre-determined pathways.
- Neural crest cells continue migration to their pre- determined destinations and become specialised cell types.
outline how NCCs are specified by opposing gradients of signalling molecules
Neural crest cells are specified at the border between neuroectoderm and epidermis.
Overlapping gradients of BMP4 and WNT6 signalling proteins (“morphogens”) induce the expression of FoxD3 and Slug, two transcription factors necessary for neural crest cell specification and migration.
2 opposing gradients- each cells get different gradients. The cells that get intermediate signals are the neural crest cells
outline how Cranial neural crest cells (CNCs) migrate into pharyngeal arches
The cells at each level of the neural tube know where to migrate
Molecular subdivision- cells express different genes that instruct them to migrate to target region
CNCs migrate along specific pathways from the early brain into the pharyngeal
arches.
Genetic codes (overlapping expression of homeobox transcription factors) determine the identity of CNCs. (pre-patterning vs. local specification of cell fates)
In the head region there are other Homeobox genes
what are the embryonic features involved in facial development
lateral nasal process
medial nasal processes
maxillary process
mandibular process
what is the difference between merger and fusion
Merger: Elimination of a furrow between two processes (by mesenchymal cell proliferation). The cells appear as one continuous structure as it expands, its not 2 things coming together. (e.g. mandibular process)
Fusion: Contact between epithelial cells of two processes triggers fusion of epithelial cell sheets and subsequent elimination of epithelial cells. These are 2 different things
what are the key events in the development of the face (4-5 weeks) (1/3)
Formation and growth of an unpaired frontonasal prominence -
Formation of 2 nasal placodes (epithelial thickenings)
Nasal pit:
Formation of paired nasomedial (medionasal) processes
Formation of paired nasolateral (lateronasal) processes
Formation, growth and merger of the paired mandibular processes- this has already merged in the middle so its one continuous process
Formation and growth of paired maxillary processes (small!)- only grow to the inside
what are the key event in the development of the face (5.5-6 weeks) (2/3)
Recession of frontonasal prominence
Due to strong forward growth of nasomedial (medionasal) processes- causes a relocation back wards of the frontonasal prominence
Growth of nasolateral (lateronasal) processes
Strong growth of maxillary processes
-Formation of nasolacrimal duct, cheek and alar base of nose
what are the key event in the development of the face (7-8 weeks) (3/3)
Merger of nasomedial (medionasal) processes- still like two separate processes.
Further growth of maxillary processes and fusion with nasomedial processes
- Formation of central part of nose, upper lip and primary palate
- Upper lip is formed from maxillary processes laterally and in the midline from the nasomedial processes (philtrum).
Outline a summary of the Contributions to face from facial processes summary
A: Maxillary processes
- Maxilla
- Lateral part of upper lip
B: Mandibular processes
- Mandible
- Lower lip
C: Medial nasal processes
- Medial part of nose
- Medial part of upper lip
- Primary palate
D: Lateral nasal processes
- Lateral part of nose
what causes a median cleft lip (rare)
Failure of merger of medial nasal processes.