Scribd
Upload
209 views

Development of The Heart

The document summarizes the development of the heart from the third week of embryonic development. It describes how the heart forms from mesoderm tissue and develops into a heart tube by the third week. During the fourth and fifth weeks, the heart tube develops into distinct chambers and regions. Septa form to divide the atria and ventricles. Valves form in the fifth to eighth weeks. In fetal circulation, shunts bypass the lungs and liver to oxygenate the developing brain. At birth, these shunts close as the lungs and liver take over their functions. The document discusses some congenital heart defects that can result from abnormalities during heart development.

Uploaded by

Yusuf Umar
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
209 views

Development of The Heart

The document summarizes the development of the heart from the third week of embryonic development. It describes how the heart forms from mesoderm tissue and develops into a heart tube by the third week. During the fourth and fifth weeks, the heart tube develops into distinct chambers and regions. Septa form to divide the atria and ventricles. Valves form in the fifth to eighth weeks. In fetal circulation, shunts bypass the lungs and liver to oxygenate the developing brain. At birth, these shunts close as the lungs and liver take over their functions. The document discusses some congenital heart defects that can result from abnormalities during heart development.

Uploaded by

Yusuf Umar
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 19

Development of the Heart

ANAT 208

Dr. J. Eronmosele
Introduction
• The cardiovascular system is one of the first systems to appear &
function within the embryo.

• The heart forms from an embryonic tissue called mesoderm, it


develops near the head of the embryo in a region called the
cardiogenic area

• The development of the heart begins at 3rd week with the formation
of two endothelial strand called cardiogenic/angioblastic cords
...
• These cords form two heart tubes and fuse into a heart tube at the
end of third week due to lateral embryonic folding.

• It is active at the beginning of the fourth week when the placenta is


unable to meet the requirements of the growing embryo.
Embryonic Heart Development - Week 3
• At the end of the 3rd week, the embryonic heart begins with the
formation of the primitive heart tube following the folding of the
embryo.

• Lateral folding creates the heart tube by bringing two precursor regions
together, then cephalocaudal folding positions the heart tube in the
future thorax

• The heart tube is suspended within the pericardial cavity by a


membrane which degenerates to allow for further growth.
The Heart Tube
As the cranial part of the embryo folds the tube enlongates to form the
regions of the primitive heart from superior to inferior as follows:
• Aortic roots (Arterial poles)
• Truncus arteriosus
• Bulbus cordis
• Ventricle
• Atrium
• Sinus venosus (Venous poles)
Heart Layers
• As the heart fuse, the primordial myocardium begins to form from the
splanchic mesoderm around the pericardial cavity, this becomes the
middle muscular layer of the heart.

• The heart develops as a thin endothelial tube which becomes the


Endocardium, the innermost layer of the heart.

• The Epicardium which is the outermost layer is derived from the


mesothelial cells of the outer surface of the sinnus venosus.
Formation of Cardiac Chambers - Week 4
to 5
• At week 4 - the sinus venosus is responsible for the inflow of blood to the
primitive heart, It receives venous blood from the right and left sinus horns
and empties into the primitive atrium.

• Over time, the left sinus horn recedes shifting the venous return to the right
side of the heart, this forms the coronary sinus

• The enlarged right sinus horn is absorbed by the growing right atrium and
eventually forms part of the inferior vena cava in the adult.

• In the left atrium, the four pulmonary veins are incorporated into the left
atrium, forming the left atrium and oblique pericardial sinus.
...
• Atrial septation in the primitive atrium involves the formation of two
septa and three holes.

• The septum primum forms and extends down towards the fused
endocardial cushions to split the atrium into two. The ostium primum is
a hole present before the septum primum completes fusion with
endocardial cushions.

• Before the ostium primum is closed a second hole, the ostium


secundum, appears within the septum primum.

• The septum secundum, grows with a hole known as the foramen ovale
...
• The presence of both the ostium secundum and foramen ovale allows
a right to left shunt to be present in the developing heart.

• At least one hole is present in the septa to allow communication


between the left and right atria i.e for blood to be shunted to the left
side of the heart.
...
• The ventricular septation has two components; one muscular and one
membranous.

• The muscular portion forms most part of the septum. it grows up from
the floor of the ventricles towards the fused endocardial cushions but
a small gap - the primary interventricular foramen, remains.

• This gap is filled by the membranous portion of the interventricular


septum, which is comprised of connective tissue derived from
endocardial cushions.
Formation of Heart Valves - Week 5 to 8
• The aortic and pulmonic semilunar valves developed from three
swellings of subendocardial tissue around the opening of aorta &
plumonary trunk evolving into three thin cusps

• Tricuspid valve (three cusp) and mitral valves/bicuspid (two cusps)


form from proliferations of tissue surrounding the AV canals
Fetal Circulation - Weeks 9 to Birth
• In fetal circulation, vascular shunts bypass the liver and non-functioning
lungs and ensure enough oxygen reaches the developing brain.

• The lungs are bypassed by two separate shunts:


- firstly the foramen ovale between the two atria
- the plumonary trunk which is linked to the distal arch of aorta by the
ductus arteriosus.

• The oxygenated blood entering the fetus bypass the primitive liver by
passing through the ductus venosus, this shunt around 30% of umbilical
blood directly to the inferior vena cava.
Postnatal Changes in the Heart -
Birth to Adulthood
At birth, these shunts close to allow the normal adult circulation to be
established:
• Foramen ovale – the intake of air causes pulmonary resistance to fall,
this closes the shunt. it fuses shut in most individuals by the age of 1
year.

• Ductus arteriosus – muscular wall contracts to close after birth.


Fetal shunt Adult remnant

Foramen ovale Fossa ovalis

Ductus arteriosus Ligamentum arteriosum

Ductus venosus Ligamentum venosum

Umbilical vein Ligamentum teres (hepatis)

summary of the circulatory shunts and its remnant


Clinical correlations
• Tetralogy of Fallot is a congenital heart defects:
i. Overriding aorta– an aorta that is connected to both the left and right
ventricles
ii. Pulmonary stenosis– a narrowing of the right ventricular outflow tract
iii. Ventricular septal defect– failure of the interventricular septum to fully
close
iv. Right ventricular hypertrophy– the right ventricle is more muscular
than normal.

• Dextrocardia - mirror image of a normal heart

• Atrial septal defect


Clinical correlations...
• Ectopic cordis, a very rare condition where the heart ends up outside
the thoracic cavity

• Transposition of the great arteroes

• Patent ductus arteriosus: failure of the ductus arteriosus to close

• Tricuspid atresia: fusion of the valves or its absence

• Aortic stenosis and Atresia

You might also like