GASTRULATION, NOTOCHORD, NEURALATION

DR SAMUEL O. OKORONKWO

COURSE : EMBRYOLOGY

COURSE CODE : 205

DATE : FEB , 2024.

 GASTRULATION

Gastrulation is the formative process by which the three

germ layers, which are precursors of all embryonic
tissues, and axial orientation are established in embryos.

During gastrulation, the bilaminar embryonic disc is

converted into a trilaminar embryonic disc

Extensive cell shape changes, rearrangement, movement,

and changes in adhesive properties contribute to the
process of gastrulation.
 PRIMITIVE STREAK
 This process begins with the formation of  Anterior
a primitive streak on the surface of the
epiblast

Primitive streak (ingression)-

gastrulation is initiated ---
EPIBLAST cells move towards the  Posterior
midline and then anteriorly. This
creates the primitive streak.

 The primitive streak results from the

proliferation and movement of cells
of the epiblast to the median plane of
the embryonic disc.
A narrow groove-primitive
groove-develops in the primitive
streak that is continuous with a
small depression in the primitive
node-the primitive pit

 The streak elongates by addition

of cells to its caudal end, its
cranial end proliferates to form a
primitive node

 The primitive groove and pit result

from the invagination (inward
movement) of epiblastic cells
 Fate of the Primitive Streak
The primitive streak actively
forms mesoderm by the
ingression of cells until the
early part of the fourth week;

The primitive streak

diminishes in relative
size and becomes an
insignificant structure
in the sacrococcygeal
region of the embryo
 FORMATION OF GERM LAYERS

 The cells of the epiblast move

toward the primitive streak and
slip beneath it, in a process
called "invagination".

 Upon arrival in the region of

the streak, they become flask-
shaped, detach from the
epiblast, and slip beneath it

 This inward movement is

known as invagination.
 Once the cells have invaginated,
some displace the hypoblast,
creating the embryonic endoderm,

 others come to lie between the

epiblast and newly created endoderm
to form mesoderm.

 Cells remaining in the epiblast then

form ectoderm

 Thus, the epiblast, through the

process of gastrulation, is the source
of all of the germ
 layers
DERIVATIVES OF GERM LAYERS
 ectoderm cells~ eventually they
develop into the skin and
nervous tissue of the animal

 endoderm cells ~develop into

the lining of the animal’s
digestive tract and into organs
associated with digestion.

 mesoderm cells ~develop into

the muscles, circulatory system,
excretory system, and, in some
animals, the respiratory system.
 Clinical Anatomy
 Sacrococcygeal Teratoma

 Remnants of the primitive

streak may persist and
give rise to a
sacrococcygeal teratoma

 Because they are derived

from pluripotent primitive
streak cells, these tumors
contain tissues derived
from all three germ layers
in incomplete stages of
differentiation.
Gastrulation itself may be disrupted by
genetic abnormalities and toxic insults

In caudal dysgenesis (sirenomelia)

insufficient mesoderm is formed in the
caudal-most region of the embryo

Situs inversus is a condition in which

transposition of the viscera in the thorax
and abdomen occurs.
 Notochord

Notochord is a rod
of mesenchymal
cells
 located in the

midline extending
cranially from the
primitive node to
the
buccopharyngeal
membrane
 Formation of Notochord
 Origin: Primitive node/pit
 Like the primitive streak, the
primitive pit cells proliferate and
then migrate cranially in the
midline, toward the
buccopharyngeal membrane, and
form a rod like notochordal
process

 The notochordal process

becomes canalized forming a
hollow tube, the notochordal
canal, which communicates with
the amniotic cavity at the
primitive pit.
 Formation of Notochord Contd
The floor of the tube
and the underlying
endoderm fuse and
then break down,
forming a
notochordal plate
The notochordal plate
becomes continuous
with the endodermal
layer.
A temporary
communication is
established
between the
amniotic cavity and
the yolk sac,
termed the
neurenteric canal.
 Notochordal plate folds to form the
notochord, which gets separated from the
underlying endoderm.
 Functions of Notochord

Defines primordial axis of the embryo

Provides rigidity to the embryo
Serves as a basis for the development of the
axial skeleton
Indicates the future site of the vertebral
bodies/column
 Regulates differentiation of surrounding
structures including the overlying ectoderm
and the mesoderm
 Fate of Notochord
Degenerates and
disappears as the
bodies of the
vertebrae develop
The part that lies
between the vertebral
bodies persists as the
nucleus pulposus of
each intervertebral
disc
Remnants of
notochordal tissue
give rise to tumors
called Chordomas
 The Neurulation

It is the process by which the neural tube is

formed. The stages of neurulation include the
formation of:
 Neural plate
 Neural groove
 Neural folds & their fusion
 Neural crest cells
 Neural tube
Begins during early part of the 4 th week (22-23
days)
Ends by the end of 4th week (27 days)
Is induced by the notochord
Under the inducing effect of
the developing
notochord, the
overlying ectodermal cells
thickens to form the neural
Plate
The neural plate first
appears:
Cranial to the
primitive node and
Dorsal to the
developing notochord
& the mesoderm
adjacent to it
As the notochord
forms & elongates:
The embryonic disc
elongates and
becomes club-shaped
The neural plate
broadens and extends
cranially as far as the
buccopharyngeal
membrane, and later
on grows beyond it
On 18th day: the
neural plate
invaginates to form
neural groove &
neural folds
Some neuroectodermal cells along the crest of the
neural fold differentiate as the neural crest cells.

Neural crest
cells
By the end of 3rd
week, the neural folds
move to the midline
and fuse to form the
neural tube

The fusion begins in

the future cervical
region and then
extends both in
cranial and caudal
direction
Following fusion of
the neural folds,
the neural crest
cells get separated
and move laterally
to form the sensory
neurons of the
spinal (dorsal root)
ganglia
 The neural tube separates from the surface
ectoderm, lies in the midline, dorsal to the notochord
Neural tube is open
at both ends,
communicating freely
with the amniotic
cavity.
The cranial opening,
the rostral neuropore
closes at about 25th
day & the caudal
neuropore closes at
about the 27th day
The cranial ⅓ of
the neural tube
represent the
future brain

The caudal ⅔
represents the
future spinal cord
 Congenital Anomalies of the Nervous
System

• Disturbance of neurulation may result in

severe abnormalities of the brain and the
spinal cord
• Most defects are the result of non-closure or
defective closure of the neural tube:
• In the brain region (e.g.
anencephaly)
• In the spinal cord regions (e.g.
spina bifida)
• High level of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) in the
amniotic fluid is a strong sign of neural tube
defects
 Neural Tube Derivatives

Central nervous system

Peripheral nervous system
Retina
Sensory epithelia of nose & ear
Pineal gland
Posterior lobe of the pituitary gland
 Neural Crest Cells Derivatives

 Sensory ganglia (cranial & spinal)

 Autonomic ganglia
 Meninges (Pia mater & Arachnoid mater) of the
brain & spinal cord
 Schwann cells
 Satellite cells
 Melanoblasts
 Suprarenal medulla (chromaffin cells)
 Several skeletal & muscular components in the
head (derived from pharyngeal arches)