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Embryonic Period (Weeks 3-8)

Gastrulation

Gastrulation is the conversion of the epiblast from a bilaminar disc into a trilaminar embryonic disc consisting of ectoderm, mesoderm, and endoderm. Gastrulation begins with the formation of the primitive streak.

Primitive Streak

The primitive streak is a linear band of thickened epiblast that first appears at the caudal end of the embryo and grows cranially. At the cranial end its cells proliferate to form the primitive knot (primitive node).  With the appearance of the primitive streak it is possible to distinguish cranial (primitive knot) and caudal (primitive streak) ends of the embryo.

Figure 3 - Primitive streak and notochord

Notochordal Process

Mesenchymal cells migrate from the primitive knot to form a midline cellular cord known as the notochordal process.  The notochordal process grows cranially until it reaches the prechordal plate, the future site of the mouth.  In this area the ectoderm is attached directly to the endoderm without intervening mesoderm.  This area is known as the oropharyngeal membrane, and it will break down to become the mouth.  At the other end of the primitive streak the ectoderm is also fused directly to the endoderm; this is known as the cloacal membrane (proctodeum), or primordial anus.

Notochord

The notochord is a cellular chord that develops by transformation of the notochordal process.  The notochord will eventually become the nucleus pulposis of each intervertebral disk.

Germ layers

The embryonic three germ layers give rise to the many tissues and organs of the embryo:

Table 6 - Embryonic Germ Layers and Their Adult Derivatives

Germ Layer

Adult Derivatives

Ectoderm

Surface ectoderm

Lens of eye

Adenohypophysis (anterior pituitary gland)

Utricle, semicircular ducts, and vestibular ganglion of CN VIII

Epithelial lining of external auditory meatus

Olfactory placode, including CN I

Epithelial lining of: anterior two thirds of tongue, the hard palate, sides of the mouth, ameloblasts, and parotid glands and ducts

Mammary glands

Epithelial lining of lower anal canal

Epithelial lining of distal penile urethra

Epidermis, hair, nails, sweat and cutaneous sebaceous glands

 

Neuroectoderm

All neurons within the CNS

All glial (supporting) cells within the CNS

Retina

Pineal gland

Neurohypophysis (posterior pituitary gland)

 

Neural crest

Postganglionic sympathetic neurons within the sympathetic chain ganglia and prevertebral ganglia

Postganglionic parasympathetic neurons within the ciliary, pterygopalatine, submandibular, otic, enteric ganglia, and ganglia of the abdominal and pelvic cavities

Sensory neurons within the dorsal root ganglia, Schwann cells

Pia mater and arachnoid membrane

Chromaffin cells of the adrenal medulla

Melanocytes

Bony structures of the face and neck: Maxilla, zygomatic bone, palatine bone, vomer, mandible, hard palate, incus, malleus, stapes, sphenomandibular ligament, styloid process, stylohyoid ligament, hyoid bone, frontal bone, parietal bond, sphenoid bone, and ethmoid bone

Odontoblasts

Aorticopulmonary septum

Parafollicular cells of thyroid

Dilator and sphincter pupillae muscles

Ciliary muscle

Carotid body

Mesoderm

Paraxial mesoderm

Skeletal muscles of trunk

Skeletal muscles of limbs

Skeletal muscles of head and neck

Extraocular muscles

Intrinsic muscles of tongue

Vertebrae and ribs

Cranial bone

Dermis

Dura mater

 

Intermediate mesoderm

Kidneys

Testes and ovaries

Genital ducts and accessory sex glands

 

Lateral mesoderm

Sternum, clavicle, scapula, pelvis, and bones of the limbs

Serous membranes of body cavities

Lamina propria, muscularis mucosae, submucosa, muscularis externae, and adventitia of the gastrointestinal tract

Blood cells, microglia, Kupffer cells

Cardiovascular system

Lymphatic system

Spleen

Suprarenal cortex

Laryngeal cartilages

Endoderm

 

Epithelial lining of the auditory tube and middle ear cavity

Epithelial lining of the posterior third of the tongue, floor of the mouth, palatoglossal and palatopharyngeal folds, soft palate, crypts of the palatine tonsil, and sublingual and submandibular glands and ducts

Principal and oxyphil cells of the parathyroid glands

Epithelial reticular cells and thymic corpuscles

Thyroid follicular cells

Epithelial lining and glands of the trachea, bronchi, and lungs

Epithelial lining of the gastrointestinal tract

Hepatocytes and epithelial lining of the biliary tree

Acinar cells, islet cells, and the epithelial lining of the pancreatic ducts

Epithelial lining of the urinary bladder

Epithelial lining of the vagina

Epithelial lining of the female urethra and most of the male urethra

Development of Somites

As the notochord and neural tube form, the mesoderm alongside them forms longitudinal columns called paraxial mesoderm.  These columns divide into paired cubical bodies called somites.  The somites develop in pairs; the first pair develops near the cranial end of the notochord around the end of the third week.  Additional pairs of somites develop in a caudal direction from days 20 to 30 (period of somite development) and the number of somites is sometimes used as a criterion for determining an embryo’s age.  The somites give rise to most of the axial skeleton (vertebral column, ribs, sternum, and skull base) and associated musculature, as well as to the adjacent dermis.

 

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