Folding of embryo

4th week a significant event

Folding convert flat trilaminar disc to cylindrical
embryo

Both longitudinal and transverse planes
simultaneously

Due to rapid growth of CNS and somites
Folding of embryo

Longitudinal folding : rapid growth of neural tube

4th week neural tube grow rapidly in cranial and form brain

As grow head region project over prechordal plate/
buccopharyngeal membrane

Ends of trilaminar germ disc folds ventrally and produce head and
tail folds

Beginning of 4th week, neural tube in cranial region grows very
rapidly.

It thickens to form primordium of brain

As embryo grows head rigion projects over prochordal plate/
buccopharyngeal membrane/ future site of stomodeum

Initially, (day 18) developing brain projects dorsally into
amniotic cavity.

Prochordal plate is anterior to developing neural tube and
cloacal plate is posterior to neural tube.

The connecting stalk along with allantois is posterior to cloacal
membrane.

Developing heart tube is inferior to pericardial cavity.

Septum transversum is anterior to pericardial cavity.

22nd developing forebrain grows cranially beyond
buccopharyngeal membrane and overhangs developing
heart

Septum transversum (transverse mesodermal septum),
primordial heart, pericardial cavity& buccopharyngeal
or oropharyngeal membrane move onto ventral surface
of the embryo

A small foregut and hindgut has developed

Buccopharyngeal membrane is vertical (ectoderm is
anterior, endoderm is posterior)

Pericardial cavity is now inferior to heart tube

Septum transversum is posterior to heart tube and
pericardial cavity.

Cloacal membrane is vertical

Connecting stalk and allantois has gone inferior to
hindgut but they are directed posteriorly

Buccopharyngeal /oropharyngeal membrane and cloacal
membrane have completed 180 degree turns (ectoderm is inferior
and endoderm is superior)

Rotation is more in tail fold than head fold

Foregut and hindgut have elongated

The connecting stalk and allantois are now directed (project)
inferiorly/ventrally.

The constriction of yolk sac is now obvious

Oropharyngeal and cloacal membranes have rotated more
and now facing each other.

The yolk sac has further constricted

Midgut is now clear but still connected to yolk sac
through narrow canal called vitelline duct.

Connecting stalk along with allantois has gone nearer to
vitelline duct and associated splanchnic mesoderm.

During longitudinal folding, part of the endoderm of the
yolk sac is incorporated into the embryo as the foregut and
hindgut.

The foregut lies between brain and heart

Oropharyngeal membrane separates foregut from
stomodeum

The terminal part of the hindgut soon dilates slightly
to form cloaca (primordium of urinary bladder &
rectum)

After folding, septum transversum lies caudal to the heart
& develops into the central tendon of the diaphragm.

Before folding, the primitive streak lies cranial to the
cloacal membrane; after folding, it lies caudal to it

After folding connecting stalk and vitelline duct
join each other and finally form umbilical cord

The folding also affects the arrangement of the embryonic
coelom (primordium of body cavities).

Before folding, the coelom is a flattened, horseshoe- shaped
single continuous cavity.

After folding, the coelom has become divided into
thoracic and abdominal cavity

Thoracic (pericardial) and abdominal (peritoneal)
cavities communicate each other through pleuropericardial
canals
 Transverse folding

Flat germinal disc also folds in horizontal or transverse

direction.

Right and left lateral edges of trilaminar germ disc not only
grow laterally but also move ventrally and finally medially to
meet in midline

As the lateral edges of embryonic disc grow they form
right and left lateral folds

Transverse folding is produced by the rapidly growing somites and
neural tube.

The primordium of the ventrolateral wall grows laterally, ventrally
and medially towards the median plane, rolling the edges of the
embryonic disc and forming a roughly cylindrical embryo.

By the middle of 3rd week (day 17) a flat trilaminar germinal disc
has formed

Development of paraxial mesoderm and formation of somites is
mainly responsible for transverse folding of embryo.

As the paraxial mesoderm starts developing the ectoderm is raised
bilaterally and neural groove forms between these bilateral ridges.

Paraxial mesoderm later forms somites.

The formation of somites and neural tube further raises surface
ectoderm dorsally.

By the day-19 paraxial mesoderm has formed

The neural groove is visible

The ectoderm shows bilateral ridges

In the lateral plate of mesoderm small spaces have started
developing.

Day-20. Somites have started forming

They are thickening and raising folds of developing neural
tube.

Lateral plate mesoderm has become divided into somatic
and splanchnic mesoderms. Intra-embryonic coelom has
formed

It is communicating with extra- embryonic coelom.

Day-21. intra-embryonic coelom is well
developed now. The somites are more thickened.
The embryo is assuming a globular form

Day-22. Somites have further enlarged. Neural
tube has formed. Intra-embryonic coelom is wide.
The yolk sac is decreasing in size. Embryo is more
globular in shape

Day-25. The blue amnion is almost surrounding the developing
embryo. The yellow yolk sac is constricted and going to be divided
into intra-embryonic and extra-embryonic parts

Initially, there is a wide connection between the midgut and yolk
sac but after lateral folding the connection is reduced to a yolk stalk.

Intra-embryonic coelom and extra-embryonic coeloms still
communicating.

Day-28. The right and left growing edges of amnion
have merged with each other.

The right and left edges of surface ectoderm and parietal
mesoderm have joined each other.

Intra-embryonic coelom is now within the body of
embryo

As the abdominal walls form, part of the endoderm germ
layer is incorporated into the embryo as the midgut.

Midgut is suspended to the dorsal body wall by dorsal
mesentery.

As a result of longitudinal and transverse folding the area of
attachment of the amnion to the ventral surface of the embryo is
reduced to a relatively narrow umbilical region.

Connecting stalk and vitelline duct join and form umbilical cord.

The amnion surrounds the umbilical cord from all sides.

Fourth Week • Major changes in body form occur during the fourth
week.

At the beginning, the embryo (2.0 to 3.5 mm long) is almost
straight and has 9 pairs of somites that produce conspicuous surface
elevations

The fourth pair of pharyngeal arches and the lower limb buds are
visible by the end of the fourth week.

End of fourth week, an attenuated tail is a characteristic feature.

Rudiments of many of the organ systems, especially the
cardiovascular system, are established.

End of fourth week caudal neuropore is closed.

Forebrain produces a prominent elevation of head, and folding of
embryo has given embryo characteristic C-shaped curvature.

A long, curved tail is present.

Upper limb buds become recognizable by day 26 or 27 as small
swellings on the ventrolateral body walls

Otic pits, primordial of internal ears, are also visible.

Lens placodes are visible on the sides of the head
Today class assignment
1. Describe the longitudinal folding of embryo.
2. Describe the transverse folding of embryo.
Submit the assignment at sanjaybikmc@gmail.com