Last edited: 9/11/2021

1. DEVELOPMENT OF THE MUSCULAR SYSTEM

Development of the Muscular System Medical Editor: Jan Camille Santico

OUTLINE II) INFERIOR HYOID, TRUNK, AND GIRDLES

I) HEAD AND NECK Recall: The paraxial mesoderm undergoes segmentation

II) INFERIOR HYOID, TRUNK, AND GIRDLES to form somites flanking the neural tube
III) LIMBS o Three somites are formed each day until there are 44-
IV) MUSCLE FORMATION 45 somites by the 5th week of development
V) REVIEW QUESTIONS o A cavity within the somites (somitocele) forms
VI) REFRENCES
The somitocele continues to expand, dividing into a
Note: It is recommended that you watch the video on the
dorsal and ventral portion
“Development of the Skeletal System” before this.
o Dorsal: dermatomyotome
I) HEAD AND NECK  Dermatome – forms the dermis
 Myotome – forms muscle
Visualize a sagittal section through the primitive pharynx o Ventral: sclerotome – forms bones and cartilage
Along the cranial end of the embryo is the o Syndetome – a layer between the myotome and
buccopharyngeal membrane sclerotome which develops into tendons
o Fusing of the ectoderm and endoderm layers
(A) TRUNK
The pharynx forms vesiculations, forming the pharyngeal
apparatus, which has three layers: The sclerotome wraps around the neural tube to form the
o Outer layer: Ectoderm bony casing of the spinal cord and thoracic cage:
o Core: Mesoderm o Vertebrae
o Inner layer: Endoderm o Intervertebral discs
o Ribs
The mesoderm within the 1st – 4th and 6th arches undergo
a differentiation process to form the muscles of the head The myotome is further split into:
and suprahyoid muscles o Dorsal/Medial
The muscles each have their own innervation  Forms the muscles of the back
 Epiaxial muscles
o Ventral/Lateral
 Forms the muscles of the trunk and limbs
 Hypaxial muscles

Figure 1. Development of the Pharyngeal Arches

Table 1. Muscles derived from the Pharyngeal Arches
Pharyngeal Nerve Supply
Muscle Derivatives
Arch
Muscles of mastication CN V
o Temporalis (Trigeminal
o Masseter nerve)
1st o Pterygoids
Mylohyoid
Digastric (anterior belly)
Tensor veli palatini
Muscles of facial expression CN VII
Stylohyoid (Facial nerve)
2nd Figure 2. Development of the Somites
Digastric (posterior belly)
Stapedius
CN IX
3rd Stylopharyngeus (Glossopharyngeal
nerve)
Levator veli palatini CN X
Pharyngeal constrictor (Vagus nerve)
4 and 6
th th
muscles
Laryngeal muscles

Development of the Muscular System EMBRYOLOGY: Note #1. 1 of 3

 (B) EPIAXIAL MUSCLES III) LIMBS
These muscles are derived from the dorsal/medial portion
Recall: The limbs are initially start as ectodermal
of the myotome
outpouchings called limb buds
The epiaxial muscles surround the base of the skull and
o The following genes induce limb bud formation and
the vertebrae, all the way down to the pelvic girdle
dictate their position:
The back muscles include:
 Hox
o Erector spinae
 TBx4
o Multifidi muscles
 TBx5
o Semispinalis capitis
 FGF 10
o Suboccipital muscles
The somatic mesoderm (from lateral plate mesoderm)
(C) HYPAXIAL MUSCLES migrate to the limb buds to form the limb skeleton
These muscles are derived from the ventral/lateral portion o The apical ectodermal ridge (AER) drives the
of the myotome proximal to distal formation of the limb skeleton
The hypaxial muscles form the: The syndetome migrates to the limb buds to form the
o Trunk muscles tendons
 Diaphragm The myotome migrates to the limb buds to form the
 Intercostal muscles muscles
 Serratus anterior and posterior o Initially, the myotome forms nonspecific chunks of
 Abdominal muscles muscle
o Limbs o Eventually, the chunks differentiate based on their
 Upper limb muscles anatomical position (anterior, posterior)
 Lower limb muscles o The embryological structures lead to functional
o Infrahyoid muscles/ “strap” muscles differences (See Table 2)
 Scalene  For example, the anterior condensation forms the
flexor and pronator muscles of the upper limbs
The dermatome migrates to the limb buds to form the
dermis and subcutaneous tissue

Table 2. Muscles of the Limbs

Condensation Upper Limbs Lower Limbs
Extensors
Anterior Flexors Dorsiflexors
Pronators Adductors
Flexors
Posterior Extensors Plantar flexors
Supinators Abductors

Figure 3. Development of the Epiaxial and Hypaxial

Muscles

Figure 4. Development of the Limb Muscles

2 of 3 EMBRYOLOGY: Note #1. Development of the Muscular System

 IV) MUSCLE FORMATION V) REVIEW QUESTIONS

Muscles generally come from the mesoderm 1) The muscles of facial expression develop from which
The epithelial mesoderm cells transition into pharyngeal arch?
mesenchymal cells a) 1st
The mesenchymal cells transform to myoblasts b) 2nd
c) 3rd
d) 4th
These muscle cells need genes to differentiate: 2) The following structures are derived from the 4th
o The first gene to be activated is the Pax gene pharyngeal arch EXCEPT:
o Pax gene is activated a) Stylopharyngeus
b) Pharyngeal constrictor muscles
c) Laryngeal muscles
These genes are necessary for the production of proteins d) Levator veli palatini
which make muscle cells phenotypically different 3) Which of the following muscles is derived from the
dorsal/medial portion of the myotome?
a) Semispinalis capitis
b) Serratus anterior
c) Scalene
d) Transversus abdominus
4) Which of the following statements is FALSE?
a) The anterior condensation gives rise to the flexor
muscles of the upper limbs
b) The anterior condensation gives rise to the
dorsiflexors of the lower limbs
c) The posterior condensation gives rise to the
adductor muscles of the lower limbs
d) The posterior condensation gives rise to the
Figure 5. Muscle Formation
supinator muscles of the upper limbs
5) Which gene is crucial for the production of muscle-
specific proteins?
a) Hox
b) Sox9
c) TBx4
d) Pax

CHECK YOUR ANSWERS

VI) REFRENCES

Development of the Muscular System EMBRYOLOGY: Note #1. 3 of 3