HEART EMBROLOGY

DEVELOPMENT OF HEART TUBE

• heart is at first seen in the form of right and left endothelial heart tubes
• that soon fuse with each other.

• The single tube thus formed shows a series of dilatations

These are:
• Bulbus cordis
• primitive ventricle
• primitive atrium
• Sinus venosus.

• The atrium and ventricle are in communication through atrioventricular canal (AV canal).
 Formation of Interatrial Septum
• atrial chamber undergoes division into right and left halves by formation of two septa (that later fuse)

Appearance of septum primum

• fourth week
• sickle-shaped crest grows from the roof of the common atrium into the lumen.
• This crest forms septum primum
• septum extend toward the endocardial cushions in the atrioventricular canal

Appearance of ostium primum

• opening between the lower rim of the septum primum and the endocardial cushions is the ostium primum
• endocardial cushions grow along the edge of the septum primum, closing the ostium primum
Formation of Interatrial Septum
Appearance of septum secundum:
• As lumen of the right atrium expands
• new crescent-shaped fold appears- septum secundum

Appearance of foramen ovale

• Ostium secondum never forms a complete partition in the atrial cavity
• free concave edge of the septum secundum begins to overlap the ostium secundum
• The opening left by the septum secundum is called the foramen ovale
Development of ventricles
The right and left ventricles are formed by
• partitioning of primitive ventricle
• and incorporation of bulbus cordis.

Bulbus Cordis
is the cranial most part (arterial end) of the developing heart tube.
divisible into three parts, i.e. proximal, middle and distal.
proximal one-third is dilated and does not have any special name
the middle one-third is called the conus, and the
distal one-third is called the truncus arteriosus
Development of ventricles
• The proximal one-third of the bulbus cordis merges with the cavity of the primitive ventricle and
forms the bulboventricular chamber/cavity
• It takes part in forming the trabeculated part of the right ventricle

• The middle part (conus cordis) forms the outflow part of both the ventricles.

• Two septa are formed in relation to the walls of this part.

• They are the proximal and distal bulbar septa.
• The proximal bulbar septum contributes for the formation of interventricular septum
• The distal part (truncus arteriosus) undergoes division by spiral aortopulmonary septum into
ascending aorta and plumonary trunk.