NEURULACION

Species: Mouse
Day Gestation: 7
Approx.
Human Age: 16 Days
View: Section

Late in the second week of human gestation, the embryo has two cell layers, an epiblast and a hypoblast.
(The mouse embryo in the micrograph on the top has a more curved form at this stage than the human, as
shown in the diagram on the bottom)
Species: Mouse
Day Gestation: 7 Approx.
Human Age: 16 Days View:
Transverse cut

The epiblast cells at the caudal midline

(primitive streak) invaginate.
 
This process is termed gastrulation.
Species: Mouse
Day Gestation: 7 Approx.
Human Age: 16 Days
View: Section

Invagination of these cells results in formation of the mesoderm and

replacement of some of the hypoblast cells to produce the definitive
endoderm.
Species: Mouse
Day Gestation: 7
Approx.
Human Age: 17 Days
View: Dorsal

A cut through the embryo illustrates the

three germ layers: ectoderm (formerly
referred to as epiblast), mesoderm, and
endoderm.
A cut through the embryo illustrates the three germ
layers: ectoderm (formerly referred to as epiblast),
mesoderm, and endoderm.
This is a model of the mouse embryo at day 7, approximately
human day 17.
The mouse is more cup-shaped than the human at this stage.
Due to this shape, only half of the embryo is visualized in a
rostral view.
As in the model, a ventral view of the embryos' rostral (cranial) end is illustrated.

The cardiogenic (heart) region is rostral to the prechordal plate.

The prechordal plate is at the site of the developing oral cavity.

Species: Mouse
Day Gestation: 7 Approx.
Human Age: 17 Days
View: Ventral

A cut through the anterior end of the

embryo illustrates the three germ layers
Species: Mouse
Day Gestation: 7 Approx.
Human Age: 17 Days
View: Ventral

Note the ectoderm, the mesoderm, and the

embryonic endoderm.
The mesoderm in the ventral midline is the
notochordal plate.
In the rostral midline, the ectoderm and The notochord extends in the midline from the
endoderm are opposed. The endoderm in prechordal plate, caudally to the primitive
this location forms the prechordal plate. streak.
The ectoderm can be distinguished as neural ectoderm that comprises
the central nervous system, and surface ectoderm that will cover the
outside of the body.
The embryonic endoderm lines the developing gut.
 Rapid growth of the developing brain
produces more caudal and ventral
positioning of the cardiogenic region and
formation of the foregut.
The following animation will help to clarify
this movement.

Species: Mouse
Day Gestation: 8
Approx.
Human Age: 19 Days
View: Ventral
A sagittal cut through the cranial end of the
embryo is illustrated in the diagram.
As the neural cells proliferate and grow forward, the
cardiogenic area is folded over and the endoderm-lined
foregut is formed. 
In the diagram, and in the sagittally cut embryo note
the relative positions of the endodermally-lined foregut
cavity and the ectodermally-lined primitive oral cavity
(stomodeum).
Species: Mouse
Day Gestation: 8 Approx.
The ectoderm and endoderm are not shown directly opposed
Human Age: 19 Days because the embryo was cut slightly lateral to the midline
View: Sagittal Cut

The prechordal plate contributes to the tissues that separate the stomodeum
and foregut. This tissue is referred to as the buccopharyngeal membrane and
consists of ectoderm opposed to endoderm.
Species: Mouse Day
Gestation: 8 Approx.
Human Age: 19 Days
View: Sagittal Cut

At the caudal end of the embryo, the primitive streak

continues to form mesoderm.
 By the beginning of the 4th week of human development, a ventral view illustrates
several important structures:

The anterior-most aspect of the brain

Neurulation (forebrain, prosencephalon)

The heart (which is just beginning to beat)

The foregut region dorsal to the heart

Developing hindgut.

Species: Mouse
Day Gestation: 8
Approx.
Human Age: 22 Days
View: Ventral
 Neurulation

A dorsal view illustrates the

Midbrain (mesencephalon),

Hindbrain (rhombencephalon),
and Neural folds that remain
unfused.
Also note the region of the
Primitive streak.

Species: Mouse
Day Gestation: 8 Approx.
Human Age: 22 Days
View: Dorsal
 Form Chages and Neural Tube

Fusion of the neural folds is initiated at the future

upper cervical levels, progressing both rostrally
and caudally to form the neural tube.

Species: Mouse
Day Gestation: 8 Approx.
Human Age: 23 Days
View: Dorsal
 Form Chages and Neural Tube

A cut through the fusing neural folds illustrates

the continuity of the columnar neural ectoderm
and the squamous surface ectoderm.

Species: Mouse
Day Gestation: 8 Approx.
Human Age: 23 Days
View: Dorsal
 Form Chages and Neural Tube
Species: Mouse
Day Gestation: 8 Approx.
Human Age: 23 Days
View: Dorsal

Note the squamous (flat) surface ectodermal cells and the

columnar cells comprising the neural tube.
The structures of importance on the
dorsal surface of the embryo were
described earlier.

A Ventral view illustrates:

the stomodeum (primitive oral cavity),
the heart in the pericardial cavity,

the anterior intestinal portal leading to the

foregut,

and the posterior intestinal portal leading

to the hindgut.

Species: Mouse
Day Gestation: 8 Approx. Form Chages and Neural Tube
Human Age: 23 Days
View: Dorsal
Form Chages and Neural Tube

Cutting the embryo midsagittally

and turning it 90 degrees illustrates . . .

Species: Mouse
Day Gestation: 8 Approx.
Human Age: 23 Days
View: Lateral
 Form Chages and Neural Tube
. . . that the gastrulation process
is continuing.

Enlarging the boxed area allows

visualization of cells as they
migrate through the primitive
streak, adding to the caudal end
of the embryo.
Species: Mouse
Day Gestation: 8 Approx.
Human Age: 23 Days
View Sagital cut
 Form Chages and Neural Tube

The anterior neural folds close

during the later part of the 4th week
of human development.

Species: Mouse Day

Gestation: 9 Approx.
Human Age: 25 Days
View: Frontolateral
 Form Chages and Neural Tube

Frontal view illustrates the

closing anterior neuropore and

the stomodeum.
(the heart has been removed)

Species: Mouse Day

Gestation: 9 Approx.
Human Age: 25 Days
View: Frontal
 Form Chages and Neural Tube

At this stage, the embryo curves

ventrally, bringing the cranial and
caudal ends of the embryo close
together.
The ventral curvature and continued
growth result in narrowing of the
connection between the gut and the
yolk sac, forming the vitelline duct.
 Form Chages and Neural Tube

In this embryo the

Species: Mouse Day
vitelline duct was
Gestation: 9 Approx. cut when the embryo
Human Age: 25 Days was separated from
View: Frontolateral
the yolk sac.
Form Chages and Neural Tube

The posterior neuropore closes

about 2 days after the anterior
neuropore, when the embryo is
tightly curved ventrally

An upper limb bud is evident.

Species: Mouse
Day Gestation: 9
Human Age: 25 Days
View: Lateral
 Neural Crest

Species: Mouse Another early cell population, the neural crest

Day Gestation: 8 cells, that in addition to the three germ layers
Human Age: 22 Days (ectoderm, mesoderm, and endoderm,) play a
View: Transverse Cut
major role in development.
Neural crest cells form at the dorsal aspect of the
neural folds.
 Neural Crest

Following the closure of the trunk neural folds, the neural

crest cells leave the dorsal aspect of the neural tube.
 Neural Crest

The crest cells become mesenchymal (i.e.

they are loosely organized and fibroblastic
in appearance).
These are individual
neural crest cells
 Neural Crest Species: Mouse
Day Gestation: 8
Human Age: 22 Days
View: Transverse Cut

A cut through the cranial neural

folds shows that at cranial levels,
the neural crest cells begin to leave
the neural folds prior to neural tube
closure.