Neurulation
Neurulation is a fundamental process in early embryonic development, involving the formation of the neural tube. This structure eventually develops into the central nervous system, comprising the brain and spinal cord. Neurulation is a complex process that involves a series of coordinated morphological changes in the embryo.
Stages of Neurulation[edit | edit source]
Neurulation can be divided into two main stages: primary neurulation and secondary neurulation.
Primary Neurulation[edit | edit source]
Primary neurulation involves the formation of the neural tube from the neural plate, a thickened region of the ectoderm. The edges of the neural plate start to thicken and elevate to form the neural folds. The neural folds then converge and fuse to form the neural tube.
Secondary Neurulation[edit | edit source]
Secondary neurulation involves the formation of the neural tube from a solid cord of cells that sinks into the embryo and subsequently hollows out (cavitates) to form a tube.
Molecular Mechanisms of Neurulation[edit | edit source]
The process of neurulation is controlled by a complex interplay of gene expression, cell signaling, and morphogenetic movements. Key molecules involved in this process include Sonic hedgehog (Shh), bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs), and fibroblast growth factors (FGFs).
Clinical Significance[edit | edit source]
Abnormalities in neurulation can lead to severe congenital malformations, collectively referred to as neural tube defects (NTDs). These include conditions such as anencephaly, spina bifida, and encephalocele.
See Also[edit | edit source]
References[edit | edit source]
Neurulation Resources | ||
---|---|---|
|
|
Navigation: Wellness - Encyclopedia - Health topics - Disease Index - Drugs - World Directory - Gray's Anatomy - Keto diet - Recipes
Search WikiMD
Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound) available.
Advertise on WikiMD
WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.
Translate this page: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
தமிழ்,
తెలుగు,
Urdu,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
বাংলা
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
Greek,
português do Brasil,
polski,
română,
русский,
Nederlands,
norsk,
svenska,
suomi,
Italian
Middle Eastern & African
عربى,
Turkish,
Persian,
Hebrew,
Afrikaans,
isiZulu,
Kiswahili,
Other
Bulgarian,
Hungarian,
Czech,
Swedish,
മലയാളം,
मराठी,
ਪੰਜਾਬੀ,
ગુજરાતી,
Portuguese,
Ukrainian
Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD