The Nervous System

SMS 1084
Dr. Mohanad R. Alwan

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 Stages and Time Frames

• Ovum
• Zygote
• Morula
• Blastocyst
• Embryo
• Fetus

(Oh, Zee my baby eats fast)

 Stages of fertilization

(1) 12-30 hours – first cell division

(2) 3 days – division continues until a solid ball is formed
(3) 5 days – continue to divide, but cells move toward
outer edge of blastocyst
(4) 6 days – cells begin to move inward
(5) 8 days – beginning of embryonic disc & zygote
becomes attached to the uterus
(6) 14 days – zygote is completely attached to the uterus
and embryonic disc is fully formed
 Implantation

First weeks of human development:

Blastocyst embedded in endometrium.
 Embryonic stage (14 days – 8 weeks):
 Begins at the full formation of embryonic disc:
i. Mesoderm: contains chemical signals for various areas
of nervous system; directs formation
ii. Endoderm: forms everything else
iii. Ectoderm: forms nervous system (brain), fingernails,
hair, and skin. Changes:
1. Thickens in the middle (neural plate)
2. Groove starts to form (neural groove)
3. Groove closes to form tube (neural tube)
a. At the top of canal is neural crest, forms PNS
• Similar in all "Amniotes"
– Blastoderm over yolk sac
– three "germ layers"
• Ectoderm ("outside skin")
• Mesoderm ("middle skin")
• Endoderm ("inner skin")

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 Nervous System Development

• 1) At 18 days after conception the embryo begins to

implant in the uterine wall. It consists of 3 layers of
cells: endoderm, mesoderm, and ectoderm.
Thickening of the ectoderm leads to the development
of the neural plate (inserts).
• 2) The neural groove begins to develop at 20 days.

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 Nervous System Development

 Develops from Ectoderm

– Rising of neural folds
– Sinking of neural plate
forms neural groove
– Folds fuse to complete
neural tube

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 Nervous System Development

• Again………………
• Neural tube forms CNS
(esp. spinal cord)
• Expands anteriorly to form
brain
• Peripheral nerves develop
from lateral "neural crest"
cells

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 Nervous System Development

• 3. At 22 days the neural groove closes along the

length of the embryo making a tube.
• 4.A few days later 4 major divisions of the brain are
observable – the:
• Telencephalon,
• Diencephalon,
• Mesencephalon, and
• Rhombencephalon.

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Nervous System Development in the Human
Embryo
Ectoderm to Neuroectoderm: 20 days to 30
days
 Expansion of Brain

• Primary
– Forebrain
– Midbrain
– Hindbrain

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 Expansion of Brain

Secondary
– Forebrain
• Telencephalon
• Diencephalon
– Midbrain
• remains just midbrain
– Hindbrain
• Cerebellum
• Brain stem

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Then further differentiation into 5 secondary vesicles:


 Expansion of Brain

Final development
– Telencephalon = cerebrum
– Diencephalon = thalamus + hypothalamus
– Cerebellum
– Brain stem = Midbrain + pons + medulla
oblongata

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Expansion of Brain
Expansion of Brain
 Expansion of Brain
24-hr Chick
22-23 days pf Human
23-26 days of Human
 Differentiation of the Neural Tube

 Histological changes
1. Neural tube initially a single layer of cells: germinal
epithelium
2. Cells are called neural stem cells
• Neurons
• Glial Cells: Myelin sheath
 Origin of PNS Cells
 From neural tube:
– All motor neurons of somatic nervous system
– Preganglionic neurons of autonomic system
 From neural crest:
– Sensory nerves and associated ganglia
– Postganglionic neurons of autonomic system
 Neural Crest Cells
• Induced by organizing cells of notochord
• Main functional groups:
– Cranial neural crest:
• Bones and connective tissue of face
• Tooth primordia
• Thymus, parathyroid, thyroid glands
• Sensory cranial neurons
• Parasympathetic ganglia and nerves
• Parts of the heart (cardiac neural crest)
 Neural Crest Cells
• Main functional groups:
– Trunk neural crest:
• Melanocytes
• Sensory neurons
• Sympathetic ganglia and nerves
• Medulla of adrenal glands
 Differentiation of Neurons
• Within nerve tube:
– Dorsal Interneurons
– Ventral Motor neurons
 Differentiation of Neurons
• Motor neurons:
– Tissues they innervate depends on:
– Anterior-posterior location along the nerve tube
– When the cells were “born”
Fetal Period: Two Months to Birth (38 weeks)
 Fetal Period
• Foundation for the entire CNS is set
• 6 stages of CNS development complete the
prenatal process
Six Stages of Nervous System Development
 1. Mitosis (cell division) or Neurogenesis in the
ventricular zone, One cell division can lead to a daughter
cell, will divide again forming an immature neuron

2. Migration: cells move from VZ to their destination;

this migration is aided by glial cells, abnormal migration
found in a number of disorders
• Abnormalities in migration are presentin people with
learning disabilities, schizophrenia and autism (more on
this in a little while)
3. Differentiation: The Process which gives rise to
specific neurons and glial cells

4. Synaptogenesis: Neuronal maturation

1. Elongation of axons (w/growth cones)
2. Establish terminals
3. Elongation of dendrites
4. Expression of NT
Neurotrophic factors – stimulate cell growth, i.e.
nerve growth, factor helps neuron to mature.
5. Normal cell death (more on this later)
- Apotosis – active cell death during
development
- Necrosis – passive cell death due to injury

6. Synaptic rearrangement: dependent on

apotosis and experience!!!!
Cellular Development of the Postnatal Brain

Cells of the Cerebral Cortex

 Brain Development Occurs in Waves through
Age 21

• Temporal
• Parietal
• Limbic
• Frontal
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