24-hour chick embryo

24 hour chick embryo

through head fold and subcephalic space

In this more caudal section, the continuity of the neural folds are evident. The outer layer of the head fold (also called the head
process) is composed of ectoderm. Below the head fold note the subcephalic space, a layer of ectoderm, and a layer of endoderm.

through head fold, foregut, and notochord

At this level, sectioning has now reached the notochord. The notochord is evident ventral to the neural folds. Ventral to the notochord,
the foregut appears as a smile-shaped cavity delimited by thin endodermally derived walls. Note that the mid portion of the floor of
the foregut is slightly thickened. Below this region is a region of slightly thickened ectoderm. This region is the oral plate which will
become perforated at a later date to form the mouth. Below the head fold is the subcephalic space and extraembryonic germ layers.
Note the proamnion (ectoderm and endoderm) below the head fold. Lateral to the proamnion, layers of mesoderm are visible between
the ectoderm and endoderm. The cavity that is evident between the layers of mesoderm is the coelom.

through anterior intestinal portal

In this section, note that the neural folds have come together to form the neural tube. This section is also at the level of the open
foregut. Note that the endoderm of the foregut is continuous with the rest of the endoderm. The opening of the closed foregut is called
the anterior intestinal portal. Examine the thickened, splanchnic mesoderm on each side of the anterior intestinal portal. This region of
thickened, splanchnic mesoderm is prospective cardiac mesoderm.

through somites
In this section through a pair of somites, the neural folds have not yet closed together. The somites developed from dorsal mesoderm
(D) and are located on each side of the neural folds and notochord. Lateral and adjacent to the somites is a small region of mesoderm
known as the intermediate mesoderm (I). The intermediate mesoderm will develop into the kidneys. Lateral to the intermediate
mesoderm, is the lateral plate mesoderm (L) which will delaminate to form the somatic and splanchnic mesodermal layers.

through anterior tip of head fold

In this section, the anterior tip of the head fold can be seen. The portions that are visible at this level are portions of the neural folds.
Recall that the neural folds form from a thickened region of dorsal ectoderm by a process called neurulation. The neural folds will fuse
to form the neural tube, the forerunner of the brain and spinal cord. Below the neural folds, a space is evident. This space is called the
subcephalic space or pocket. Below the subcephalic space is a region consisting of a layer of ectoderm and a layer of endoderm. This
region is called the proamnion.

through region of Hensen's node

The level of sectioning has now reached Hensen's node, the cephalic end of the primitive streak. Hensen's node is the functional
equivalent to the dorsal lip of the blastopore in the amphibian embryo.

through primitive streak

In the centre of the photograph, note the primitive streak which consists of the primitive groove and the two primitive ridges. Note the
ectoderm, mesoderm, and endoderm. This photograph is the last in the series. Note that there are 35 more sections to reach THE
CAUDAL END OF THIS EMBRYO.
33 HOUR CHICK EMBRYO
through head at level of prosencephalon and optic vesicles
In this more caudal section, the optic vesicles are seen as lateral bulges of the prosencephalon. The optic vesicles are the
forerunners of the retinal portions of the eyes. Note the close proximity of the optic vesicles to the overlying head ectoderm.
The optic vesicles will induce this overlying ectoderm to thicken, invaginate, and form the lens vesicles.

The extraembryonic germ layers are evident below the developing head. Note that the mesoderm does not extend into the
region below the head fold. This region, known as the proamnion, consists of a layer of ectoderm underlain with a layer of
endoderm. The lack of mesoderm at this stage makes this region very pale staining in whole mounts. The proamnion is a
region that will eventually be overgrown and disappear.

through head at level of mesencephalon, notochord, foregut, and oral plate

At this level, sectioning has now reached the notochord. The notochord is evident ventral to the mesencephalon (midbrain).
Ventral to the notochord, the foregut appears as a smile-shaped cavity delimited by thin endodermally derived walls. Note that
the mid portion of the floor of the foregut is slightly thickened. Below this region is a region of slightly thickened ectoderm.
This region is the oral plate which will become perforated at a later date to form the mouth. Below the head fold is the
subcephalic space and extraembryonic germ layers.

through rhombencephalon, foregut, and heart

This section is posterior to the head fold. Note the absence of the subcephalic space. The portions of the embryo that will
become part of the body of the embryo are continuous with the portions that will form the extraembryonic membranes. Note
the rhombencephalon (hindbrain), notochord, and foregut. Ventral to the foregut, observe the anterior portion of the
developing heart.

through rhombencephalon, foregut, and vitelline veins

Sectioning has now reached the posterior portion of the heart where the heart bifurcates into the vitelline veins. The vitelline
veins (= omphalomesenteric veins) bring blood from the yolk sac to the posterior portion of the heart.

through rhombencephalon, anterior intestinal portal, and vitelline veins

This section is posterior to the heart at the level of the anterior intestinal portal. Note that the endoderm of the foregut is
continuous with the extraembryonic endoderm. The vitelline veins are located on each side of the anterior intestinal portal.

through spinal cord and fourth pair of somites

Recall that somites are discrete blocks of tissue arising from dorsal mesoderm. The somites will develop into the vertebrae and
body muscles, and will contribute cells to the dermis of the skin.

through neural folds

Note the flat appearance of the embryo in this section. At this level, the formation of the neural tube has not been completed
and the neural folds are evident. Note the notochord and the layers of ectoderm, mesoderm, and endoderm.

through Hensen's node

The level of sectioning has now reached Hensen's node, the cephalic (=anterior) end of the primitive streak. Hensen's node is
homologous to the dorsal lip of the blastopore in the amphibian embryo. Review the significance of these structures.

through primitive streak

In the centre of the photograph, the primitive streak which consists of the primitive groove bordered on each side by the
primitive ridges is visible. Note the ectoderm, mesoderm, and endoderm. This photograph is the last in the series. Sixty-two
more sections were required to reach THE CAUDAL END OF THIS EMBRYO.