DEVELOPMENT OF THE CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM

-Consists of the brain and spinal cord -Derived from the neural tube

Review of the development of the neural tube

Review of the development of the neural tube

The rostral end remain open for sometime and is called the cranial neuropore The caudal end remains open for sometime and is called the caudal neuropore The cranial portion enlarges and gives rise to the brain The middle and caudal portions remain narrow and give rise to the spinal cord

Review of the development of the neural tube

The neural folds fuse, forming the portion of the neural tube that will be the brain and the spinal cord.

Parts of the neural tube

1. 2. Lumen- neural canal Wall- composed of three layers: a. Germinal layer or ventricular zones- innermost layer that lies adjacent ot the neural canal - Consists of mitotically active neuroepithelial cells which will become the neuroblast (immature neurons) or spongioblasts (immature neuroglial cells)

Parts of the neural tube

b. Mantle or intermediate zonecontains cell bodies of neuroblasts and spongioblasts c. Marginal layercontains axons (process) of neuroblasts

Parts of the neural tube

The cells of the neural tube form three layers, a ventricular layer of undifferentiated, proliferating cells, a mantle layer of differentiating neurons that will form the gray matter of the spinal cord, and a marginal layer that contains nerve fibers and will be the white matter.

 The dorsal portion of the neural tube is termed the alar plate and forms the sensory area; the ventral portion is termed the basal plate and forms the motor area of the spinal cord.

 Once the neural tube is closed on both extremes, the cavity that is formed inside the tube is surrounded by ependymal cells, the cells that will give rise to the different types of neurons of the CNS, whereas the cells of the outer portion of the tube will give rise to all other types of cells. This cavity will eventually form the ventricles of the encephalon and the central canal of the spinal cord.

A cut through the recently closed cranial neural tube illustrates the forebrain (prosencephalon), midbrain (mesencephalon), and hindbrain (rhombencephalon).

 This is the neural tube early in development. At this time, only three bulges of the neural tube are present, dividing the neurocoele (the fluid filled space within the neural tube) in to three vesicles. Hence, this stage of neural tube development is known as the "three vesicle" stage. To create the 5 vesicles, the basic pattern of the adult brain, the prosencephalon will divide into two vesicles - the telencephalon and the diencephalon - as the rhombencephalon will also divide into two vesicles - the metencephalon and the myelencephalon.

THE FIVE-VESICLE STAGE

Here we see the neural tube a little later in the chick's development. This stage is called the "five vesicle" stage, as the neurocoele is divided into five vesicles along its midline (and two lateral ventricles bulging out to the side, but they're counted with the telencephalon).

Summary Of The Developmental Sequence of Brain Regions Three-vesicle stage Five-vesicle stage Brain region Prosencephalon Telencephalon Cerebral hemisphere Diencephalon Diencephalon Optic nerve and retina Mesencephalon Mesencephalon Mesencephalon Rhombencephalon Metencephalon Pons Cerebellum Myelencephalon Medulla oblongata

 The prosencephalon has two subdivisions, the telencephalon: that will form the cerebral hemispheres, and the diencephalon: that will form optic and thalamic tissues and other structures.

Adult fates of the telencephalon

A. Lateral telencephalic vesicles>> cerebral hemispheres i. dorsal wall>> cerebral cortex ii. ventral wall>> rhinencephalon (olfactory bulb, olfactory tract and pyriform lobe) iii. Germinal layer>> ependymal lining of ventricles 1 and 2 iv. Mantle layer>> gray matter of cerebrum and corpus striatum v. Marginal layer>> white matter of cerebrum

Adult fates of the diencephalon

Roof>> anterior choroid plexus; ventricles 1, 2, 3 Epiphysis>> pineal gland Infundibulum>> neurohypophysis of pituitary gland Optic vesicle>> retina of eye Dorsolateral wall>> thalamus Lateral wall>> massa intermedia Ventral wall>> optic chiasma and optic tracts Diocoele>> ventricle 3

 Development of the diencephalon also entails formation of the hypothalamus and thalamus.

Infundibulum>> Neurohypophysis
The hypophysis or pituitary gland is derived, in part from an ectodermal outpocketing of the stomodeum (Rathke's Pouch) and in part from the floor of the diencephalon (infundibulum.)

 The adenohypophysis (anterior lobe) is derived from Rathke's Pouch and the neurohypophysis (pars nervosa) is derived from the infundibulum.

MESENCEPHALON
The mesencephalon is not subdivided, while the rhombencephalon is divided into the metencephalon: and the myelencephalon: In the rhombencephalon, subsegments termed rhombomeres are apparent, as is the thin layer of cells at the dorsal-most aspect of this brain region.

Adult fates of the Mesencephalon

Dorsolateral wall>> corpora quadrigemina Mesocoele>> cerebral aqueduct Ventrolateral wall>> cerebral peduncle

Adult fates of the Metencephalon

Dorsolateral wall>> cerebellum Ventral wall>> pons and cerebellar peduncles Metacoele>> ventricle 4 Roof>> anterior choroid plexus of ventricle 4

 The tissue of the metencephalon will form the cerebellum and the pons. The alar and basal plates of the myelencephalon are also evident.

 A dorsal view of the hindbrain, following removal of the thin roof of the fourth ventricle, illustrates the cerebellar plate.

 A cut through the myelencephalon illustrates the thin roof plate as well as the alar and basal plate regions, all of which surround the lumen, which at this level forms the fourth ventricle of the brain.

Adult fates of the Myelencephalon

Wall>> medulla oblongata Myelocoele>> ventricle 4 Roof>> posterior choroid plexus of ventricle 4

 By the beginning of the fetal period, the cerebellar plate begins to acquire differentiated cell types. A higher magnification view illustrates . . .

 . . . the relationship of the cerebellar plate to the choroid plexus which is evident, projecting into the roof of the fourth ventricle.

 The rostral-most portion of the prosencephalon, the telencephalon, expands posteriorly and laterally as the cerebral hemispheres.

 A cut through the forebrain at the level of the line illustrates....

. . . the expanding cerebral hemispheres surrounding the lateral ventricles; the third ventricle; hypothalamus; infundibulum; and corpus striatum.

 With further expansion, the cerebral hemispheres cover the lateral aspect of the diencephalon, mesencephalon and the rostral portion of the metencephalon.

The Development of the Spinal Cord

The spinal cord (as with the brain) develops from the neural tube. The early neural tube is composed of a single layer of pseudostratified columnar epithelium. As the neural tube develops, this single layer differentiates to from three distinct layers which make up the mature spinal cord. Proliferation and differentiation of the neuroepithelial cells (the initial pseudostratified columnar cells) causes a second layer of cells to form around the outside of the initial columnar cells. This second layer of cells consists of neurons and neuroglial cells and is called the mantle or intermediate layer. It is this layer, rich in cell bodies, that makes up the grey matter of the spinal cord.

The Development of the Spinal Cord

The neurons in the mantle layer then send out axonal processes, which comprise the third layer, called the marginal layer. Since the axonal processes are myelinated by neuroglial cells called oligodendrocytes in the adult, the axonal processes appear white in gross anatomical section (myelin is largely composed of fat). As a result, this layer containing many axonal processes is called the white matter of the spinal cord. Note that the initial layer of cells has remained epithelial in nature, lining the neurocoele, and is now called the ependymal layer. The neurocoele will eventually regress to the small central canal of the adult spinal cord..

The Development of the Spinal Cord

After all is said and done, the three layers which form the spinal cord are (from inside to out): the ependymal layer, the mantle (intermediate) layer and the marginal layer

The central canal, sitting in the centre of the cord lined by ependymal cells, is the adult remnant of the neurocoele. The grey matter is the H-shaped area surrounding the central canal. It, in turn, is surrounded by the white matter. The grey matter is composed of nerve cell bodies and their dendrites, the supporting neuroglial cells and unmyelinated axons. The white matter is composed primarily of bundles of myelinated axons. The ventral white matter columns generally carry motor impulses down from the brain, whereas the dorsal columns generally carry sensory information to the brain. The lateral columns do both. Note that the grey matter is divided into dorsal and ventral "horns" (the ends of the H). The dorsal horns contains sensory neurons which carry sensory information from the body, whereas the ventral horns contain large motor neurons which relay motor signals to the body. The commissures (from the Latin, commissura, meaning, "a joining together") are where the two halves of the spinal cord connect to one another. The grey matter has a dorsal and ventral commissure, whereas the white matter has only a ventral commissure. It is through these that a nerve impulse can cross to the other side of the body.

Malformation of the brain

1. Cerebellar hypoplasia and atrophyfailure of the cerebellum to develop due to destruction of the cerebellar cortex. 2. Cerebellar abiotrophy- premature degeneration of Purkinje cell layer of cerebellar cortex

Malformation of the brain

3. Hydrocephalus- accumulation of excessive amount of CSF in the cranial cavity 4. Hydrancephaly- thin walled and greatly enlarged lateral vesicle.

Malformations of the spinal cord

1. Myelodysplasia- general term for a malformation of the spinal cord. Originates during neurula stage
a. Hypoplasia- reduced or absence of devt of one or more segments of the spinal cord b. Hydromyelia- dilation of central canal due excess accumulation of CSF c. Syringomyelia- abnormal cavitation of the spinal

Malformation of the spinal cord

d. Diplomyelia- 2 spinal cords develop beside each other usu.in one set or meniges and in one vertebral canal e. Diastomyelia- 2 spinal cords develop with a partition between them. Usually in separate vertebral canals and have separate meninges

Malformation of the spinal cord

Malformation of the spinal cord

2. Myeloschisis- cleft in the neural tube by failure of this part to close during neurulation 3. Meningocoele- protrusion of the meninges through an opening in the vertebral arches to form a cyst beneath the skin 4. Meningomyelocoele- like meningocoele but both the meniges and the spinal cord protrude.