DEVELOPMENT OF THE

NERVOUS SYSTEM
Presented by:

Dr. Sayat Quayum

MD- Phase A
Internal Medicine
 SECOND WEEK
Differentiation of the embryo into three germ
layers :
Ectoderm.
Mesoderm.
Endoderm.
The Ectoderm will form
(1) Central nervous system.
(2) Epidermis of Skin.
 THIRD WEEK

Neural Plate :
It is a dorsal midline thickening of the
ectoderm overlying the notochord
(Neuroectoderm) .
 THIRD WEEK
Neural Folds :
They are the elevated lateral margins of the
neural plate.
They are on each side of the longtudinal
midline (Neural Groove).
 NEURAL TUBE

It is formed from the apposition and fusion of

the neural folds which seal the neural groove
and create the tube.
 FOURTH WEEK

The neural tube is completed and transformed

into the adult CNS.
This growth is maximal at the rostral part which
becomes the brain.
The caudal portion becomes the spinal cord.
The axis of the neural tube (neuroaxis) is
straight.
 NEURAL CREST
They are separated cells from the apices of
the neural folds.
They are dorsolateral to the neural tube.
They give rise to :
Autonomic ganglia.
Sensory ganglia of spinal and cranial nerves.
Melanocytes.
Cells of supra renal medulla.
 DIFFERENTIATION OF BRAIN
5th week:
Three primary brain vesicles appear :
Fore brain (Prosencephalon).
Mid brain (Mesencephalon).
Hind brain (Rombencephalon).
 SEVENTH WEEK

Five secondary brain vesicles appear.

 PROSENCEPHALON

Is divided into :
Telencephalon.
Diencephalon.
 TELENCEPHALON

It is the largest brain vesicle.

It has the greatest degree of development.
It forms the two Cerebral Hemispheres.
 DIENCEPHALON

It is formed mainly of the Thalamus.

The Thalamus contains numerous groups of
neurons and is connected with the cerebral
cortex.
 ROMBENCEPHALON

Is divided into :
Metencephalon.
Mylencephalon.
 METENCEPHALON

It is differentiated into:
Pons .
Cerebellum.
MYELENCEPHALON

It will form :
The Medulla Oblongata.
 MESENCEPHALON

It remains undifferentiated.
It forms mid brain.
 VENTRICLES

The central cavity within the neural tube

becomes :
Ventricles of the brain and
Central canal of the spinal cord.
 DIFFERENTIATION OF SPINAL CORD

The Grey matter is located centrally around the

central canal.
The White matter forms the outer coat.
 DIFFERENTIATION OF SPINAL CORD
Sulcus Limitans :
It is a longtudinal groove along the
inner surface of the lateral walls of the
developing spinal cord.
It differentiates the grouping of cells
(gray matter) into dorsal (Alar) plate
and a ventral (Basal) plate.
 DIFFERENTIATION OF SPINAL CORD

The Alar plate is predominantly sensory in

function.
The Basal plate is predominantly motor in
function.
 FLEXURES

The neuraxis is bent by two flexures :

Cephalic ( Mid brain) flexure at the junction
of the fore and mid brains.

Cervical flexure :
Between the brain and spinal cord .
 PONTINE FLEXURE

It is the third flexure that appears between

the metencephalon and the myelencephalon.
 BRAIN CENTERS
They consist of :
Bilateral paired centers for the senses of :
Smell, Vision, Hearing and
A symmetrical midline Vestibular center for
the maintenance of equilibrium.
 BRAIN CENTERS

They start to appear as expansions from the

dorsal aspect of the simple tubular brain.
They are composed of an outer cortex of nerve
cells with underlying core of nerve fibers.
 BRAIN CENTERS
The centers for vision and hearing are
represented by the four colliculi (superior &
inferior).
The motor center near the caudal end of the
brain will be in the cerebellum.
PITUITARY GLAND
Develop from two complete different parts
Anecdodermal Rathkes pouch
Downward extension of diencephalon, Infundibulam
DEVELOPMENT OF PNS
All sensory cells of PNS (e.g. dorsal root ganglia, trigeminal
ganglia) are derived from neural crest cells.
Peripheral sensory cells are at first bipolar, then they
differentiate into unipolar cells (except the sensory cells in
the ganglion of CN VIII)

Multipolar cells in the autonomic ganglia derives from

neural crest
cells.

Satellite cells derives from neural crest cells.

The connective tissue around the ganglion cells are derived

from mesenchyme.
DEVELOPMENT OF SPINAL NERVES

As the limb buds grow, the axons from spinal cord

segments (multipolar neurons derived from basal
plate) elongate and grow into the limb (end of 4th
week).

Sensory neurons give extensions to form spinal

nerves as well.

Connective tissue sheaths of the peripheral nerves

are derived from mesenchyme.
CRANIAL NERVES
AUTONOMIC NERVOUS SYSTEM:
Sympathetic nervous system:
The preganglionic fibres arise from the intermediate horn of the T1 to L3
segments of the cord.

Sympathetic trunks originate from the neural crest cell. Sympathetic

ganglia also from the neural crest cells.
Parasympathetic system:
Neurons in the brain stem and the sacral segments of the cord give rise to
preganglionic parasympathetic fibers.
Fibers from the nuclei in the brain stem travel via the 3rd, 7th, 9th and 10th
nerve. Post ganglionic fibers arises from the neurons derived from neural
crest cells.
THANK YOU