Embryology Tutor

Nervous System and Special Senses Lesson

© 1995
by
Thomas F. Fletcher, DVM, PhD
Department of Veterinary Biology
University of Minnesota
St.Paul MN 55108

Note: This lesson has the same content as Neuroembryology , an independent rendition of the lesson.

Contents:
         Lesson Objectives
         Lesson Content Outline
         Student Evaluations
         Platform requirements
         Download instructions

Lesson Objectives:

• Beginning with ectoderm, list the chain of cell types that give rise to neurons and glial cells.
• Describe how mantle and marginal layers of the neural tube give rise to gray matter and white matter of the spinal cord, cerebellum, and cerebrum.
• List origins of major components of the brain, in terms of the five primary divisions and three vesicles of the cranial end of the neural tube.
• Understand how neuronal migrations enable neuron populations to establish connections and the fate of neurons that fail to connect.
• Describe the developmental destiny of the cavity of the neural tube.
• Describe the formation of meninges.
• Describe the morphogenic development of retina and optic nerve and the origin of other components of the eye and adnexia.
• List embryonic origins of inner, middle, and outer components of the ear.

Detailed Outline of Lesson Content:

I. Neurulation (neural tube & neural crest formation)
A. Morphogenesis: neural plate —> groove —> tube & crest
B. Cellular differentiation:
• neuroectoderm: neuroepithelium & neural crest:
a) neuroblasts; glioblasts; etc.
C. Histology of the neural tube:
• Layers: ependymal, mantle, & marginal; also,
roof plate & floor plate
alar plate — sulcus limitans — basal plate

II. Central Nervous System (derived from neural tube)
A. Spinal cord
1] Spinal cord morphology
— gray matter derived from mantle layer
— white matter derived from marginal layer
— central canal derived from neural cavity
2] Spinal cord enlargements development
B. Brain
• brain vesicles and ventricular system
a) Hindbrain
Cerebellum
— nerve cell migrations
b) Midbrain
c) Forebrain (diencephalon & telecephalon)
Diencephalon
Telencephalon
— nerve cell migrations

III. Peripheral Nervous System

IV. Sense Organs (Special Senses)
A. Eye
— retina & lens
— optic nerve
— fibrous and vascular layers
B. Ear
C. Taste Buds
D. Olfaction

V. Formation of Meninges

Student Evaluations:

Platform Requirements:

      Embryology Tutor 0.9.8 is a HyperCard stand-alone application. Minimal requirements are a Macintosh computer with a 9-in. black & white screen and 2 MB of RAM available to run the application. Disc size is 4.5 MB (including all lessons).

Download Instructions:

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