EMBRYOLOGY

Development of Nervous system

BY
Dr HEMANT JOSHI
 FORE BRAIN (Prosencephalon)

Cerebral hemisphere
• The prosencephalon is
subdivided into the
telencephalon and the
diencephalon.
• The telencephalon forms two
lateral vesicles which gives origin
to the cerebral cortex and
corpus stratum on either side.
• The diencephalon forms thalmus
and hypothalamus.
•
• The telencephalic vesicles, which were small at
the beginning expands rapidly in all directions
and extend forward, upward and backward
and therefore they cover the dorsal and lateral
aspects of diencephalon.
• The visicles come in close apposition and each
of them assumes an oval outline with a convex
supero-lateral surface and a flat medial
surface.
 FORE BRAIN (Prosencephalon)

• A longitudinal cleft separates the medial

surfaces of both the vesicles.
• The bottom of the cleft forms the roof of the
third ventricle which subsequently forms the
corpus callosum.
• The falx cerebri is derived from the
mesodermal tissue which occupies the cleft
between the growing telencephalic vesicles.
 FORE BRAIN (Prosencephalon)

• The cavities of the telencephalic vesicles form lateral ventricles

and the cavity of the diencephalic vesicle forms the third
ventricle.
• Initially the wall of the vesicles were composed of cell layers
which were similar to that of neural tube: i.e. inner ependymal
zone, intermediate mantle zone and outer marginal zone.
•  At the bottom of the cleft which forms the roof plate of 3rd
ventricle invaginations occurs bilaterally into the cavity of the
lateral ventricles. These are known as chanced fissures.
• The wall of the fissure is very thin and comprises of a single layer
of ependymal cells and a layer of vascular mesenchyme outside.
 FORE BRAIN (Prosencephalon)

• A fold of piamater which extends into the fissure forms

tela-chroida.
• Choroid plexus is formed by appearance of a bunch of
capillaries within the fold.
• Thus both the tela choroida remain in close association
with the lateral ventricles and to the roof of the third
ventricle.
• The primitive lateral ventricles elongates forward and
back ward. The posterior end of each cavity grows
downward and forward to form the inferior horn.
 FORE BRAIN (Prosencephalon)

• Due to such growth the

temporal lobe is developed at
the periphery. The occipital pole
is developed due to backward
growth of the cavities.
• The Thelamus and
Hypothalamus are derived from
the diencephalon.
• The lateral walls of the
diencephalon-become thickened
and each of them partially
divides into three regions by
appearance of two grooves.
• The upper small swelling forms the
epithalamus.
• The middle large one forms the thalamus and
the lower one forms the hypothalamus.
• The cells of the mantle zone of the thalamus
and hypothalamus multiply to form various
nuclei in these structures.
• The corpus striatum is formed by the
thickening of the basal part of the
telencephalic vesicles.
• In the meantime the cerebral cortex grows by
the migration of the cells of the mantle zone of
the basal part into the marginal zone.
• Numerous axons from the growing cerebral
cortex pass downward through the region of
corpus striatum and divide it into a medial part
and a lateral part.
• These axons form the internal capsule.
• The caudate nucleus is developed from the medial part and the lenticular nucleus is derived
from the lateral part of the corpus striatum.
• Subsequently the lenticular nucleus is divided into globus pallidus and putamen.
• The cerebral cortex is developed by the migration of the cells of the mantle zene into the
outer marginal zone.
• They multiply rapidly and considerable thickening of ne cortex takes place. This development
is considered into three regions - Hippocampal cortex. (ii) Pyriform cortex and (iii) Neocortex
• The hippocampal cortex is developed from the medial wall of the telencephalic vesicle and remains in close association with choroid
fissure.
• Due to elongsion of the posterior part of the lateral ventricle and formation of the horn, the hippocambal cortex also develop a curve
and therefore it possesses a superior and a inferior part.
• In the meantime the corpus callosum is formed and the superior part of the hippocampal cortex becomes separated from the choroid
fissure.
• This part becomes rudimentary.
• The inferior part develops to form hippocampus and dentate gyrus.
 MID BRAIN (Mesencephalon)

• The aquiduct is formed by the cavity of the mesencephalon.

• The mantle zone of the thick walled of mesencephalon is subdivided by
the sulcus limitans into a dorsal Alar lamina and a ventral Basal lamina.
• The Alar lamina forms the superior colliculus and inferior colliculus.
• It is believed that the red nucleus and substantia nigra are also
developed from the alar lamina.
• The Basal lamina gives rise to occulomotor nucleus, trochlear nucleus a
Edinger westphal nucleus.
• The basis of the formation of cerebral pudencles is the invasion of
cortico-spinal.
• cortico-bulbar and cortico pontine fibers into the marginal zone of basal
lamina.
• The Pyriform cortex is developed in the marginal zone superficial to
corpus striatum; it forms uncus, anterior perforated space and
anterior part of parahippocampal gyrus.
• The Neocortex is developed in the superolateral region of the
telencephalic vesicle.
• It forms the major part of the cerebral cortex and expands
tremendously.
• Due to this rappid expansion of the cortical tissue, folds appear on the
surface which leads to the development of gyri and sulei.
• The white matter of the cerebrum is formed by the axons of the
cortical cells of same or opposite hemisphere and by the axons which
connect different components of the brain, brain stem and spinal cord.
• Commissures of the brain connect wide area
of two cerebral hemispheres grow across the
lamina terminalis, situated at the median
plane.
• The wall which closes the anterior end of the
neural tube is known as lamina terminalis.
• The anterior commisure which connects the
olfactory tracts and hoppocampal gyri of two
sides is developed at the ventral part of
lamina terminalis.
• The fornix system which connects the
hipporampus with mamillary body is placed
at the dorsal aspect and the corpus callosum
which connects wide areas of the neocortex
of both the sides, develops at the dorsal most
part of the lamina terminalis.
 HIND BRAIN (Rhombencephalon)

• The hind brain

(Rhombencephalon) is
subdivided into
metencepholon and
mylencephalon.
• The metencephalon
forms the pons and
cerebellum and the
mylencephalon forms
the medulla oblongata.
 HIND BRAIN (Rhombencephalon)

• Medulla oblongata
1. At the early stage the development of this part of CNS is similar to
that of spinal cord as it's lateral wall also divides into a dorsal or
alar lamina and a ventral or basal lamina by the sulcus limitans.
2. At first it becomes dorso-lateral and later becomes ventrolateral
in position. The roof-plate of the myelencephalon comprises of a
single layer of ependymal cells which is covered outside by
vascular mesenchyme.
3. These two layers jointly form telachorida.
4. Choroid capillary plexus develops in the tela-choroida and projects
in the roof as choroid plexus of 4th ventricle.
 HIND BRAIN (Rhombencephalon)

5. The ependymal roof of the 4th ventricle

bulges outwards and finally ruptures to form a
central perforation -- the foramen of
Magendie and two bilaterally placed
perforations -- the foramina of Luschka.
6. The cells of the alar lamina develop vestibular
nucleus, olivary nucleus, nucleus of tractus
solitarius (which receives taste sensation) and
part of dorsal nucleus of vagus.
 HIND BRAIN (Rhombencephalon)

7. The nucleus Gracialis and nucleus cuneatus

persist in the cells of the basal lamina.
8. Inferior salivary nucleus, hypoglossal nucleus,
nucleus ambiguus and part of dorsal nucleus of
vagus are also developed in the basal lamina.
9. The white matter of mylencephalon is
composed of ascending and descending tracts
and by the fibers of cells which are forming
nuclei in this part of CNS.
 Cerebellum

• Two Rhombic lips develop in the alar lamina bilaterally on either side of the roof plate. These lips form the
primordium of cerebellum.
• Some cells of the lip proliferate on the roof of 4th ventricle and other cells grow outside.
• These lips approach each other and meet at the middle. Thus a dumb-bell shaped primitive cerebellum is
developed.
• Later the middle constricted part forms the vermis and bilateral expanded parts form lateral lobes.
 Cerebellum
• Eventually a number of fissures appear on the dorsal
surface of the developing cerebellum and divide it to form
various folia.
• At first flocculo-nodular lobe is formed at the posterior
aspect. This is known as archi cerebellum. The
archicerebellum is phylogenitically oldest part of
cerebellum and this part is only present in aquatic
vertebrates. It establishes connection with vestibular
nucleus.
• Gradually other fissures appear one by one and in the next
sequences uvula and pyramid are developed.
• The  anterior lobe, uvula and pyramid form Paleo
cerebellum. It establishes connections with spinal cord to
regulate tone and posture of limbs and phylogenitically.
first appear in terrestrial vertebrates.
• The remaining parts of the cerebellum form Neo-
cerebellium which establishes connection with cerebrum.
It helps in co-ordination of voluntary movement of the
body so that skilful movement is made. This is
phylogenitically present in higher vertebrates.
 Cerebellum

• As the development progresses the

neuroblasts migrate from the mantle zone to
the marginal zone. They proliferate and
differentiate to form Purkinje cells, Golgi cells,
basket cells, granule cells, etc. The neuroblast
of the mantle zone which do not migrate
outside, forms various nuclei (dentate,
emboliformis, fastigi and globosus).
 Pons
• It is developed at the ventral part of
metencephalon.
• It forms pontine nucleus on getting
contribution from alar lamina of
myelencephalon.
• It forms middle cerebellar peduucles by
the axons of the cells of pontine nucleus
which extend in transverse direction.
• As in the medulla, the alar lamina of
metencephalon is also situated
ventrolaterally.
• The alar lamina forms the nuclei of 8th
and sensory component of Sth cranial
nerve.
• The basal lamina forms motor nuclei of
Sth. 6th and 7th cranial ner.es as well as
superior salivary nucleus.
 Spinal cord

• It is developed from the

neural tube caudal to the
brain vesicles.
• At the begining it is short but
gradually increases in length
with the clongation of
vertebral column.
• The wall of the tube
possesses as usual three
zones - inner cpendymal
zone, middle mantle zone and
the outer marginal zone.
 Spinal cord

• The cells on the mantle zone proliferate

fast and the wall become thickned. With
the appearances of sulcus limitans at the
lateral aspect of the lumen of the tube
the lateral wall of the growing spinal cord
divides into a dorsal alar lamina and a
ventral basal lamina.
• The wall of the roof and the floor become
comparatively thinner. At this stage the
central canal appears to be diamond
shaped in cross section. 
• The alar lamina of both sides grows
medially, and obliterate the dorsal part of
the central canal. The median septum is
formed at the same time.
 Spinal cord

• The basal lamine grows ventro laterally and a

ventral median groove is formed. Later this
groove is occupied by the ventral spinal artery.
• The dimond shaped canal is reduced and
become triangular in out ling Development of
the mantle layer of alar lamina gives rise to the
dorsal horns of grey matter and similar
development of basal lamina forms the ventral
horns of grey matter.
• The neuroblasts of the dorsal horns form the
sensory neurons of second order and the
neuroblasts of ventral horn differentiate into
motor neurons.
• The cells of the mantle layer close to sulcus
limitans grow to form lateral horn of grey
matter. These neuroblasts are differentiated to
form preganglionic neurons of sympathetic
system of Autonomic nervous system.
 Spinal cord

• The central processes of the axons of the

dorsal root ganglionic cells (derived from
neural crest) form dorsal root and the axons of
the ventral horn cells grow out tó form ventral
root. 
• The white matter of the spinal cord is formed
by the-axons pass through the marginal zone.
These axons form ascending and descending
tracts.
• With the development of gray matter the
white matter is also divided into dorsal
column, lateral column and ventral column.
• At first the spinal cord grow at the same speed
to that of vertebral column. Latter the
vertebral column increases more and the
caudal end of the cord terminates at the level
of 2nd to 3rd sacral vertebra.