Development of the Vertebrae

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Formation of Mesenchymal Vertebral Column

Formation of Cartilaginous Vertebral Column

Ossification of Vertebral Column

 Migration

of Sclerotome

The cell of the sclerotomes migrate ventromedially to surround the spinal cord and notochord

 Differentiation

of Sclerotomic Segment

Formation of
Cephalic part (Less condensed) Caudal Part (more condensed)

[Segmentation is associated with the gradient expression of Homeobox/Hox genes which in turn is altered by (a.)mutation and/or (b.)action of retinoic acid]

 Development

of the Intervertebral disc and the body (centrum) of the vertebrae

Formed due to the ventralizing inductive effect of the

notochord.
(Mediated by the expression of Pax-1 gene)

1) Intervertebral Disc Medial Mesenchymal cells of the sclerotome segment fill the space between two precartilaginous vertebral bodies.

Notochord - undergoes mucoid degeneration

Formation of : nucleus pulposus annulus fibrosus.

2) Body (Centrum) of the Vertebrae Remaining caudal condensed part of each sclerotomic segment joins the cephalic less condensed part of the sclerotomic segment caudal to it to form the mesenchymal centrum, the primordium of the body of a vertebrae. The notochord degenerates and disappears.

Development of the Neural Arch

>Sclerotomic tissue migrates backwards from both sides of the centrum of the vertebrae to surround the neural tube

>The neural spine forms at the point of meeting of the neural arch, posteriorly
>Sclerotomic tissue extends laterally from both sides of the centrum to form two processes:
Costal process (ventrally) Transverse process (dorsally)

Time of appearance of the Chondrification centers

centers of chondrification in each centrum appear; Fuse together at the end of embryonic period (8th week) form cartilaginous centrum Centers of chondrification appear in neural arches and fuse with each other and centrum

Chondrification spreads until a cartilaginous vertebral column is formed

Conversion of the Cartilaginous vertebral column into true bones Composed of two Stages

Primary Ossification center (Development: at the end of

the 8th week of embryonic period) Secondary Ossification center (Development: at the time of puberty)

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Formation of ventral extension of the sclerotomic mesenchyme Chondrification Process

Ossification process

Derived from sclerotomic mesenchyme that forms the vertebral arches Lie ventral to the mesenchymal basis of the transverse processes

Thoracic region of the entire extension (primitive costal arch) undergoes chondrification; cartilage formation.

Conversion of the cartilage model in to true bones

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Mesenchyme cells Chondrification Process (Cartilage)/Direct Ossification Process (Membrane) Ossification Process of Cartilaginous regions (Endochondral Ossification)

Derived from mesenchyme cells surrounding the brain (mostly neural crest cells) Structures contributing in skull formation

Occipital somites Otic and Nasal Capsule Mandibular and Maxillary Processes

Subdivisions of the Skull

Neurocranium (surrounding the brain) Viscerocranium (surrounding the oral cavity, pharynx, and upper

respiratory tract)

Skull Formation
Direct ossification (in Membrane) Endochondral (in Cartilage) Partly Membrane, Partly Cartilage

Bones that Completely Formed in Membrane: (Direct ossification process)

1)Frontal and parietal bones are formed in relation to mesenchyme covering the developing brain. 2)The maxilla (excluding the premaxilla), zygomatic and palatine bones, and part of the temporal bones are formed by intramembranous ossification of the mesenchyme of the maxillary process. 3)The nasal, lacrimal and vomer bones are ossified in membrane covering the nasal bone.

Bones that are Completely Formed in Cartilage (Endochondral Ossification)

1)The ethmoid bone and the inferior nasal concha are derived from the cartilage of the nasal capsule 2)The septal and alar cartilages of the nose represent parts of the capsule that do not undergo direct ossification 3)Hyoid bone Smaller cornu of hyoid bone and Superior part of body of hyoid bone 2nd Arch derivatives. Greater cornu of hyoid bone and lower part of the body of hyoid bone 3rd arch derivatives.

Bones that are Partly Formed in Cartilage and Partly in Membrane

1)Occipital bone- Interparietal part is formed in membrane, the rest is formed by endochondral ossification 2)Sphenoid- The lateral part of the greater wing and the pterygoid laminae are formed in membrane; the rest is cartilage bone. 3)Temporal bone- The squamous and tympanic parts are formed in membrane. The petrous and mastoid parts are formed by ossification of the otic capsule. The styloid process (2nd branchial arch cartilage).

4.Mandible- Most of the bone is formed in membrane in the mesenchyme of the mandibular process. The ventral part of Meckels cartilage gets embedded in the bone. The condylar and coronoid processes are ossified from secondary cartilages that appear in these situations.