Before We Are Born

Answers to Clinically Oriented Questions

Chapter 1 1 Health-care professionals are expected to give intelligent answers to the questions people ask, such as, “When does the baby's heart start to beat?” “When does it move its limbs?” “When is the embryo most at risk for…

The Cellular and Molecular Basis of Development

During embryonic development, undifferentiated precursor cells differentiate and organize into the complex structures found in functional adult tissues. This process requires cells to integrate many different cues, both intrinsic and extrinsic, for development to occur properly. These cues control the…

Human Birth Defects

Birth defects (anomalies) are developmental disorders present at birth. As a global problem, it has been estimated that annually almost 8 million children worldwide are born with a serious birth defect. Birth defects are the leading cause of infant mortality…

Integumentary System

The integumentary system consists of the skin and its appendages: sweat glands, nails, hairs, sebaceous glands, and arrector muscles of hairs. The system also includes the mammary glands and teeth. Development of Skin and Appendages The skin, the outer protective…

Development of Eyes and Ears

Development of Eyes and Related Structures 17 The eyes are derived from four sources: Neuroectoderm of brain Surface ectoderm of head Mesoderm between the above layers Neural crest cells of the prosencephalon and mesencephalon Early eye development results from a…

Nervous System

The nervous system consists of three main regions: The central nervous system (CNS), which includes the brain and spinal cord and is protected by the cranium and vertebral column The peripheral nervous system (PNS), which includes the neurons outside the…

Musculoskeletal System

Skeletal System As the notochord and neural tube form in the third week, the intraembryonic mesoderm lateral to these structures thickens to form two longitudinal columns of paraxial mesoderm ( Fig. 15.1 A and B ). Toward the end of…

Cardiovascular System

The cardiovascular system is the first major system to function in the embryo. The primordial heart and vascular system appear in the middle of the third week ( Fig. 14.1 ). The heart begins to beat at approximately day 22…

Urogenital System

The urogenital system is divided functionally into the urinary system and genital system . Both systems are closely associated, especially during their early stages of development. The urogenital system develops from the intermediate mesenchyme (embryonic connective tissue in the mesoderm)…

Alimentary System

The alimentary system (digestive system) extends from the mouth to the anus with all its associative glands and organs. The primordial gut (earliest stage of development) forms during the fourth week as the head, caudal eminence (tail), and lateral folds…