Development of

Nervous System
Reporters: Bascos, Christine
Sarmiento, Allana Rose
Objectives:

Describe and understand the development

of the nervous system.
Know the different nervous systems in
animals other than human beings.
 What is Nervous system?
 The nervous system
consists of the brain,
spinal cord, sensory
organs, and all of the
nerves that connect
these organs with the
rest of the body.
Together, these
organs are
responsible for the
control of the body
and communication
among its parts.
 Evolution of the Nervous System

 Many scientists and thinkers (Cajal, 1937; Crick

& Koch, 1990; Edelman, 2004) believe that the
human nervous system is the most complex
machine known to man. Its complexity points to
one undeniable fact—that it has evolved
slowly over time from simpler forms.
Evolution of the nervous system is intriguing not
because we can marvel at this complicated
biological structure, but it is fascinating because
it inherits a lineage of a long history of many less
complex nervous systems.
Terms:
 Neurolation- process of nervous tissue begins to differentiate and
the basic pattern of the vertebrates to emerge.
 neural plate- ectodermal cells overlaying the notochord become tall
columnar, producing a thickened neural plate (in contrast to
surrounding ectoderm that produces epidermis of skin).
 neural groove- the transformed neural plate.
 neural crest- ridge of one of the folds forming the neural tube and
the origin of PNS.
 neural tube- the dorsal margins of the neural groove merge
medially, forming a neural tube composed of columnar
neuroepithelial cells surrounding a neural cavity and the origin of
CNS.
 neurospores- opening at each end during early embryonic
development leading from central canal of the neural tube to the
exterior.
Neurulation
Shaping (neural
plate induction)
Elongation and
folding of neural
plate to form
neural groove

Elevation of
neural
groove (its
begin to full)

Convergence(neural Closure (closing

Figure 1.1
groove meets and some
of neuropores)
neural plate cells
detached from the tube to
form neural crest).
 The skin and neural
tissue arise from a
single layer, known as
the ectoderm.
 In response to signals
provided by an
adjacent layer, known
as the mesoderm.
 A number of molecules
interact to determine
whether the ectoderm
becomes neural tissue
or develops in another
way to become skin.
Figure 1.2
 1. Median hinge point forms
(probably due to signaling from
notochord) –columnar cells adopt
triangular morphology (apical actin
constriction, like a purse string)
2. Lateral hinge point forms by a
similar mechanism (probably due
to signaling from nearby
mesoderm).
3. As neural folds close, neural crest
delaminates and migrates away
(more on that later…)
4. Closure happens first in middle of
the tube and then zips rostrally
and caudally.

Figure 1.3
 Neurulation:folding and closure of the neural plate

 Folding and closure of the neural

tube occurs first in the cervical
region.
 The neural tube then “zips” up
toward the head and toward the
tail, leaving two openings which
are the anterior and posterior
neuropores.
 The neural tube then “zips” up
toward the head and toward the
tail, leaving two openings which
are the anterior and posterior
neuropores.
 The posterior neuropore closes
around day 28.

Figure 1.4
 Failure of neuropores to close can cause neural
tube defects

Figure 2 Examples of neural tube defects

Anencephaly Spina bifida
Figure 2.1.1
 Neural cell categories
After the ectodermal tissue has acquired
its neural fate, another series of signaling
interactions determine the type of neural
cell to which it gives rise.
The mature nervous system contains a
vast array of cell types, which can be
divided into two main categories:
the neurons, primarily responsible for
signaling,
and supporting cells called glial cells.
 • As the brain develops, neurons migrate from
the inner surface to form the outer layers.
Left: Immature neurons use fibers from cells
called glia as highways to carry them to their
destinations. Right: A single neuron, shown
about 2,500 times its actual size, moves on
a glial fiber. (10-6 m/hr)
• They undergo mitotic division in the
following manner:
— the nucleus (and perikaryon) moves away
from the neural cavity for interphase (DNA
synthesis);
— the nucleus moves toward the neural
cavity and the cell becomes spherical and
looses its connection to the outer surface of
the neural tube for mitosis; this inward-
outward nuclear movement is repeated at
each cell division.
• Improper migration leads to diseases
including childhood epilepsy, mental
retardation, lack of sense of smell and
possibly others.

Illustration by Lydia Kibiuk, Copyright © 1995 Lydia

Kibiuk.

Figure 3. Migration of Neurons

Figure 4. Mitotic division
 Development of PNS and CNS

Figure 5
 Spinal cord development

 the neural cavity becomes central canal lined by

ependymal cells;
 growth of alar and basal plates, but not roof and
floor plates, results in symmetrical right and left
halves separated by a ventral median fissure
and a dorsal median fissure (or septum);
 the mantle layer develops into gray matter.
 Spinal Cord Developmment

Figure 6
Closure of neural tube: begin at end of week 3, complete by end of week 4. Extends
cranially (eventually brain) and caudally (spinal cord)

Neural crest, lateral ectodermal cells, pulled along and form sensory nerve cells and
other stucture

The migrating cells differentiate chondroplates and produce a series of cartiloginous

blocks that surround the notochord. These cartilages which will develop into the
vertebral centra are separated by patches of messenchyme
 Brain Development

 The human brain and nervous system begin to

develop at three weeks’ gestation as the closing
neural tube (left). By four weeks, major regions
of the human brain can be recognized in
primitive form, including the forebrain, midbrain,
hindbrain, and optic vesicle (from which the eye
develops). Irregular ridges, or convolutions, are
clearly seen by six months.
Figure 7. Brain Development
Flow chart of Brain Development
Figure 8
 Brain Weight

Figure 9
The top graph on the left shows the brain
weights of males and females at different
ages. The bottom graph shows the brain
weight to total body weight ratio
(expressed as a percentage). The adult
brain makes up about 2% of the total body
weight.
References:

 A.S. and Sadowsky, D., Changes in brain weights during

the span of human life: relation of brain weights to body
heights and body weights, Ann. Neurology, 4:345-356,
1978)
 Atlas of Human Embryology, Chronolab. Last accessed
on Oct 30, 2007.
 Gilbert SF. Sunderland (MA): Sinauer Associates;
Developmental Biology 6th Edition 2000
 Scott F G. Developmental Biology, 7th Edition, page 336
 http://www.devbio.com/chap12/link1201.shtml