Heart Development

Describe how the components of the primitive heart tube are formed from the primary and secondary heart fields

Primitive Heart Field: Established around day 18. Splanchnic lateral plate mesoderm. Lateral folding brings the two arms of the C-shaped primitive field together. Cells that contribute originate from primitive streak. Left-right asymmetry established.

Secondary heart field originates from pharyngeal endoderm

Week 4: Cranio-caudal Folding brings heart to thoracic region

Describe the process of heart tube looping and alignment, which results in the apex being positioned in the left side of the chest

Correlate the parts of the heart tube to the adult structures they turn into

Explain how the right and left atria are formed, and how they are separated by formation of the interatrial septum

Describe how the interventricular septum is formed

Describe the development of the proximal arterial structures

Describe the development of the proximal venous structures

Explain the differences between fetal and neonatal circulation and the changes that occur in the fetal pattern as a result of birth