Neural Development

This set of vocabulary flashcards covers primary and secondary neurulation, brain vesicle development, neural tube zoning, and cellular differentiation based on the provided embryonic neurodevelopment notes.

Primary Neurulation

The process occurring in the $3rd$ week of development where the neural plate forms between the buccopharyngeal membrane and primitive node.

4th somite

The location where the neural groove fuses first; development above this point becomes the brainstem, while development below it becomes the spinal cord.

Prosencephalon

The primary brain vesicle also known as the forebrain, which develops into the Telencephalon and Diencephalon.

Mesencephalon

The primary brain vesicle known as the midbrain, which maintains its name as a secondary vesicle and develops into adult structures like the superior and inferior colliculi.

Rhombencephalon

The primary brain vesicle known as the hindbrain, which differentiates into the Metencephalon and Myelencephalon.

Telencephalon

A secondary vesicle that gives rise to the cerebrum, including the cerebral cortex, white matter, basal nuclei, hippocampus, and olfactory bulb.

Diencephalon

A secondary vesicle that forms the thalamus, hypothalamus, epithalamus, and the posterior pituitary gland.

Metencephalon

A secondary vesicle that develops into the pons and the cerebellum.

Myelencephalon

The most caudal secondary brain vesicle which develops into the medulla oblongata.

Ventricular zone (matrix cells)

The layer lining the lumen of the neural tube where mitosis occurs for $5$ to $24\text{ hours}$ and gives rise to neurons and macroglial cells.

Intermediate (Mantle) zone

The layer of the neural tube that forms the gray matter of the Central Nervous System (CNS).

Marginal zone

The layer of the neural tube that forms the white matter of the Central Nervous System (CNS).

Alar plate

The dorsal region of the neural tube that is associated with sensory functions.

Basal plate

The ventral region of the neural tube that is associated with motor functions.

Neural Crest Cells

Ectoderm-derived cells that migrate to form structures such as dorsal root ganglia, sympathetic ganglia, Schwann cells, melanocytes, and the adrenal medulla.

GFAP (glial fibrillary acid protein)

A protein required for the production of glial cells from bipotential progenitor cells.

Rhombic lip

A specialized part of the subventricular zone that gives rise to the cerebellum.

Ganglionic eminence

A specialized part of the subventricular zone that gives rise to the basal ganglia.

Rathke's pouch

An outpocketing of oral ectoderm that forms the pars distalis, pars intermedia, and pars tuberalis of the pituitary gland.

Cerebral aqueduct

The ventricular space associated with the mesencephalon.

Microglia

Defensive cells of the nervous system derived from mesoderm and mesenchyme, rather than neuroepithelium.

Anencephaly

A neural tube defect (NTD) caused by the failure of the anterior or cranial neuropore to close.

Spina bifida

A neural tube defect (NTD) associated with the failure of the posterior or caudal neuropore to close.

Neuron lifecycle statistics

A $1$ year old child possesses all the $100\text{ billion}$ neurons needed, though humans lose $200,000$ neurons per day.