Embryology of the globe: germ layers, neural crest, optic cup, retinal development, and early vascularization

Notes

OCULAR EMBRYOLOGY OBJECTIVES  Identify important developmental milestones  Compare and contrast different germ line origins for ocular structures NBEO OBEJCTIVES  Embryological origins  Ocular development progression  Basic understanding of developmental problems DEVELOPMENT OF OCULAR STRUCTURES  By the 3rd week of embryonic development  The three primary germ layers (ectoderm, mesoderm, endoderm) form the embryonic plate  Only ectoderm and mesoderm form ocular structures  Thickening in ectoderm forms neural plate which gives rise to CNS and ocular structures Neural Plate DEVELOPMENT OF OCULAR STRUCTURES  Neural folds form  Grow towards one another to form neural tube  Prior to neural tube closing completely, neural crest cells form on the outside of the neural tube in the mesoderm layer  Mesenchyme = Neural crest cells & mesoderm  Mesenchyme develops into the connective tissue of the globe and orbit  2 ectoderms now  Neural tube = neural ectoderm  Surface layer = surface ectoderm  Mesenchyme proliferates and differentiates to form connective tissue of eye and orbit 1. Mesoderm:  Vascular endothelium  Striated muscle cells 2. Neural crest cells:  corneal stroma...