Summary
A documented scheme of the early development of the human nervous system is presented. It is based on (I) reports of workers who personally studied staged embryos, and (2) personal observations and confirmations. The necessity of staged embryos in determining the precise sequence of developmental events is stressed.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bailey, P.: Morphology of the root plate of the forebrain and the lateral choroid plexuses in the human embryo. J. comp. Neurol. 26, 79–120 (1916).
Bartelmez, G. W., Blount, M. P.: The formation of neural crest from the primary optic vesicle in man. Contr. Embryol. Carneg. Instn 35, 55–71 (1954).
— Dekaban, A. S.: The early development of the human brain. Contr. Embryol. Carneg. Instn 37, 13–32 (1962).
— Evans, H. M.: Development of the human embryo during the period of somite formation including embryos with 2 to 16 pairs of somites. Contr. Embryol. Carneg. Instn 17, 1–67 (1926).
Bergquist, H.: Morphogenesis of diencephalic nucleic in Homo. With remarks on the mammalian diencephalon and on mesencephalic relations. Kungl. Fysiograf. Sällsk. Handl. 64, 1–38 (1954).
Boulder Committee: Embryonic vertebrate central nervous system: revised terminology. Anat. Rec. 166, 257–262 (1970).
Boyden, E. A.: A volumetric analysis of young human embryos of the 10- and 12-somite stage. Contr. Embryol. Carneg. Instn 28, 157–191 (1940).
Browne, M. J.: A study of the sacral autonomic nerves in a chick and a human embryo. Anat. Rec. 116, 189–203 (1953).
Campenhout, E. van: La contribution des placodes épiblastiques au développement des ganglions des nerfs crâniens chez l'embryon humain. Arch. Biol. (Liège) 49, 253–266 (1948).
George, W. C.: A presomite human embryo with chorda canal and prochordal plate. Contr. Embryol. Carneg. Instn 30, 1–7 (1942).
Gilbert, P. W.: The origin and development of the human extrinsic ocular muscles. Contr. Embryol. Carneg. Instn 36, 59–78 (1957).
Heuser, C. H.: A presomite human embryo with a definite chorda canal. Contr. Embryol. Carneg. Instn 23, 251–267 (1932).
— Corner, G. W.: Developmental horizons in human embryos. Description of age group X, 4 to 12 somites. Contr. Embryol. Carneg. Instn 36, 29–39 (1957).
Hines, M.: Studies in the growth and differentiation of the telencephalon in man. The fissura hippocampi. J. comp. Neurol. 34, 73–171 (1922).
Hochstetter, F.: Beiträge zur Entwicklungsgeschichte des menschlichen Gehirns. Vienna: Deuticke I. Teil 1919, II. Teil 1929.
Humphrey, T.: The development of the human amygdala during early embryonic life. J. comp. Neurol. 132, 135–165 (1968).
Ingalls, N. W.: A human embryo at the beginning of segmentation, with special reference to the vascular system. Contr. Embryol. Carneg. Instn 11, 61–90 (1920).
Jenkins, G. B.: Relative weight and volume of the component parts of the brain of the human embryo at different stages of development. Contr. Embryol. Carneg. Instn 13, 41–60 (1921).
Kissel, P., Dureux, J.-B., Tridon, P.: Incidence des malformations du système nerveux au cours des malformations du sequelette cranio-facial, p. 159–203, in: G. Heuyer, M. Feld, and J. Gruner, Malformations congénitales du cerveau. Paris: Masson 1959.
Lewis, W. H.: The cartilaginous skull of a human embryo twenty-one millimeters in length. Contr. Embryol. Carneg. Instn 9, 299–324 (1920).
Ludwig, E.: Über einen operativ gewonnenen menschlichen Embryo mit einem Ursegmente (Embryo Da 1). Morph. Jb 59, 41–104 (1928).
McKay, D. G., Adams, E. C., Hertig, A. T., Danzieger, S.: Histochemical horizons in human embryos. I. Five millimeter embryo—Streeter horizon XIII. Anat. Rec. 122, 125–151 (1955).
———: Histochemical horizons in human embryos. II. 6 and 7 millimeter embryos—Streeter horizon XIV. Anat. Rec. 126, 433–463 (1956).
Mori, T.: Histochemical studies on the distribution of alkaline phosphatase in the early human embryos. I. Observations on two embryos in early somite stage, Streeter's horizon X. Arch. histol. jap. 16, 169–193 (1959a).
—: Histochemical studies on the distribution of alkaline phosphatase in early human embryos. II. Observations on an embryo with 13–14 somites. Arch. histol. jap. 18, 197–209 (1959b).
—: Histochemical studies on the distribution of alkaline phosphatase in early human embryos. III. Embryos in Streeter's horizon XII. Okajimas Folia anat. jap. 40, 765–793 (1965).
Olivier, G., Pineau, H.: Horizons de Streeter et âge embryonnaire. Bull. Ass. Anat. 47, 573–576 (1962).
O'Rahilly, R.: The early embryology of the otic vesicle in staged human embryos. J. Embryol. exp. Morph. 11, 741–755 (1963).
—: The optic, vestibulocochlear, and terminal-vomeronasal neural crest in staged human embryos, p. 557–564. in: J. W. Rohen (editor), Second Symposium on Eye Structure. Stuttgart: Schattauer 1965
—: The early development of the eye in staged human embryos. Contr. Embryol. Carneg. Instn 38, 1–42 (1966).
—: The early development of the nasal pit in staged human embryos. Anat. Rec. 157, 380 (1967).
O'Rahilly, R.: The development of the epiphysis cerebri and the subcommissural complex in staged human embryos. Anat. Rec. 160, 488–489 (1968).
O'Rahilly, R.: The timing and sequence of events in human cardiogenesis. Acta anat. (Basel) (1970) (awaiting publication).
—: The prenatal development of the foot. In: N. J. Giannestras, Foot disorders. Medical and surgical management. Philadelphia: Lea and Febiger, sec. ed. 1971 (awaiting publication).
—, Gardner, E.: The initial appearance of ossification in staged human embryos. Anat. Rec. 151, 394 (1965).
——, Gray, D. J.: The skeletal development of the hand. Clin. Orthop. 13, 42–51 (1959).
———: The skeletal development of the foot. Clin. Orthop. 16, 7–14 (1960).
Orts Llorca, F.: Über die Entwicklung der caudalen Spinalganglien. Z. Anat. Entwickl.-Gesch. 102, 462–480 (1934).
Padget, D. H.: The development of the cranial arteries in the human embryo. Contr. Embryol. Carneg. Instn 32, 205–261 (1948).
—: The development of the cranial venous system in man, from the viewpoint of comparative anatomy. Contr. Embryol. Carneg. Instn 36, 79–140 (1957).
Reiter, A.: Die Frühentwicklung der menschlichen Wirbelsäule. II. Mitteilung. Die Entwicklung der Occipitalsegmente und der Halswirbelsäule. Z. Anat. Entwickl.-Gesch. 113, 66–104 (1944).
Rosenquist, G. C.: A radioautographic study of labeled grafts in the chick blastoderm: development from primitive-streak stages to stage 12. Contr. Embryol. Carneg. Instn 37, 71–110 (1966).
Rossi, F., Pescetto, G., Reale, E.: Enzymatic activities in human ontogenesis: first synoptic tables of histochemical research. J. Histochem. Cytochem. 5, 221–235 (1957).
—, Reale, E.: The somite of human development studied with the histochemical reaction for the demonstration of alkaline glycerophosphatase. Acta anat. (Basel) 30, 656–681 (1957.
Sauer, F. C.: Mitosis in the neural tube. J. comp. Neurol. 62, 377–405 (1935a)
—: The cellular structure of the neural tube. J. comp. Neurol. 63, 13–23 (1935b)
—: The interkinetic migration of embryonic epithelial nuclei. J. Morph. 60, 1–11 (1936).
Sensenig, E. C.: The early development of the human vertebral column. Contr. Embryol. Carneg. Instn 33, 21–41 (1949).
—: The early development of the meninges of the spinal cord in human embryos. Contr. Embryol. Carneg. Instn 34, 145–157 (1951).
—: The development of the occipital and cervical segments and their associated structures in human embryos. Contr. Embryol. Carneg. Instn 36, 141–151 (1957).
Sternberg, H.: Beiträge zur Kenntnis des vorderen Neuroporus beim Menschen. Z. Anat. Entwickl.-Gesch. 82, 747–780 (1927).
Streeter, G. L.: The developmental alterations in the vascular system of the brain of the human embryo. Contr. Embryol. Carneg. Instn 8, 5–38 (1918).
—: Archetypes and symbolism. Science 65, 405–412 (1927).
—: Developmental horizons in human embryos. Description of age group XI, 13 to 20 somites, and age group XII, 21 to 29 somites. Contr. Embryol. Carneg. Instn 30, 211–245 (1942).
—: Developmental horizons in human embryos. Description of age group XIII, embryos about 4 or 5 millimeters long, and age group XIV, period of indentation of the lens vesicle. Contr. Embryol. Carneg. Instn 31, 27–63 (1945).
—: Developmental horizons in human embryos. Description of age groups XV, XVI, XVII, and XVIII, being the third issue of a survey of the Carnegie Collection. Contr. Embryol. Carneg. Instn 32, 133–203 (1948).
Streiter, A.: Ein menschlicher Keimling mit 7 Urwirbelpaaren (Keimling Ludwig) Z. mikr.-anat. Forsch. 57, 181–248 (1951).
Theiler, K.: Studien zur Entwicklung der Ganglienleiste. II. Teil. Befunde zur Frühentwicklung der Ganglienleiste beim Menschen. Acta anat. (Basel) 8, 96–112 (1949).
Tridon, P.: Les dysraphies de l'axe nerveux et de ses enveloppes cranio-rachidiennes. Étude critique du status dysraphicus. Paris: Doin 1959.
—, Thiriet, M.: Malformations associées de la tête et des extremités. Paris: Masson 1966.
Volcher, R.: Le système nerveux périphérique d'un embryon humain de 8 mm. Arch. Biol. (Liège) 74, 95–127 (1963).
Wen, I. C.: The anatomy of human embryos with seventeen to twenty-three pairs of somites. J. comp. Neurol. 45, 301–376 (1928).
Windle, W. F.: Development of neural elements in human embryos of four to seven weeks gestation. Exp. Neurol. Suppl. 5, 44–84 (1970).
Yokoh, Y.: The early development of the nervous system in man. Acta anat. (Basel) 71, 492–518 (1968).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Supported in part by National Institutes of Health (U.S.A.) General Research Support Grant, School of Medicine, Wayne State University.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
O'Rahilly, R., Gardner, E. The timing and sequence of events in the development of the human nervous system during the embryonic period proper. Z. Anat. Entwickl. Gesch. 134, 1–12 (1971). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00523284
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00523284