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Early development of the neocortex in human foetuses aged 9 weeks
Witold Woźniak1, Katarzyna Rapalska
1Department of Anatomy, University School of Medical Sciences, Poznań, Poland. wwozniak@amp.edu.pl
Insights
Early human fetal development shows the neocortex primordium, the cortical plate, covering the entire cerebral hemisphere. This structure, composed of dense cell layers, forms the basis of the developing brain
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Biology
- Human Embryology
Background:
- The early stages of human brain development are critical for understanding neurological formation.
- The cerebral hemispheres undergo significant structural changes during the embryonic and fetal periods.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the structural organization of the human cerebral cortex in early fetal development.
- To describe the morphology and extent of the cortical plate at the transition from embryo to fetus.
Main Methods:
- Histological examination of human embryos (8 weeks) and fetuses (9 weeks).
- Microscopic analysis of the developing cerebral hemispheres.
Main Results:
- The cortical plate, the precursor to the neocortex, was observed to cover the entire surface of the cerebral hemisphere.
- The cortical plate comprised 8-12 densely packed cell rows.
- The subplate was identified situated beneath the cortical plate.
Conclusions:
- The cortical plate is an extensive structure present early in the fetal period, indicating rapid development of the neocortex.
- The findings provide foundational data on the initial organization of the human neocortex.
Abstract:
A study was made of human embryos at the end of 8 weeks and foetuses aged 9 weeks. It was shown that at the beginning of the foetal period the cortical plate, which is the primordium of the neocortex, covers the whole surface of the cerebral hemisphere. The plate consists of 8-12 rows of densely packed cells. Below the cortical plate is the subplate.
