Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Development of Blood Vessels01:07

Development of Blood Vessels

The development of the vascular system in a fetus is a complex and intricate process that begins as early as 15 to 16 days post-conception. This process starts outside the embryo, specifically in the mesoderm of the yolk sac, chorion, and connecting stalk. Approximately two days later, the formation of blood vessels occurs within the embryo itself.
The initial formation of this system is facilitated by the small amount of yolk present in the ovum and yolk sac. Blood vessels originate from...
Gastrulation01:56

Gastrulation

Gastrulation establishes the three primary tissues of an embryo: the ectoderm, mesoderm, and endoderm. This developmental process relies on a series of intricate cellular movements, which in humans transforms a flat, “bilaminar disc” composed of two cell sheets into a three-tiered structure. In the resulting embryo, the endoderm serves as the bottom layer, and stacked directly above it is the intermediate mesoderm, and then the uppermost ectoderm. Respectively, these tissue strata will form...
Mechanism of Angiogenesis01:10

Mechanism of Angiogenesis

Blood vessel formation starts early during embryonic development, around day 7. In the extraembryonic yolk sac, mesodermal precursor cells called hemangioblast proliferate and differentiate into angioblast. Angioblasts express vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 or VEGFR2, which binds VEGF-A, a proangiogenic factor, guiding blood vessel formation. VEGF signaling promotes angioblasts to form a blood island in the developing embryo. Angioblasts further differentiate, giving rise to...
Development of the Limb Synovial Joints01:07

Development of the Limb Synovial Joints

Joints form during embryonic development in conjunction with the formation and growth of the associated bones. The embryonic tissue that gives rise to all bones, cartilage, and connective tissues of the body is called mesenchyme.
The mesenchymal stem cells differentiate into chondrocytes that form the hyaline cartilage, and later the cartilaginous model of the bone. This model further transforms into a bone. This process is known as endochondral ossification.
During development, the limbs...
Bone Formation by Endochondral Ossification01:24

Bone Formation by Endochondral Ossification

Bone formation, or ossification, begins around the sixth to seventh week of embryonic development. Most bones develop from a cartilaginous template through the process of endochondral ossification. Cartilage formation begins when clusters of mesenchymal cells differentiate into chondrocytes. These chondrocytes proliferate rapidly and secrete an extracellular matrix that becomes encased in a membrane called the perichondrium. The resulting cartilage model provides a template that resembles the...
Development of the Lymphatic System01:15

Development of the Lymphatic System

The development of lymphatic tissues and vessels in embryonic life begins around the fifth week. These structures originate from the mesoderm layer, with lymph sacs emerging from developing veins.
The first lymph sacs to form are the paired jugular lymph sacs located at the junction of the internal jugular and subclavian veins. From these sacs, lymphatic capillary plexuses extend to the thorax, upper limbs, neck, and head, eventually forming lymphatic vessels. Each jugular lymph sac maintains a...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

The mechanical microenvironment and lung stem cell fate.

Frontiers in cell and developmental biology·2026
Same author

Patterns of mitochondrial ATP predict tissue folding.

Science advances·2026
Same author

TGFβ determines epithelial tissue spacing by regulating mesenchymal condensation.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2026
Same author

Fat promotes growth and invasion in a 3D microfluidic tumor model of triple-negative breast cancer.

APL bioengineering·2026
Same author

Engineered intestinal crypt geometry uncovers YAP1-dependent fetal-to-adult transition.

Cell stem cell·2026
Same author

Mapping embryonic mouse lung development using enhanced spatial transcriptomics.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2025

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 8, 2026

Two-step Approach to Explore Early- and Late-stages of Organ Formation in the Avian Model: The Thymus and Parathyroid Glands Organogenesis Paradigm
13:43

Two-step Approach to Explore Early- and Late-stages of Organ Formation in the Avian Model: The Thymus and Parathyroid Glands Organogenesis Paradigm

Published on: June 17, 2018

Branch formation during organ development.

Nikolce Gjorevski1, Celeste M Nelson

  • 1Department of Chemical Engineering, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA.

Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews. Systems Biology and Medicine
|October 5, 2010
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Branching morphogenesis is key for organ development in many species. This review explores the molecular, cellular, and physical factors driving epithelial tree formation and identifies future research directions.

More Related Videos

In Vitro Cultivation Techniques for Modeling Liver Organogenesis, Building Assembloids, and Designing Synthetic Tissues using Human Cell Lines
08:50

In Vitro Cultivation Techniques for Modeling Liver Organogenesis, Building Assembloids, and Designing Synthetic Tissues using Human Cell Lines

Published on: April 18, 2025

Vascular Organoid Generation from Human-Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells
04:41

Vascular Organoid Generation from Human-Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells

Published on: December 13, 2024

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 8, 2026

Two-step Approach to Explore Early- and Late-stages of Organ Formation in the Avian Model: The Thymus and Parathyroid Glands Organogenesis Paradigm
13:43

Two-step Approach to Explore Early- and Late-stages of Organ Formation in the Avian Model: The Thymus and Parathyroid Glands Organogenesis Paradigm

Published on: June 17, 2018

In Vitro Cultivation Techniques for Modeling Liver Organogenesis, Building Assembloids, and Designing Synthetic Tissues using Human Cell Lines
08:50

In Vitro Cultivation Techniques for Modeling Liver Organogenesis, Building Assembloids, and Designing Synthetic Tissues using Human Cell Lines

Published on: April 18, 2025

Vascular Organoid Generation from Human-Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells
04:41

Vascular Organoid Generation from Human-Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells

Published on: December 13, 2024

Area of Science:

  • Developmental Biology
  • Cell Biology
  • Biophysics

Background:

  • Branching morphogenesis is a fundamental process in organ development across diverse species.
  • Epithelial tree formation maximizes organ surface area within a confined volume.
  • Recent discoveries have identified conserved molecular regulators of branching.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the molecular, cellular, and physical mechanisms governing branching morphogenesis.
  • To highlight conserved regulators across different organs and species.
  • To identify key outstanding questions in the field of branch formation.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review and synthesis of recent findings.
  • Discussion of molecular signaling pathways.
  • Analysis of cellular and tissue-level dynamics.
  • Exploration of physical principles in morphogenesis.

Main Results:

  • Identification of conserved molecular regulators of branching.
  • Emerging understanding of cellular and tissue-level signals.
  • Growing appreciation for the physical forces driving development.
  • Unveiling of the physical nature of branch development.

Conclusions:

  • Branching morphogenesis is a complex process involving integrated molecular, cellular, and physical cues.
  • Further research is needed to fully elucidate the interplay of these factors.
  • Understanding these processes is crucial for regenerative medicine and developmental biology.