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Related Concept Videos

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...
Zygotic Development And Stem Cell Formation01:10

Zygotic Development And Stem Cell Formation

The development of all multicellular organisms starts with the fusion of haploid cells called sperm and egg to form a diploid zygote. A zygote is a totipotent cell that can develop into a complete organism. The zygote undergoes cell division or cleavage to form an 8-cell mass. Until this stage, the cells are spherical, loosely attached, and remain totipotent. Totipotent cells are capable of developing both the embryonic and the extraembryonic tissues. However, as they continue to divide, they...
Cleavage and Blastulation01:33

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After a large-single-celled zygote is produced via fertilization, the process of cleavage occurs while zygotes travel through the uterine tube. Cleavage is a mitotic cell division that does not result in growth. With each round of successive cell division, daughter cells get increasingly smaller.
Embryonic Connective Tissues01:20

Embryonic Connective Tissues

During early development, the embryo forms two types of connective tissues— the mesenchyme and mucoid connective tissue.
The mesenchyme is the first connective tissue that emerges in the developing embryo. It consists of loosely arranged multipotent mesenchymal cells and reticular fibers in the extracellular matrix. This loose arrangement allows easy migration of cells, which is essential for germ layer positioning, patterning, and organ morphogenesis during embryonic development. Mesenchyme is...
Development of the Sexual Organs in the Embryo and Fetus01:15

Development of the Sexual Organs in the Embryo and Fetus

Development of the reproductive organs in an embryo starts from a bipotential state. This means the early embryo can develop either male or female reproductive organs. The formation of these organs begins with the growth of gonadal ridges that arise from the intermediate mesoderm during the fifth week of development.
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Neurulation01:30

Neurulation

Neurulation is the embryological process which forms the precursors of the central nervous system and occurs after gastrulation has established the three primary cell layers of the embryo: ectoderm, mesoderm, and endoderm. In humans, the majority of this system is formed via primary neurulation, in which the central portion of the ectoderm—originally appearing as a flat sheet of cells—folds upwards and inwards, sealing off to form a hollow neural tube. As development proceeds, the anterior...

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Probing the Roles of Physical Forces in Early Chick Embryonic Morphogenesis
06:33

Probing the Roles of Physical Forces in Early Chick Embryonic Morphogenesis

Published on: June 5, 2018

Epithelial machines that shape the embryo.

Lance A Davidson1

  • 1Department of Bioengineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA. lad43@pitt.edu

Trends in Cell Biology
|December 2, 2011
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Epithelial sheets generate forces that shape embryonic organs. Understanding these biomechanical processes and tissue integration is key to studying embryonic development and organogenesis.

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Blastomere Explants to Test for Cell Fate Commitment During Embryonic Development
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Last Updated: May 27, 2026

Probing the Roles of Physical Forces in Early Chick Embryonic Morphogenesis
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Patterning the Geometry of Human Embryonic Stem Cell Colonies on Compliant Substrates to Control Tissue-Level Mechanics
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Area of Science:

  • Developmental biology
  • Biophysics
  • Cell biology

Background:

  • Embryonic organogenesis relies on forces within epithelial sheets.
  • Analyzing these processes requires understanding mechanical operations and tissue integration.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review examples of epithelial morphogenetic movements.
  • To highlight opportunities for future studies in embryonic tissue mechanics.

Main Methods:

  • Review of epithelial sheet bending.
  • Analysis of Drosophila ventral furrow formation.
  • Examination of ascidian gastrulation.
  • Direct measurements of epithelial mechanics in Xenopus laevis.

Main Results:

  • Epithelial sheets act as multicellular machines driving morphogenesis.
  • Diverse morphogenetic movements demonstrate the role of mechanical forces.
  • Direct measurements provide insights into epithelial mechanics.

Conclusions:

  • Further research is needed on force production and embryonic tissue mechanics.
  • Signaling from biomechanical processes may play a role in development.