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Changes in the Appendicular Skeleton with Age

Changes in the Appendicular Skeleton with Age

The upper and lower limb initially develops as a small bulge called a limb bud, which appears on the lateral side of the early embryo. The upper limb bud appears near the end of the fourth week of development, with the lower limb bud appearing shortly after.
Initially, the limb buds consist of a core of mesenchyme covered by a layer of ectoderm. The ectoderm at the end of the limb bud thickens to form a narrow crest called the apical ectodermal ridge. This ridge stimulates the underlying...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Apr 3, 2026

Stem cell-like Xenopus Embryonic Explants to Study Early Neural Developmental Features In Vitro and In Vivo

Stem cell-like Xenopus Embryonic Explants to Study Early Neural Developmental Features In Vitro and In Vivo

Published on: February 2, 2016

Xenopus Limb bud morphogenesis.

Samuel R Keenan¹, Caroline W Beck¹

¹Department of Zoology and Genetics Otago, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.

Developmental Dynamics : an Official Publication of the American Association of Anatomists

|September 26, 2015

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Xenopus laevis frogs offer valuable insights into limb development and regeneration. Classical and molecular studies reveal key aspects of Xenopus limb morphogenesis, clarifying previous misinterpretations.

Keywords:

amphibian autopod limb bud mesoderm morphogen patterning positional information skeletal

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Area of Science:

Developmental biology
Regenerative medicine
Comparative embryology

Background:

Xenopus laevis is a model organism for developmental biology and regeneration.
Classical frog limb development studies are underutilized, leading to misinterpretations.
Amphibian limb development offers evolutionary and regenerative insights.

Purpose of the Study:

To describe Xenopus limb morphogenesis using classical and molecular studies.
To clarify the role of the apical ectodermal ridge in Xenopus limb development.
To highlight the value of Xenopus as a model for understanding limb development and regeneration.

Main Methods:

Review of classical fate and specification maps in Xenopus limb development.
Integration of molecular studies on Xenopus limb patterning and morphogenesis.
Comparative analysis with limb development models in chicken and mouse embryos.

Main Results:

Xenopus limb buds possess an apical ectodermal ridge, contrary to some interpretations.
Classical studies provide foundational knowledge on Xenopus limb patterning.
Molecular data complements classical findings on Xenopus limb morphogenesis.

Conclusions:

A comprehensive understanding of Xenopus limb morphogenesis requires integrating classical and molecular data.
Xenopus laevis is a crucial model for studying limb development and regeneration.
Further research can elucidate remaining mysteries in amphibian limb development.