Eye & Ear Embryology Objectives
Eye & Ear Embryology Objectives
Eye & Ear Embryology Objectives
Learning Objectives: At the end of this lecture the successful student will be able to:
1 - List the embryological structures that form the eye.
The optic placode and the diencephalon, neural crest cells, mesoderm
2 - Identify the cell lineages (starting with germ layer origins) that form the eye.
The eye is formed from:
Neuroectoderm gives rise to retina, retinal pigment epithelium, iris
(Derived from the neural tube)
Surface Ectoderm gives rise to lens, corneal epithelium
Mesoderm
Neural Crest Cells
3 - Describe the formation and development of the structures of the eye (including:
retina, pigment epithelium, iris, lens, cornea, ciliary body, sclera and choroid).
At about day 32 of development, the optic placode is visible. The eye begins
as an outpocketing of the diencephalon. The neuroectoderm of the optic vesicle
(that outpocketing), once in contact with the surface ectoderm, induces the surface
ectoderm to thicken and invaginate as the lens placode. This will continue to close
the circle to become the lens vesicle. While this is occurring, the neuroectoderm is
reaching around the lens vesicle, forming the optic cup. It is a bilayer structure. The
inner layer is the retinal precursor layer, which forms the neural retina and inner
cup. The outer layer is the retinal pigment epithelium. Differentiation of the retina
occurs around day 47. Rods and cones are distinguishable at 10-15 weeks. At 25
weeks, it is fully differentiated. To make the iris and ciliary body, the optic cup
reaches even further anteriorly to encase the edges of the newly separated lens.
This means that all the intrinsic eye muscles come from neuroectoderm! They are
the sphincter (parasympathetic) and dilator pupillae (sympathetic), and the ciliary
muscles (parasympathetic). The cornea is produced by the pinching off (day 33) of
the lens. The surface ectoderm that closes the gap created by the optic vesicle
becomes the corneal epithelium. The stroma of the cornea is produced by the
migration of mesenchyme into the area anterior to the lens. The sclera and cornea
are made from surface ectoderm and neuroectoderm, respectively. The optic stalk
holds the hyaloid artery and the nerve fibers that will become the optic nerve. If this
choroid fissure fails to close, coloboma (PAX2 defect) may result. The choroid is
produced from mesoderm.
4 - Explain congenital eye malformations and their known causes.
Aphakia (no lens), Aniridia (no iris) PAX6 defect
Coloboma (keyhole pupil) PAX2 defect
One or more complex syndromes that can result in both vision and hearing
loss.
C coloboma (80-90%)
H heart defects (75-85%)
A atresia of choanae (50-60%)
R retardation of growth and/or development (70-80%)
G genital hypoplasia
E ear malformations and hearing loss (>90%)