Revista de Morfología y Anatomía

Neurulation Unveiled a Journey into the Formation of the Nervous System in Embryonic Development

Abstract

Lei Zhang

Embryonic development is a fascinating and intricate process that transforms a single fertilized egg into a complex multicellular organism. Central to this process is neurulation, the remarkable journey during which the nervous system takes shape. Neurulation is a critical stage in embryonic development, laying the foundation for the intricate network that governs all aspects of an organism's functioning. The journey of neurulation begins shortly after fertilization, as the fertilized egg undergoes a series of divisions and differentiations to form a blastula. The blastula, a hollow ball of cells, eventually undergoes gastrulation, a process that transforms it into a gastrula with three germ layers: ectoderm, mesoderm and endoderm. The ectoderm, the outermost layer, plays a pivotal role in neurulation. It is from this layer that the nervous system will emerge. As the gastrula undergoes further transformations, a region of the ectoderm known as the neural plate becomes distinguishable. The neural plate marks the beginning of the intricate process of neurulation.