In the
anatomy
Anatomy () is the branch of morphology concerned with the study of the internal structure of organisms and their parts. Anatomy is a branch of natural science that deals with the structural organization of living things. It is an old scien ...
of an
embryo
An embryo ( ) is the initial stage of development for a multicellular organism. In organisms that reproduce sexually, embryonic development is the part of the life cycle that begins just after fertilization of the female egg cell by the male sp ...
, the somatopleure is a structure created during
embryogenesis
An embryo ( ) is the initial stage of development for a multicellular organism. In organisms that reproduce sexually, embryonic development is the part of the life cycle that begins just after fertilization of the female egg cell by the male ...
when the
lateral plate mesoderm
The lateral plate mesoderm is the mesoderm that is found at the periphery of the embryo. It is to the side of the paraxial mesoderm, and further to the axial mesoderm. The lateral plate mesoderm is separated from the paraxial mesoderm by a narrow r ...
splits into two layers. The outer (or somatic) layer becomes applied to the inner surface of the
ectoderm
The ectoderm is one of the three primary germ layers formed in early embryonic development. It is the outermost layer, and is superficial to the mesoderm (the middle layer) and endoderm (the innermost layer). It emerges and originates from the o ...
, and with it (partially) forms the somatopleure.
The combination of ectoderm and mesoderm, or somatopleure, forms the
amnion
The amnion (: amnions or amnia) is a membrane that closely covers human and various other embryos when they first form. It fills with amniotic fluid, which causes the amnion to expand and become the amniotic sac that provides a protective envir ...
, the
chorion
The chorion is the outermost fetal membrane around the embryo in mammals, birds and reptiles (amniotes). It is also present around the embryo of other animals, like insects and molluscs.
Structure
In humans and other therian mammals, the cho ...
and the lateral body wall of the embryo. Limb formation, from the somatic mesoderm, is induced by
hox gene
Hox genes, a subset of homeobox, homeobox genes, are a gene cluster, group of related genes that Evolutionary developmental biology, specify regions of the body plan of an embryo along the craniocaudal axis, head-tail axis of animals. Hox protein ...
s and the expression of other molecules through an
epithelial-mesenchyme transition.
The embryonic somatopleure is then divided into 3 sections, the anterior limb bud formation, the posterior limb bud formation and the non limb forming wall. The bud forming sections grow in size. The somatic mesoderm under the ectoderm proliferates in mesenchyme form.
In chicken, the extraembryonic tissues are separated into two layers: the splanchnopleure composed of the endoderm and splanchnic mesoderm, and the somatopleure composed of the ectoderm and somatic mesoderm along with the formation of the coelomic cavity after gastrulation. The amnion and chorion are derived from the somatopleure with a presumptive border of the ectamnion.
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Following the anterior extension of the extraembryonic mesoderm and formation of the coelom, the anterior and lateral amniotic folds arise along the ectamnion and grow posteriorly over the head of the embryo.
A portion of the amniogenic somatopleure adjacent to the base of the head fold is identified as the region contributing to embryonic tissues in the thoracic wall and pharyngeal and cardiac regions. The somatopleure is known to serve as the matrix of the ventrolateral body wall and gives rise to connective tissue, tendons and the sternum.
See also
*
Splanchnopleuric mesenchyme
In the anatomy of an embryo, the splanchnopleuric mesenchyme is a structure created during embryogenesis when the lateral mesodermal germ layer splits into two layers. The inner (or splanchnic) layer adheres to the endoderm, and with it forms th ...
References
External links
*
Overview at
Kennesaw State University
Embryology
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