Development of the Heart : Development of the Heart Dr.Kaushik Barot


Retrospect…: Retrospect… The development of the heart is the first of the series of topics that deal with the embryology of organs and systems. This part of embryological study is often called systemic or ‘special’ embryology or organogenesis, as opposed to ‘general’ or early embryology. Throughout systemic embryology, we need to recognise that the starting point is the formation of the trilaminar embryo, that is, a flat embryo with three germ layers – ectoderm, mesoderm and endoderm. At the extreme head end of the embryo the ectoderm and endoderm are in contact without intervening mesoder. This area is called the prochordal (“in front of the notochord”) plate. We have mentioned earlier that the lateral plate mesoderm splits to form the coelomic cavity. Further, the head and tail ends of the embryo undergo folding. The embryo also folds on the sides (lateral folds). Folding of the embryo converts it from a flat plate into a tube.


Cardiovascular System: Cardiovascular System Cardiovascular system includes the heart and the blood vessels. A detailed description of regional blood vessels is beyond the scope of this unit, and we restrict ourselves to the development of the heart. Embryonic development of any organ involves complex processes. Given this complexity, it is amazing that a vast majority of human beings are born without any of the steps going wrong. However, these errors of development do occur; at the gross, histological and even molecular level. An in-depth study of these errors is the subject of advanced study, largely in the medical context. In this unit, we shall mention some of the inborn defects (“congenital defects”) to illustrate some principles. This applies to the development of the heart. On the other hand, from a scientific perspective, the development of the heart does have an interesting evolutionary story to tell. From the Level 1 units and the gross anatomical study last week, we need to recapitulate some basic anatomical facts about the heart. We know that the heart has two receiving chambers (atria) and two pumping chambers (ventricles), with partitions or septa (singular – septum) between right and left chambers. We also understand the precise distinction between arteries and veins as vessels bringing blood towards the heart and taking it away from the heart respectively.


Postnatal vs Foetal Circulation: Postnatal vs Foetal Circulation Postnatal Body  RA  RV  Lungs  LA  LV  Body The basic difference between postnatal and foetal circulation is that foetal lungs are nonfunctional. Effectively, blood from the right side of the heart has nowhere to go and needs to be ‘shunted’ to the left. Such a shunting passage exists between the right and the left atria. However, if no blood flows through the right ventricle, that chamber will fail to develop. Thus some blood does pass to the RV. As it is pumped into the pulmonary artery, it needs to be shunted again, this time to the aorta. This illustrated below. But we are jumping too far ahead! This was mentioned as one of the basic principles of the development of the heart…let us begin at the beginning.


Earliest Development: Earliest Development Cardiovascular system makes its first appearance while the embryo is still flat. Clusters of mesodermal cells specialise to form blood cells. Mesodermal cells around these flatten to form endothelium of blood vessels. These clusters are called blood islands of angiogenic (“blood vessel-forming”) cell clusters. In the accompanying diagram note that these form a curve reaching well beyond the neural plate and the notochord. A mass of mesoderm, called cardiogenic area, near the head end (H) will give rise to the heart. The sagittal section below illustrates the three germ layers, prochordal plate and the cardiogenic area.


Head Fold: Head Fold With the formation of the head fold (shown in the blue circle), note how the cardiogenic area changes its position. Also observe that the endoderm (yellow) is beginning to form the gut tube. At this stage only the head and tail ends of the digestive tube are recognisable. In the lowest picture, the gut tube is better seen and the heart is in fact in the form of a tube (red).


The Heart Tube: The Heart Tube In the picture on the left the relationships of the heart, the gut tube and the liver are clearer. In the magnified picture of the heart tube, the tail end is the venous end and the cranial end is the arterial end. The changing shape of the tube also makes it possible to recognise the primitive chambers of the tube. Remember that the tube is not partitioned at this stage. Hereafter, for descriptive convenience, we shall view this tube in the vertical position, with the caudal (venous) end below and the cranial (arterial) end at the top as shown below.


The Tube Bends: The Tube Bends This picture shows three successive stages in the growth of the tube. The tube, as it grows, cannot be accommodated within the pericardial cavity and undergoes bending. The primitive chambers of the heart are recognisable, and are labelled in the last picture. SV – sinus venosus (receives veins from the body), A – atrium, V – ventricle. The ventricle continues into the ‘bulbus cordis’which in turn leads to the arterial end. Two terms are used somewhat confusingly for the parts at the arterial end. These are conus arteriosus and truncus arteriosus. In our discussion we shall simply say ‘arterial end’ of the heart.


The Chambers: The Chambers Recognise the chambers in these two views. In the view from the left side, the sinus venosus is partly hidden. Note that with the bending of the tube the atrium is now dorsal and the loop formed by the ventricle and the bulbus cordis (bulbo-ventricular loop) is ventral. In the next slide we shall examine the interior of the unpartitioned heart.


Left – Right Partitioning: Left – Right Partitioning Interatrial septum Interventricular septum Spiral (aortico-pulomonary) septum Endocardial cushions (A-V cushions) Functional requirements There must always be a right to left passage!


Interatrial septum: Interatrial septum Partitioning Right to left passage Mechanism for closing the passage


Septum Primum: Septum Primum This is a sagittal section seen from the right. V AVC


Foramen Primum: Foramen Primum Foramen primum : Between the septum and the AV Cushions


Passage is a Must!: Passage is a Must! Foramen secundum Foramen primum about to disappear


Septum Secundum: Septum Secundum To the right of primum Foramen primum has disappeared


Foramen ovale: Foramen ovale F. Ovale – In septum secundum Further…


The ‘Valve’: The ‘Valve’ Two septa Two foramina


Sinus Venosus: Sinus Venosus Originally a symmetrical structure Venous return more to the right Left horn becomes smaller Opening shifts to the right Later – part of right atrium


Left Atrium: Left Atrium Four pulmonary veins Common opening “Absorption” of veins into atrium Rough part - auricle


The Ventricular Septum: The Ventricular Septum Three Parts Interventricular septum AV Cushions Spiral Septum


Foetal Circulation: Foetal Circulation Very little pulmonary flow Placental Circulation Right to Left Passages


Slide26: IVC : Blood from placenta Ductus venosus F. ovale Ductus arteriosus


Changes At Birth: Changes At Birth Closure of interatrial septum Closure of ductus arteriosus Closure of ductus venosus


Congenital Heart Disease: Congenital Heart Disease Septal Defects – Atrial and Ventricular Endocardial cushion defects Aorticopulmonary defects PDA Others Last Slide