Embryology: Stage IV Back

OverviewEggEarly cleavagesStage 1Stage 2Stage 3Stage 4Stage 5
Stage 6Stage 7Stage 8Stage 9Stage 10Stage 11Stage 12

 

Embryo stage 4
Embryo in Stage 4.

 

3d-models

Interactive 3D-models (Java):
- Model of embryo in stage 4

During previous stage, the Marisa embryo has grown steadily, resulting in a size of 240µm at the start of this stage. The the Pila globosa embryo is, however, only sligthly enlarged compared to stage III and only measures 240µm in length at stage IV. Appearantly the Marisa embryo has catched up in terms of growth.
Whereas the embryo was still symmetrical externally in the previous stages, this stage is marked by the lost of this external symmetry because the shell rudiment has shifted to the left side of the body. The border around this shell plate (the rudimental shell gland) has thickened and will develop into the future mantle edge.
The stomodaeum has become more conspicuous, in particular at the front side, where the mouth region is differentiated, with a buccal cavity at the front side and a narrowing at the back side, forming the oesophagus.
Inside the buccal cavity, the radular sac starts to develop, although it's only visible as a invagination on the floor of the buccal region. The posterior part of the stomodaeum, which communicates with the primitive stomach, has shefted to the right, contributing to a further asymmetry of the embryo.
Albuminous fluid (yolk) can be found inside the archenteron or primitive stomach in this stage. This is not suprisingly as the stomodaeum provides an opening for the intestinal system. Nevertheless, it illustrates that the stomodaeum and oesophagus already function in the sense that they are capable to transport fluid. There are, however, no muscular movements visible, which suggest that the transport of fluid is driven by the cilated current on surfaces of the intestinal system.
The endodermal sac, which encompasses the primitive stomach, is becoming pear-shaped in this stage, with the narrowing part directed at the ventral-posterior side.
The pericardium, heart and kidney still consist of one common rudiment, but become more divided due to constrictions of the wall. At the end of stage IV, both the pericard and the kidney are distinguishable, although still closely connected. The kidney itself now communicates with the ectodermal invagination that develops to the renal vestibule, with the ureter in between.

 

Top
Top


Creative Commons License
Except where otherwise noted, this page is licensed under a
Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 2.5 License
.

http://www.applesnail.net