Module
14
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Origin of the skeletal musculature

Skeletal muscles stem from the dermatomyotomes of the paraxial mesoderm that extend from the primitive streak to the prechordal plate. In stage 9 the paraxial mesoderm - caudal to the otic vesicle - begins to segment and the insuing structures are called metameres . This is the start of the somite development (stage 9) that progresses along a craniocaudal gradient. With 4½ weeks (stage 13) ca. 30 somite pairs are present. In total, ca. 38 or 39 somite pairs are formed (4 occipital, 8 cervical, 12 thoracic, 5 lumbal,5 sacral and 4 or 5 coccygeal somite pairs, whereby not all of them are present at the same time.

Fig. 9 - Embryo in stage 14
ca. 33 days
media/module14/m3a_myotomest14.jpg

Area of origin for the external
eye musculature
Occipital myotome
Migration of the cells for
the tongue musculature
Cervical myotome
Thoracic myotome
Lumbal myotome
Sacro-coccygeal myotome

Legend
Fig. 9

The approximate extension of the supply areas of the individual myotomes is shown with various colors.

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Detailed information about the structures of this diagram.

The somites and the myotomal derivates that come from them – according to their level - form the somatic musculature. The occipital myotomes (4, light green) mainly form the pharynx (throat) and upper or anterior neck musculature, including the tongue muscles. They are also responsible for the musculature in the occipital head region. From the cervical myotomes (8, orange) the neck and shoulder musculature form. They are followed by the thoracic myotomes that form the musculature of the upper extremities and breast and abdominal wall musculature. The lumbal myotomes (5, light blue) are responsible for the formation of the musculature in the lower extremities. Finally follow the sacral and coccygeal myotomes (5 sacral and 4-5 coccygeal, green) that form the muscles in the lower pelvis and gluteal region.

Fig. 10 - Stage 10, ca. 28 days
media/module14/m3b_querschnitt10.gif

  1. Somite
  2. Central canal of the neural tube
  3. Neural tube
  4. Neural crest
  5. Ectoderm
  6. Somitocoel
  7. Umbilical vein
  8. Intermediary Mesoderm
  9. Endoderm
  10. Notochord
  11. Dorsal aorta (paired)
  12. Splanchnopleura
  13. Coelom
  14. Somatopleura

Legend
Fig. 10

The somites with the somitocoel are formed out of the paraxial mesoderm. In this stage the intermediate mesoderm is also now visible. The embryo begins to fold laterally. The lateral mesoderm has divided into splanchno- and somatopleura. In this cross-section the neural crest cells are also shown schematically. From them come a large variety of cells and tissues.