Lecture: Development of the Heart

Introduction

• Overview of the development of the heart during embryogenesis.
• Importance of understanding cardiac development for medical and scientific advancements.

Early Development Stages

• Formation of Heart Tube
  • Initially forms as two endothelial tubes.
  • Tubes fuse to form a single primitive heart tube.
• Segmentation
  • The heart tube undergoes segmentation into different regions: bulbus cordis, ventricle, atrium, and sinus venosus.

Looping and Chamber Formation

• Heart Looping
  • The heart tube undergoes rightward looping, crucial for establishing the position of future atria and ventricles.
• Chamber Division
  • Septation of the heart into four chambers: left and right atria, left and right ventricles.
  • Formation of septa (walls) that divide the chambers:
    • Atrial septum.
    • Ventricular septum.

Development of the Conducting System

• Formation of the sinoatrial node, atrioventricular node, and bundle of His.
• Importance of the conducting system in heart rhythm regulation.

Blood Vessel Development

• Aortic Arches
  • Development from the pharyngeal arches.
  • Transformation into major arteries: aorta, pulmonary arteries.
• Venous System
  • Development of major veins: superior and inferior vena cava.

Common Developmental Abnormalities

• Congenital Heart Defects
  • Causes and types of defects such as septal defects, valve defects.
  • Impact on cardiac function and potential treatments.

Conclusion

• Recap of heart development process and its significance.
• Future directions in research and potential therapies for heart defects.