Anatomy, Comparative; Embryology, Human; Evolution; Human beings -- Origin
In all the Craniotes, from the Cyclostoma up to man, the same parts
develop from these five original cerebral vesicles, though in very
different ways. The first vesicle, the fore brain (Figure 1.155 v),
forms by far the largest part of the cerebrum--namely, the large
hemispheres, the olfactory lobes, the corpora striata, the callosum,
and the fornix. From the second vesicle, the intermediate brain (z),
originate especially the optic thalami, the other parts that surround
the third cerebral ventricle, and the infundibulum and pineal gland.
The third vesicle, the middle brain (m), produces the corpora
quadrigemina and the aqueduct of Sylvius. From the fourth vesicle, the
hind brain (h), develops the greater part of the cerebellum--namely,
the vermis and the two small hemispheres. Finally, the fifth vesicle,
the after brain (n), forms the medulla oblongata, with the
quadrangular pit (the floor of the fourth ventricle), the pyramids,
olivary bodies, etc.
We must certainly regard it as a comparative-anatomical and
ontogenetic fact of the greatest significance that in all the
Craniotes, from the lowest Cyclostomes and fishes up to the apes and
man, the brain develops in just the same way in the embryo. The first
rudiment of it is always a simple vesicular enlargement of the fore
end of the medullary tube. In every case, first three, then five,
vesicles develop from this bulb, and the permanent brain with all its
complex anatomic structures, of so great a variety in the various
classes of Vertebrates, is formed from the five primitive vesicles.
When we compare the mature brain of a fish, an amphibian, a reptile, a
bird, and a mammal, it seems incredible that we can trace the various
parts of these organs, that differ so much internally and externally,
to common types. Yet all these different Craniote brains have started
with the same rudimentary structure. To convince ourselves of this we
have only to compare the corresponding stages of development of the
embryos of these different animals.
(FIGURE 2.297. Head of a chick embryo (hatched fifty-eight hours),
from the back, magnified forty times. (From Mihalkovics.) vw anterior
wall of the fore brain. vh its ventricle. au optic vesicles, mh middle
brain, kh hind brain, nh after brain, hz heart (seen from below), vw
vitelline veins, us primitive segment, rm spinal cord.)
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