Skip to main content

Full text of "The elements of embryology"

See other formats


Boston 
Medical  Library 

8  THE  Fenway 


d^ 


fci^^A   d>  -  J'h-^&CyCLj>^cA^  ^ 


THE 

ELEMENTS    OF    EMBEYOLOGY. 


y 


THE 

ELEMENTS   OF  EMBRYOLOGY 


M.  FOSTER,  M.A.,  M.D.,  LL.D.,  F.E.S., 

FELLOW  OF  AND  PRELECTOR  IN  PHYSIOLOGY  IN  TRINITY  COLLEGE,  CAMBRIDGE, 

AND    THE   LATE 

FRANCIS  M.  BALFOUR,  M.A.,  LL.D,  F.R.S., 

FELLOW   OP   TRINITY   COLLEGE,    CAMBRIDGE, 
AND   PROFESSOR   OP  ANIMAL   MORPHOLOGY   IN   THE    UNIVERSITY. 


SECOND  EDITION  REVISED. 


EDITED  BY 
ADAM   SEDGWICK,  M.A, 

FELLOW  AND   ASSISTANT   LECTURER   OF   TRINITY   COLLEGE,    CAMBRIDGE, 


WALTER   HEAPE,  * 

DEMONSTRATOR   IN   THE    MORPHOLOGICAL   LABORATORY   OP   THE    UNIVERSITY 
OF   CAMBRIDGE. 


Hoftlron  ; 
MACMILLAN    AND     CO. 


[The  Right  of  Translation  is  reserved.] 


) 


'     '  MA: 

i 

PRINTED  BY  C.  J.  CLAY,  M.A.  &  SON, 
AT  THK  UNIVERSITY  PRESS. 


^.Jf.  ¥■ 


PEEFACE  TO   THE   SECOND   EDITION. 


When  this  little  work  first  appeared,  it  was  put  for- 
ward as  a  Part  I,  to  be  followed  by  other  Parts.  That 
plan  was  however  soon  abandoned.  Nevertheless  the 
volume  seemed  to  have  a  place  of  its  own ;  and  my  dear 
lost  friend  undertook  to  prepare  a  second  edition,  in- 
tending to  add  some  account  of  the  development  of 
the  Mammal  with  a  view  of  making  the  work  an 
elementary  introduction  to  vertebrate  embryology  more 
particularly  suited  for  medical  students.  He  was  occu- 
pied with  the  task  at  the  time  of  his  sad  death;  and 
indeed  a  melancholy  interest  is  attached  to  some  of  the 
sheets,  by  the  fact  that  he  had  taken  them  to  Switzer- 
land with  him,  on  that  fatal  journey. 

All  the  first  part  up  to  p.  160  he  had  passed  for 
press ;  and  he  had  further  revised  up  to  about  p.  202. 
The  whole  of  the  rest  of  the  volume  has  been  under- 


VI  PEEFACE. 

taken  by  Mr  Adam  Sedgwick  and  Mr  Walter  Heape. 
They  have  attempted  to  carry  out  as  far  as  possible 
what  we  believe  to  have  been  Balfour's  views,  and 
trust  that  the  pablic  will  judge  leniently  of  their 
efforts  to  perform  a  difficult  task.  I  have  myself  been 
able  to  do  no  more  than  offer  general  advice  from  time 
to  time;  and  though  it  has  not  been  thought  advisable 
to  change  the  title,  the  merits  as  well  as  the  responsi- 
bilities of  the  latter  part  of  the  work  must  rest  with 
them. 

M.  FOSTER. 

Trinity  College, 
Cambridge, 
3Iarch,  1883. 


TABLE    OF    CONTENTS. 


PAET  I.    THE  HISTORY  OF  THE  CHICK. 

CHAPTER  I. 

The  Structure  of  the  Hen's  Egg,  and  the  Changes  which  take 

PLACE   UP   TO   the   BEGINNING  OF  InCUBATION  .      pp.   I — 24. 

The  shell  and  shell-membrane,  i — 3.  The  albumen,  3.  The 
vitelline  membrane,  4.  The  yolk,  5 — 7.  Area  opaca,  7.  Area 
pellucida,  8.  The  structure  of  the  blastoderm,  7 — 10.  Eecapitu- 
lation,  10.  The  ovarian  ovum,  11 — 15.  The  descent  of  the  ovum 
along  the  oviduct,  15 — 17.  Impregnation,  17.  Segmentation, 
18—24. 

CHAPTER  II. 

Brief  Summary  of  the  whole  History  of  Incubation, 

pp.  25—47. 

The  embryo  is  formed  in  the  area  pellucida,  25.  The  germinal 
layers,  25,  26.  The  extension  of  the  blastoderm  over  the  yolk,  26. 
The  vascular  area,  27.  The  head-fold,  27 — 36.  The  tail- fold,  37. 
The  lateral  folds,  37.  The  yolk-sac,  37.  The  ahmentary  canal,  39. 
The  neural  tube,  39,  40.  The  body-cavity,  41.  The  somatopleure,  41. 
The  splanchnopleure,  42.  The  stalk  of  the  yolk-sac,  42,  43.  The 
amnion,  43 — 46.    The  allantois,  46,  47. 


Vlll  TABLE  OF  CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  III. 

The  Changes  which  take  place  dueing  the  Fikst   Day    of   Incu- 
bation        ...        pp.  48 — 76. 

Variations  in  the  progress  of  development,  48,  49.  The  embryonic 
shield,  49.  Formation  of  hypoblast,  51.  The  germinal  wall,  52. 
The  primitive  streak,  52 — 54.  Formation  of  primitive  streak  meso- 
blast,  54,  55.  Hypoblastic  mesoblast,  55.  Primitive  groove,  56,  57. 
The  notochord,  59 — 62.  The  medullary  groove,  62,  63.  Amnion,  63. 
The  changes  taking  place  in  the  three  layers,  63 — 66.  The  germinal 
wall,  65,  66.  The  increase  of  the  head-fold,  66.  The  closure  of  the 
medullary  canal,  66,  67.  The  cleavage  of  the  mesoblast ;  formation 
of  spanchnopleure  and  somatopleure,  68.  The  vertebral  and  lateral 
plates,  69.  The  mesoblastic  somites,  70.  The  sinus  rhomboidalis,  71. 
The  neurenteric  passage,  71 — 74.  Formation  of  the  vascular  area, 
74,  75.    Eecapitulation,  75,  76. 


CHAPTER  IV. 

The  Changes  which  take  place  dueing  the  Fiest   Half   or  the 
Second  Day    ...       pp.  77 — 95. 

Increasing  distinctness  and  prominence  of  embryo,  77.  The  first 
cerebral  vesicle,  78,  79.  The  auditory  pits,  81.  Increase  in  number 
of  mesoblastic  somites,  81.  The  fore-gut,  82.  The  heart,  82 — 89. 
The  vascular  system,  89 — 94.  Formation  of  blood-vessels,  92 — 94. 
The  rudiment  of  the  Wolffian  duct,  94.     Summary,  94,  95. 


CHAPTER  V. 

The  Changes  which  take  place  dueing  the  Second  Half  of  the 
Second  Day  .        .        .        pp.  96 — 108. 

Increasing  prominence  of  the  embryo;  the  tail-fold  and  lateral 
folds,  96.  Continued  closure  of  medullary  canal,  96—98.  The 
brain,  98 — loi.  The  optic  vesicles,  98.  The  second  and  third  cerebral 
vesicles,  100.  The  cerebral  hemispheres,  100.  First  appearance  of 
cranial  nerves,  100,  loi.  The  notochord,  loi.  The  cranial  flexure, 
TOT.     The  auditory  vesicle,  loi.    Increase  of  curvature  of  heart,  10 1, 


TABLE  OF  CONTENTS.  IX 

I02.  Auricular  appendages,  102.  Vascular  System,  102 — 106. 
Commencement  of  circulation,  102.  The  primitive  aortffi  and  first 
pair  of  aortic  arches,  102,  103.  The  vitelline  vessels  and  sinus  ter- 
minalis,  103,  104.  The  course  of  the  circulation,  105.  The  second 
and  third  pairs  of  aortic  arches,  105,  106.  The  Wolffian  duct  and 
first  appearance  of  Wolffian  body,  106.  The  growth  of  the  amnion, 
107.  The  first  appearance  of  the  allantois,  107.  Summary,  107, 
108. 

CHAPTER  VI. 

The  Changes  which  take  place  dubing  the   Third  Day, 

pp.  109—194. 
The  diminution  of  the  albumen,  109.  The  spreading  of  the  opaque 
and  vascular  areas,  109,  no.  The  vascular  area,  no — 113.  The 
continued  folding-in  of  the  embryo,  113.  The  increase  of  the  amnion, 
113.  The  change  in  position  of  the  embryo,  113 — 116.  The  curvature 
of  the  body,  n6.  The  cranial  flexure,  116,  117.  The  brain,  117 — 123. 
Growth  of  the  vesicle  of  the  cerebral  hemispheres,  117.  The  lateral 
ventricles,  117.  The  vesicle  of  the  3rd  ventricle  or  thalamencephalon, 
117.  The  rudiment  of  the  pineal  gland,  117,  118.  The  infundibulum, 
119.  The  stomodteum,  1 19.  The  pituitary  body,  119 — 121.  Changes 
in  the  mid-brain,  the  corpora  bigemina,  crura  cerebri  and  iter,  121. 
Changes  in  the  hind-brain,  the  medulla,  cerebellum,  4th  ventricle, 
121,  122.  Changes  in  the  neural  canal,  122,  123.  The  cranial 
and  spinal  nerves,  12^ — 132.  The  neural  band,  123 — 126.  The  fifth, 
seventh,  ninth  and  tenth  cranial  nerves,  126,  127.  Later  develop- 
ment of  cranial  nerves,  127 — [29.  The  spinal  nerves,  129.  The 
shifting  of  point  of  attachment  of  nerves,  131.  Anterior  roots,  131. 
The  eye,  1-3,'] — 156.  The  first  changes  in  the  optic  vesicles,  132,  133. 
The  secondary  optic  vesicle  and  development  of  the  lens,  134 — 137. 
The  choroidal  fissure,  137 — 140.  The  choroid,  sclerotic  and  cornea, 
140,  141.  The  further  development  of  the  optic  vesicle,  141.  The 
ora  serrata,  142.  The  iris,  142.  Pigment  epithelium  of  choroid,  142. 
The  ciliary  processes,  uvea,  ciliary  muscle  and  ligamentum  pectinatum, 
144.  The  histological  changes  in  the  retina,  144 — 146.  Optic  nerve, 
146,  147.  The  choroid  fissure,  147.  The  pecten,  148.  The  histo- 
logical changes  in  tha  lens,  149,  150.  The  vitreous  humour,  150. 
The  cornea,  150 — 153.  The  aqueous  humour,  153.  Summary  of  the 
development  of  the  eye,  154,  155.  The  eyelids,  155.  The  lacrymal 
glands  and  duct,  155,  156.     The  organ  of  hearing,  ie^6 — 161.     Closure 


X  TABLE  OF   CONTENTS. 

of  the  auditory  involution,  157.  The  otic  vesicle,  157,  The  mem- 
branous labyrinth,  158,  159.  The  osseous  labyrinth,  159,  160.  Com- 
parison of  ear  with  eye,  160,  161.  The  organ  of  smell,  161,  162. 
The  olfactory  lobes  and  nerves,  162.  The  visceral  arches  and  visceral 
clefts,  162 — 167.  Superior  maxillary,  and  fronto-nasal  processes, 
164,  165.  Fate  of  first  visceral  cleft,  165,  166.  The  meatus  audi- 
torius  externus,  166.  The  tympanic  membrane,  166.  The  Eustachian 
tube  and  tympanic  cavity,  165,  166.  The  fenestra  ovalis  and  rotunda, 
166.  The  columella,  166,  167.  The  vascular  system,  16'j — 170.  The 
aortic  arches,  167.  Changes  in  the  heart,  167,  168.  The  venous 
system,  169,  170.  The  meatus  venosus,  cardinal  veins  and  ductus 
Cuvieri,  169,  170.  The  alimentary  canal,  171 — 185.  Folding  in  of 
the  splanchnopleure,  tail-fold,  171,  172.  The  mesentery,  172,  173. 
(Esophagus  and  stomach,  173.  The  intestine,  174.  The  postanal 
gut,  neurenteric  canal  and  proctodseum,  174 — 176.  The  lungs, 
176—178.  The  liver,  178 — 181.  The  pancreas,  181.  The  thyroid 
body,  181,  182.  The  spleen,  182.  The  growth  and  blood-vessels  of  the 
allantois,  182 — 184.  The  mesoUast,  185 — 193.  The  muscle-plates, 
186 — 189.  The  intermediate  ceU-mass  and  Wolffian  body,  189 — 193. 
A  typical  Wolffian  tubule,  193.  Change  of  position  of  Wolffian  duct, 
193.     Summary,  193,  194. 

CHAPTER  VII. 

The  Changes  which  take  place  on  the  Foueth  Day,  pp.  195 — 231. 

Appearance  on  opening  the  egg,  195.  Growth  of  amnion,  195, 196. 
The  vitelline  duct,  196.  Increase  of  cranial  flexure  and  tail-fold,  196 — 
198.  The  first  appearance  of  the  limbs,  198.  The  growth  of  the 
brain,  200.  The  face,  202.  Changes  in  the  nasal  pits,  202.  The  sto- 
modseum  and  mouth,  202,  203.  The  cranial  nerves,  203.  Changes  in 
the  mesoblastic  somites,  204 — 212.  The  membranous  vertebral 
column,  205.  The  secondary  segmentation  of  the  vertebral  column 
and  formation  of  the  permanent  vertebrae,  205 — 207.  Kecapitulation, 
207,  208.  The  changes  in  the  notochord,  208 — 211.  Ossification  of 
vertebrae,  209,  210.  The  changes  in  the  muscle  plates,  211,  212. 
Wolffian  body  and  duct,  212—214.  The  Miillerian  duct,  214 — 218. 
The  kidney  and  ureter,  218 — 220.  The  ovaries  and  testes,  220 — 223. 
Fate  of  the  embryonic  urinogenital  organs,  223,  224.  Changes  in  the 
arterial  system,  224 — 226.  Changes  in  the  venous  system;  veins  of 
the  hver,  226 — 229.  Changes  in  the  heart ;  the  ventricular  septum, 
229,  230.     Summary,  230,  231. 


TABLE   OF   CONTENTS.  XI 

CHAPTER  VIII. 

The  Changes  which  take  place  on  the  Fifth  Day,  pp.  232 — 274. 

Appearance  on  opening  the  egg,  232.  The  changes  in  the  limbs, 
233,  234.  The  pectoral  and  pelvic  girdles ;  the  ribs  and  sternmn,  234, 
235.  The  development  of  the  skull,  235 — 246.  The  cranium,  235. 
The  parachordals  and  notochord,  237,  238.  The  trabecule,  239 — 241. 
The  sense  capsules,  241,  242.  Membrane  and  cartilage  bones,  242. 
Skeleton  of  visceral  arches,  242 — 245.  Table  of  bones,  246.  The 
changes  in  the  face,  246 — 251.  The  posterior  nares,  251.  Changes  in 
the  spinal  cord;  its  histological  differentiation,  251 — 254.  The  central 
canal;  and  the  posterior  and  anterior  fissures,  254 — 256.  Changes 
in  the  heart,  256 — 264.  Septum  in  the  bulbus  and  semilunar  valves, 
257 — 259.  The  cardiac  valves,  262.  The  foramen  ovale  and  Eustachian 
valve,  262 — 264.  The  pericardial  and  pleural  cavities,  264 — 269. 
Histological  differentiation  and  the  fate  of  the  three  primary  layers, 
269—273.     Summary,  273,  274. 


CHAPTER  IX. 

From  the  Sixth  Day  to  the  End  of  Incubation,  pp.  275 — 303. 

The  appearance  of  distinct  avian  characters,  275.  The  foetal 
appendages  during  the  6th  and  7th  days,  276 — 278.  During  the 
8th,  9th  and  loth  days,  278.  From  the  nth  to  the  i6th  days,  278,  279. 
From  the  i6th  day  onwards,  279,  280.  Changes  in  the  general  form 
of  the  embryo  during  the  6th  and  7th  days,  280 — 282.  During  the 
8th — loth  days,  282.  From  the  nth  day  onwards,  282.  Feathers,  282. 
Nails,  283.  Ossification,  283.  Changes  in  the  venous  system  before 
and  after  the  commencement  of  pulmonary  respiration,  283 — 289. 
Changes  in  the  arterial  system,  the  modification  of  the  aortic  arches, 
289 — 297.  Summary  of  the  chief  phases  of  the  circulation,  297 — 303. 
Hatching,  303. 


Xll  TABLE  OF  CONTENTS. 


PART  11.     THE   HISTORY   OF   THE    MAMMA- 
LIAN EMBRYO. 

Introduction,  pp.  307,  308. 


CHAPTER  X. 

General  Development  of  the  Embryo     .     .     pp.  309 — 341. 

The  ovarian  ovum,  309,  310.  The  egg-membranes,  310.  Ma- 
turation and  impregnation,  310 — 312.  Segmentation,  312 — 314.  The 
blastodermic  vesicle,  314 — 316.  The  formation  of  the  layers,  316 — 
320.  The  primitive  streak  and  groove,  319,  320.  The  medullary 
groove,  320,  321.  The  mesoblast,  321 — 325.  The  notochord,  325,  326. 
The  rudiment  of  the  neurenteric  canal,  326.  Eecapitulation,  326. 
The  vascular  area,  326.  General  growth  of  the  embryo,  327 — 334. 
The  human  embryo,  335 — 341.  Embryos  of  guinea-pig,  etc.  with  so- 
called  inversion  of  the  layers,  341. 


CHAPTER  XI. 

Embryonic  Membranes  and  Yolk-Sac  .    .     .    pp.  342 — 364. 

The  typical  development  of  the  embryonic  membranes,  342 — 352. 
Vascular  area  of  rabbit,  343 — 346.  The  yolk-sac  or  umbihcal  vesicle; 
amnion,  343.  The  subzonal  membrane,  346.  Attachment  of  blasto- 
dermic vesicle  to  uterine  walls,  347.  The  formation  of  the  chorion, 
348.  Mesoblast  and  blood-supply  of  the  allantois,  348,  349.  The 
placenta,  349,  350.  The  fate  of  the  embryonic  membranes,  350 — 352. 
Deciduate  and  non-deciduate  type  of  placenta,  352.  Comparative 
history  of  the  mammalian  fcetal  membranes,  352 — 359.  Foetal  mem- 
branes of  Monotremata  and  Marsupialia,  352.  The  discoidal  pla- 
centa, 353,  354.  The  metadiscoidal  placenta,  354 — 358.  The  zonary 
placenta,  358,  359.  The  diffuse  and  polycotyledonary  placenta,  359. 
Comparative  histology  of  the  placenta,  359 — 363.  Evolution  of  the 
placenta,  364. 


TABLE  OF  CONTENTS.  XUl 


CHAPTER  XII. 

The  Development  op  the  Organs  in  Mammalia,  pp.  365 — 422. 

The  organs  derived  from  the  epihlast,  365 — 400.  Hairs,  365. 
Glands,  366.  The  liind-brain,  367 — 370.  The  mid-brain,  370,  371. 
General  development  of  fore-brain,  371.  Thalamencephalon,  371 
— 376.  Pituitary  body,  372,  373.  Pineal  gland,  373 — 376.  Cerebral 
hemispheres,  376 — 385.  The  olfactory  lobes,  385.  Histogenesis  of 
brain,  385 — 387.  The  eyes,  387 — 390.  Choroid  sUt,  membrana 
capsulo-pupUlaris  and  arteria  centrahs  retinae,  389.  The  auditory 
organ,  390 — 397.  Accessory  auditory  structures,  397 — 399.  The  nasal 
organ,  and  organ  of  Jacobson,  399.  Cranial  and  spinal  nerves ;  sym- 
pathetic system,  400. 

Organs  derived  frovi  the  mesoblast,  400 — 417.  The  vertebral 
column,  400,  401.  The  skull,  401.  The  visceral  arches,  402.  Man- 
dibular and  hyoid  arches ;  malleus,  incus,  and  stapes,  403 — 405. 
Eibs ;  sternum;  pectoral  and  pelvic  girdles,  405.  Skeleton  of  the 
limbs,  406.  Body-cavity ;  pericardial,  pleural  cavities  and  dia- 
phragm, 406. 

The  vascular  system,  406 — 413.  The  heart,  406,  407.  The  ar- 
terial system,  407 — 409.  The  venous  system,  409 — 413.  The  supra- 
renal bodies,  413,  414.  The  urinogenital  organs,  414—417. 
WoUBfian  duct  and  body  ;  kidney  ;  ovary  and  testis,  414,  415.  Genital 
cord,  415.  Urinogenital  sinus  and  external  generative  organs,  415 
—417. 

Alimentary  canal  and  its  appendages,  ^tj — 422.  Splanchnic 
mesoblast  and  mesentery,  419,  420.  Stomodeeum,  420,  421.  Hard 
and  soft  palate,  420,  421.     Teeth,  421.     Proctodseum,  422. 


APPENDIX        .        .        pp.  423—471. 

Incubators,  423 — 425.     Hardening  reagents,  425 — 428.     Staining 
reagents,  428 — 432.     Imbedding,  432 — 434.     Cutting  sections,  434, 

435.  Mounting  sections,  436.     Preservation  of  embryos  as  a  whole, 

436,  437- 


XIV  TABLE  OF  CONTENTS. 

Practical  directions  for  obtaining  and  studying  chick  embryos,  437 
—460.  Examination  of  a  36 — 48  hours  embryo,  437 — 444.  Of  an 
embryo  of  about  48 — 50  hours,  444 — 447.  Of  an  embryo  at  the  end 
of  the  3rd  day,  447 — 451.  Of  an  embryo  of  the  4th  day,  451 — 453. 
Of  a  blastoderm  of  20  hours,  453 — 456.  Of  an  unincubated  blasto- 
derm, 457.  Of  the  process  of  segmentation,  458.  Of  the  later  changes 
of  the  embryo,  459.     Of  the  development  of  blood-vessels,  459,  460. 

Practical  directions  for  ohtaining  and  studying  Mammalian  em- 
bryos, 460 — 471.  Animals  and  breeding,  460,  461.  Examination  and 
treatment  of  segmenting  ova,  461 — 464.  Of  the  blastodermic  vesicle, 
72 — 90  hours,  465.  Of  the  blastodermic  vesicle  of  7  days,  465,  466. 
Of  an  8  days  embryo,  466 — 468.  Of  an  embryo  of  8  days  12  hours, 
468,  469.  Of  the  fcetal  membranes  of  an  embryo  of  14  days,  469, 
470. 

Note  A.    Automatic  microtome,  471. 

Note  B.    New  method  of  mounting  sections,  471. 


PABT  I. 
THE  HISTORY  OF  THE  CHICK. 


^  v>  .•  • 


4      •■'■'<jO 


•'■  ..y^ij-.y'  H' 


CHAPTER  I. 

THE  STRUCTURE  OF  THE  HEN'S  EGG,  AND  THE  CHANGES 
WHICH  TAKE  PLACE  UP  TO  THE  BEGINNING  OF  IN- 
CUBATION. 

In  a  hen  s  egg  quite  newly  laid  we  meet  with  the 
following  structures.  Most  external  is  the  shell  (Fig. 
1,  s.),  composed  of  an  organic  basis,  impregnated  with 
calcic  salts.  It  is  sufficiently  porous  to  allow  of  the 
interchange  of  gases  between  its  interior  and  the  exter- 
nal air,  and  thus  the  chemical  processes  of  respiration, 
feeble  at  first,  but  gradually  increasing  in  intensity,  are 
carried  on  during  the  whole  period  of  incubation. 

It  is  formed  of  two  layers,  both  of  which  may  contain 
pigment.  The  inner  layer  is  by  far  the  thickest,  and  is 
perforated  by  vertical  canals  which  open  freely  on  its 
inner  aspect.  Superficially  these  canals  appear  to  be 
closed  by  the  extremely  thin  outer  layer.  They  are 
probably  of  some  importance  in  facilitating  the  pene- 
tration of  air  through  the  shell. 

Lining  the  shell,  is  the  shell-memhrane,  which  is 
double,  being  made  up  of  two  layers :  an  outer  thicker 
F.  &  B.  1 


THE  HEN  S   EGG. 


[chap. 


(Fig.  1,  s.  m),  and  an  inner  thinner  one  [i.  s.  m.).  Both 
of  these  layers  consist  of  several  laminae  of  felted  fibres 
of  various  sizes,  intermediate  in  nature  between  connec- 
tive and  elastic  fibres. 


Fig.  1. 


Diagrammatic  Section  of  an  Unincubated  Fowl's  Egg 
(modified  from  Allen  Thomson). 

bl.  blastoderm,  w.  y.  white  yolk.  This  consists  of  a  central 
flask-shaped  mass  and  a  number  of  layers  arranged  con- 
centrically around  this.  y.  y.  yellow  yolk.  v.  t.  vitelline 
membrane,  x.  layer  of  more  fluid  albumen  immediately 
surrounding  the  yolk.  w.  albumen  consisting  of  alternate 
denser  and  more  fluid  layers,  ch.  I.  chalaza.  a.  ch.  air- 
chamber  at  the  broad  end  of  the  Qgg.  This  chamber  is 
merely  a  space  left  between  the  two  layers  of  the  shell-mem- 
brane. ^.  s.  m.  internal  layer  of  shell-membrane,  s.  m. 
external  layer  of  shell-membrane,    s.  shell. 


I.]  THE  WHITE   OF  THE   EGG.  3 

Over  the  greater  part  of  the  egg  the  two  layers  of 
the  shell-membrane  remain  permanently  in  close  appo- 
sition ;  but  at  the  broad  end  they  tend  to  separate,  and 
thus  to  develope  between  them  a  space  into  which  air 
finds  its  way.  This  air-chamber,  as  it  is  called,  is  not 
to  be  found  in  perfectly  fresh  eggs,  but  makes  its 
appearance  in  eggs  which  have  been  kept  for  some 
time,  whether  incubated  or  not,  and  gradually  increases 
in  size,  as  the  white  of  the  egg  shrinks  in  bulk  from 
evaporation. 

Immediately  beneath  the  shell-membrane  is  the 
white  of  the  egg  or  albumen  (Fig.  1,  w.),  which  is,  chemi- 
cally speaking,  a  mixture  of  various  forms  of  proteid 
material,  with  fatty,  extractive,  and  saline  bodies.  The 
outer  part  of  the  white,  especially  in  eggs  which  are  not 
perfectly  fresh,  is  more  fluid  than  that  nearer  the  yolk. 

Its  average  composition  may  be  taken  as 
12-0  p.  c.  proteid  matter, 
1*5  p.  c.  fat  and  extractives, 
5  p.  c.  saline  matter,  chiefly  sodic  and  potassic  chlorides, 
with  phosphates  and  sulphates, 
86*0  p.  c.  water. 

The  white  of  the  egg  when  boiled  shews  in  section  alter- 
nate concentric  layers  of  a  transparent  and  of  a  finely  granular 
opaque  material.  In  the  natural  condition,  the  layers  corre- 
sponding to  these  opaque  layers  are  composed  of  more  fluid 
albumen,  while  those  corresponding  to  the  transparent  layers 
are  less  fluid,  and  consist  of  networks  of  fibres,  containing  fluid 
in  their  meshes.  The  innermost  layer,  however,  immediately 
surrounding  the  yolk  (Fig.  1,  x.),  is  of  the  more  fluid  finely 
granular  kind. 

In  eggs  which  have  been  hardened  a  spiral  arrange- 
ment of  the  white  may  be  observed,  and  it  is  possible  to 

1—2 


4  THE  hen's  egg.  [chap. 

tear  off  laminae  in  a  spiral  direction  from  left  to  right, 
from  the  broad  to  the  narrow  end  of  the  egg. 

Two  twisted  cords  called  the  chalazce  (Fig.  1,  ch.  L), 
composed  of  coiled  membranous  layers  of  denser  albu- 
men, run  from  the  two  extremities  of  the  egg  to  the 
opposite  portions  of  the  yolk.  Their  inner  extremities 
expand  and  merge  into  a  layer  of  denser  albumen  sur- 
rounding the  fluid  layer  next  the  yolk.  Their  outer 
extremities  are  free,  and  do  not  quite  reach  the  outer 
layer  of  the  white.  Thus  they  cannot  serve  to  suspend 
the  yolk,  although  they  may  help  to  keep  it  in  position, 
by  acting  as  elastic  pads.  The  interior  of  each  chalaza 
presents  the  appearance  of  a  succession  of  opaque  white 
knots ;  hence  the  name  chalazse  (hailstones). 

The  yolk  is  enclosed  in  the  vitelline  membrane  (Fig. 
1,  V.  t),  a  transparent  somewhat  elastic  membrane  easily 
thrown  into  creases  and  wrinkles.  It  might  almost  be 
called  structureless,  but  under  a  high  power  a  fine 
fibrillation  is  visible,  and  a  transverse  section  has  a 
dotted  or  punctuated  appearance ;  it  is  probably  there- 
fore composed  of  fibrils.  Its  affinities  are  with  elastic 
connective  tissue. 

The  whole  space  within  the  vitelline  membrane  is 
occupied  by  the  yolk.  To  the  naked  eye  this  appears 
tolerably  uniform  throughout,  except  at  one  particular 
point  of  its  surface,  at  which  may  be  seen,  lying  imme- 
diately under  the  vitelline  membrane,  a  small  white 
disc,  about  4  mm.  in  diameter.  This  is  the  blastoderm, 
or  cicatrioula. 

A  tolerably  typical  cicatricula  in  a  fecundated  egg 
will  shew  an  outer  white  rim  of  some  little  breadth,  and 
within  that  a  circular  transparent  area,  in  the  centre  of 


I.]  THE   WHITE  YOLK.  5 

which,  again,  there  is  an  opacity,  varying  in  appearance, 
sometimes  homogeneous,  and  sometimes  dotted. 

The  disc  is  always  found  to  be  uppermost  whatever 
be  the  position  of  the  egg,  provided  there  is  no  restraint 
to  the  rotation  of  the  yolk.  The  explanation  of  this  is 
to  be  sought  for  in  the  lighter  specific  gravity  of  that 
portion  of  the  yolk  which  is  in  the  neighbourhood  of  the 
disc,  and  the  phenomenon  is  not  in  any  way  due  to  the 
action  of  the  chalazse. 

A  section  of  the  yolk  of  a  hard-boiled  egg  will  shew 
that  it  is  not  perfectly  uniform  throughout,  but  that 
there  is  a  portion  of  it  having  the  form  of  a  flask,  with 
a  funnel-shaped  neck,  which,  when  the  egg  is  boiled, 
does  not  become  so  solid  as  the  rest  of  the  yolk,  but 
remains  more  or  less  fluid. 

The  expanded  neck  of  this  flask-shaped  space  is 
situated  immediately  underneath  the  disc,  while  its 
bulbous  enlargement  is  about  in  the  middle  of  the  yolk. 
We  shall  return  to  it  directly. 

The  great  mass  of  the  yolk  is  composed  of  what  is 
known  as  the  yellow  yolk  (Fig.  1,  y.  y).  This  consists 
of  spheres  (Fig.  2,  A.)  of  from  25yu-  to  100/^^  in  diameter 
filled  with  numerous  minute  highly  refractive  granules ; 
these  spheres  are  very  delicate  and  easily  destroyed  by 
crushing.  When  boiled  or  otherwise  hardened  in  situ, 
they  assume  a  polyhedral  form,  from  mutual  pressure. 
The  granules  they  contain  seem  to  be  of  an  albuminous 
nature,  as  they  are  insoluble  in  ether  or  alcohol. 

Chemically  speaking  the  yolk  is  characterized  by  the  presence 
in  large  quantities  of  a  proteid  matter,  having  many  affinities 
with  globuhn,  and  called  vitellin.   This  exists  in  peculiar  associa- 

1  u  =  -001  mm. 


6  THE  hen's  egg.  [chap. 

tion  with  the  remarkable  body  Lecithin.  (Compare  Hoppe- 
Seyler,  Hdh.  Phys.  Ckem.  Anal.)  Other  fatty  bodies,  colouring 
matters,  extractives  (and,  according  to  Dareste,  starch  in  small 
quantities),  &c.  are  also  present.  Miescher  (Hoppe-Seyler, 
Chem.  Untersuch.  p.  502)  states  that  a  considerable  quantity  of 
nuclein  may  be  obtained  from  the  yolk,  probably  from  the 
spherules  of  the  white  yolk. 

Fig.  2. 


A.  Yellow  yolk-spLere  filled  with  fine  granules.  The  outline  of 
the  sphere  has  been  rendered  too  bold. 

B.  White  yolk-spheres  and  spherules  of  various  sizes  and  pre- 
senting different  appearances.  (It  is  very  difl&cult  in  a 
woodcut  to  give  a  satisfactory  representation  of  these  pe- 
culiar structures.) 

The  yellov^  yolk,  thus  forming  the  great  mass  of  the 
entire  yolk,  is  clothed  externally  by  a  thin  layer  of  a 
dijBferent  material,  known  as  the  white  yolk,  which  at 
the  edge  of  the  blastoderm  passes  underneath  the  disc, 
and  becoming  thicker  at  this  spot  forms,  as  it  were,  a 
bed  on  which  the  blastoderm  rests.  Immediately  under 
the  middle  of  the  blastoderm  this  bed  of  white  yolk  is 
connected,  by  a  narrow  neck,  with  a  central  mass  of 
similar  material,  lying  in  the  middle  of  the  yolk  (Fig.  1, 
w.  y).  When  boiled,  or  otherwise  hardened,  the  white 
yolk  does  not  become  so  solid  as  the  yellow  yolk ;  hence 
the  appearances  to  be  seen  in  sections  of  the  hardened 
yolk.     The  upper  expanded  extremity  of  this  neck  of 


I,]  THE  YELLOW  YOLK:.  7 

■white   yolk  is  generally   known    as  the   "nucleus   of 
Pander." 

Concentric  to  the  outer  enveloping  layer  of  white 
yolk  there  are  within  the  yolk  other  inner  layers  of  the 
same  substance,  which  cause  sections  of  the  hardened 
yolk  to  appear  to  be  composed  of  alternate  concentric 
thicker  laminae  of  darker  (yellow)  yolk,  and  thinner 
laminae  of  lighter  (white)  yolk  (Fig.  1,  w,  y.). 

The  microscopical  characters  of  the  white  yolk 
elements  are  very  different  from  those  of  the  yellow 
yolk.  It  is  composed  of  vesicles  (Fig.  2,  B.)  for  the  most 
part  smaller  than  those  of  the  yellow  yolk  (4/i — 75^), 
with  a  highly  refractive  body,  often  as  small  as  1/z-,  in 
the  interior  of  each ;  and  also  of  larger  spheres,  each  of 
which  contains  a  number  of  spherules,  similar  to  the 
smaller  spheres. 

Another  feature  of  the  white  yolk,  according  to  His, 
is  that  in  the  region  of  the  blastoderm  it  contains 
numerous  large  vacuoles  filled  with  fluid;  they  are 
sufficiently  large  to  be  seen  with  the  naked  eye,  but  do 
not  seem  to  be  present  in  the  ripe  ovarian  ovum. 

It  is  now  necessary  to  return  to  the  blastoderm.  In 
this,  as  we  have  already  said,  the  naked  eye  can  distin- 
guish an  opaque  white  rim  surrounding  a  more  trans- 
parent central  area,  in  the  middle  of  which  again  is  a 
white  spot  of  variable  appearance.  In  an  unfecundated 
cicatricula  the  white  disc  is  simply  marked  with  a 
number  of  irregular  clear  spaces,  there  being  no  proper 
division  into  a  transparent  centre  and  an  opaque  rim. 

The  opaque  rim  is  the  commencement  of  what  we 
shall  henceforward  speak  of  as  the  area  opaca;  the 
central  transparent   portion   is   in   the   same  way  the 


8  THE  hen's  egg.  [chap. 

beginning  of  the  area  pellucida.  In  the  part  corre- 
sponding to  the  area  opaca  the  blastoderm  rests  imme- 
diately on  the  white  yolk ;  underneath  the  area  pellu- 
cida is  a  shallow  space  containing  a  nearly  clear  fluid, 
to  the  presence  of  which  the  central  transparency  seems 
to  be  due.  The  white  spot  in  the  middle  of  the  area 
pellucida  appears  to  be  the  nucleus  of  Pander  shining 
through. 

Vertical  sections  of  the  blastoderm  shew  that  it  is 
formed  of  two  layers.  The  upper  of  these  two  layers 
is  composed,  see  Fig.  3,  ep,  of  a  single  row  of  cells, 
with  their  long  axes  arranged  vertically,  adhering 
together  so  as  to  form  a  distinct  membrane,  the  edge  of 
which  rests  upon  the  white  yolk.  After  staining  with 
silver  nitrate,  this  membrane  viewed  from  above  shews 
a  mosaic  of  uniform  polygonal  cells. 

Each  cell  is  composed  of  granular  protoplasm  filled 
with  highly  refractive  globules ;  and  in  each  an  oval  nu- 
cleus may  be  distinguished.  They  axe  of  a  nearly  uniform 
size  (about  9  /jl)  over  the  opaque  and  the  pellucid  areas. 

The  under  layer  (Fig.  3,  I),  is  composed  of  cells 
which  vary  considerably  in  diameter;  but  even  the 
smaller  cells  of  this  layer  are  larger  than  the  cells  of  the 
upper  layer.  They  are  spherical,  and  so  filled  with 
granules  and  highly  refractive  globules,  that  a  nucleus 
can  rarely  be  seen  in  them:  in  the  larger  cells  these 
globules  are  identical  with  the  smaller  white  yolk 
spheres. 

The  cells  of  this  layer  do  not  form  a  distinct  mem- 
brane like  the  cells  of  the  upper  layer,  but  lie  as  a 
somewhat  irregular  network  of  cells  between  the  upper 
layer  and  the  bed  of  white  yolk  on  which  the  blastoderm 


I-] 


THE  BLASTODERM. 


rests.  The  lowest  are  generally  the 
largest.  The  layer  is  thicker  at  the  peri- 
phery than  at  the  centre :  and  rests  on 
a  bed  of  white  yolk,  from  which  it  is  in 
parts  separated  by  a  more  or  less  de- 
veloped cavity,  containing  probably  fluid 
yolk  matter  about  to  be  absorbed.  In 
the  bed  of  white  yolk  nuclei  are  present, 
which  are  destined  to  become  the  nuclei 
of  cells  about  to  join  the  lower  layer  of 
the  blastoderm.  These  nuclei  are  gene- 
rally more  numerous  in  the  neighbour- 
hood of  the  thickened  periphery  of  the 
blastoderm  than  elsewhere.  Amongst 
the  lower  layer  cells  are  to   be  found 


Fig.  3. 
Section  of  a  Blastoderm  of  a  Fowl's  Egg 

AT  THE   commencement   OF   InCUBATION. 

The  thin  but  complete  upper  layer  ep  com- 
posed of  columnar  cells  rests  on  the  in- 
complete lower  layer  ?,  composed  of  larger 
and  more  granular  cells.  The  lower  layer 
is  thicker  in  some  places  than  in  others, 
and  is  especially  thick  at  the  periphery. 
The  line  below  the  under  layer  marks  the 
upper  surface  of  the  white  yolk.  The  larger 
so-called  formative  cells  are  seen  at  6, 
lying  on  the  white  yolk.  The  figure  does 
not  take  in  quite  the  whole  breadth  of  the 
blastoderm  ;  but  the  reader  must  under- 
stand that  both  to  the  right  hand  and  the 
left  ep  is  continued  farther  than  ?,  so  that 
at  the  extreme  edge  it  rests  directly  on 
the  white  yolk. 


10  THE   hen's   egg.  [chap. 

peculiar  large  spherical  bodies,  which  superficially  re- 
semble the  larger  cells  around  them,  and  have  been 
called  formative  cells.  Their  real  nature  is  still  very- 
doubtful,  and  though  some  are  no  doubt  true  cells, 
others  are  perhaps  only  nutritive  masses  of  yolk. 

The  opacity  of  the  peripheral  part  of  the  blastoderm 
is  in  a  large  measure  due  to  the  collection  of  the  lower 
layer  cells  in  this  region,  and  the  thickening,  so  caused, 
appears  to  be  more  pronounced  for  a  small  arc  which 
subsequently  constitutes  the  hinder  border  of  the  area 
pellucida. 

Over  nearly  the  whole  of  the  blastoderm  the  upper 
layer  rests  on  the  under  layer.  At  the  circumference 
however  the  upper  layer  stretches  for  a  short  distance 
beyond  the  under  layer,  and  here  consequently  rests 
directly  on  the  white  yolk. 

To  recapitulate : — In  the  normal  unincubated  hen's 
egg  we  recognize  the  blastoderm,  consisting  of  a  com- 
plete upper  layer  of  smaller  nucleated  granular  cells 
and  a  more  or  less  incomplete  under  layer  of  larger 
cells,  filled  with  larger  granules;  in  these  lower  cells 
nuclei  are  rarely  visible.  The  thin  flat  disc  so  formed 
rests,  at  the  uppermost  part  of  the  entire  yolk,  on  a 
bed  of  white  yolk,  and  a  peripheral  thickening  of  the 
lower  layer  causes  the  appearance  in  the  blastodermic 
disc  of  an  area  opaca  and  an  area  pellucida.  The  great 
mass  of  the  entire  yolk  consists  of  the  so-called 
yellow  yolk  composed  of  granular  spheres.  The 
white  yolk  is  composed  of  smaller  spheres  of  pecu- 
liar structure,  and  exists,  in  small  part,  as  a  thin 
coating  around,  and  as  thin  concentric  laminae  in 
the   substance  of  the  yellow  yolk,  but  chiefly  in  the 


I.J  THE  OVARIAN  OVUM.  11 

form  of  a  flask-shaped  mass  in  the  interior  of  the  yolk, 
the  tipper  somewhat  expanded  top  of  the  neck  of 
which  forms  the  bed  on  which  the  blastoderm  rests. 
The  whole  yolk  is  invested  with  the  vitelline  mem- 
brane, this  again  with  the  white;  and  the  whole  is 
covered  with  two  shell-membranes  and  a  shell. 

Such  an  egg  has  however  undergone  most  important 
changes  while  still  within  the  body  of  the  hen;  and 
in  order  to  understand  the  nature  of  the  structures 
which  have  just  been  described,  it  will  be  necessary  to 
trace  briefly  the  history  of  the  egg  from  the  stage  when 
it  exists  as  a  so-called  ovarian  ovum  in  the  ovary  of  a 
hen  up  to  the  time  when  it  is  laid. 

In  birds  the  left  ovary  alone  is  found  in  the  adult ; 
and  is  attached  by  the  mesovarium  to  the  dorsal  wall 
of  the  abdominal  cavity,  on  the  left  side  of  the  vertebral 
column.  It  consists  of  a  mass  of  vascular  stroma  in 
which  the  ova  are  imbedded,  is  covered  superficially 
by  a  layer  of  epithelium,  continuous  with  the  epithelial 
lining  of  the  peritoneal  cavity.  The  appearance  of  the 
ovary  varies  greatly  according  to  the  age  of  the  indi- 
vidual. In  the  mature  and  sexually  active  females 
it  is  almost  wholly  formed  of  pedunculated  and  highly 
vascular  capsules  of  various  sizes,  each  containing  a  more 
or  less  developed  ovum ;  in  the  young  animal  however 
it  is  much  more  compact,  owing  to  the  absence  of 
advanced  ova. 

If  one  of  the  largest  capsules  of  the  ovary  of  a  hen 
which  is  laying  regularly  be  opened,  it  will  be  found  to 
contain  a  nearly  spherical  (or  more  correctly,  ellipsoidal 
with  but  slightly  unequal  axes)  yellow  body  enclosed  in 
a  dehcate  membrane.     This  is  the  ovarian  ovum  or  egg. 


12 


THE  HEN  S   EGG. 


[chap. 


Examined  with  care  the  ovum,  which  is  tolerably  uni- 
form in  appearance,  will  be  found  to  be  marked  at  one 
spot  (generally  facing  the  stalk  of  the  capsule  and  form- 
ing the  pole  of  the  shorter  axis  of  the  ovum)  by  a  small 
disc  differing  in  appearance  from  the  rest  of  the  ovum. 
This  disc  which  is  known  as  the  germinal  disc  or  discus 

Fm.  4. 


Section  through  the  Germinal  Disc  of  the  ripe  Ovarian 
Ovum  of  a  Fowl  while  yet  enclosed  in  its  Capsule. 

a.  Connective-tissue  capsule  of  the  ovum.  b.  follicular  epithe- 
Hum,  at  the  surface  of  which  nearest  the  ovum  lies  the 
vitelline  membrane,  c.  granular  material  of  the  germinal 
disc,  which  becomes  converted  into  the  blastoderm.  (This 
is  not  very  well  represented  in  the  woodcut.  In  sections 
which  have  been  hardened  in  chromic  acid  it  consists  of  fine 
granules.)  w.  y,  white  yolk,  which  passes  insensibly  into 
the  fine  granular  material  of  the  disc,  x,  germinal  vesicle 
enclosed  in  a  distinct  membrane,  but  shrivelled  up  by  the 
action  of  the  chromic  acid,  y,  space  originally  completely 
filled  up  by  the  germinal  vesicle,  before  the  latter  was 
shrivelled  up  by  the  action  of  the  chromic  acid. 

proligerus,  consists  of  a  lenticular  mass  of  protoplasm 
(Fig.  4,  c),  imbedded  in  which  is  a  globular  or  ellipsoidal 
body  (Fig.  4,  oc),  about  SlOyu,  in  diameter,  called  the 
germinal  vesicle.  This  has  a  delicate  wall,  and  its  con- 
tents are  clear  and  fluid  in  the  fresh  state,  but  become 
granular  upon  the  addition  of  reagents. 


!•] 


THE   OVARIAN   OVUM. 


13 


The  rest  of  the  ovum  is  known  as  the  yolk.  This 
consists  of  two  elements,  the  white  yolk-  and  the  yellow 
yolk-spheres,  which  are  distributed  respectively  very 
much  in  the  same  way  as  in  the  laid  egg,  the  yellow 
yolk  forming  the  main  mass  of  the  ovum,  and  the  white 
yolk  being  gathered  underneath  and  around  the  disc 
(Fig.  4,  w.  y),  and  also  forming  a  flask-shaped  mass  in 
the  interior.  The  delicate  membrane  surrounding  the 
whole  is  the  vitelline  membrane. 

The  youngest  ova  in  the  ovary  of  a  fowl,  in  common 
with  those  of  all  other  animals,  present  the  characters 
of  a  simple  cell.  Such  a  cell  is  dia  grammatically  repre- 
sented in  Fig.  5. 

It  is  seen  to  consist  of  a  naked  protoplasmic  body 
containing  in  its  interior  a  nucleus — the  germinal  vesi- 
cle— which  in  its  turn  envelopes 
a  nucleolus — constituting  what  is 
known    as    the    germinal    spot. 
Such  young  ova  are  enclosed  in 
a  capsule  of  epithelium,  named 
the    follicle    or    follicular   mem- 
brane,  and  are  irregularly  scat- 
tered in  the  stroma  of  the  ovary. 
The  difference  between  such 
an  immature  ovum  and  the  ripe 
ovum  just  described  is  very  great, 
but    throughout  its   growth  the 
ovum  retains  the  characters  of  a 
cell,  so  that  the  mature  ova- 
rian ovum,  equally  with  the 
youngest  ovum  in  the  ovary,  is  a  single  cell. 
The  most  striking  changes  which  takes  place  in  the 


Fig.  5. 


Diagram  of  the 
Ovum.  (From  Gegen- 
baur.) 

a.  Granular  proto- 
plasm, h.  Nucleus  (ger- 
minal vesicle),  c.  Nu- 
cleolus (germinal  spot). 


14  THE  hen's  egg.  [chap. 

course  of  the  maturation  of  the  ovura  concern  the  body 
of  the  cell  rather  than  the  germinal  vesicle.  As  the 
body  grows  in  size  a  number  of  granules  make  their 
appearance  in  its  interior.  These  granules  are  formed 
by  the  inherent  activity  of  the  protoplasm,  which  is 
itself  nourished,  in  a  large  measure  at  any  rate,  by  the 
cells  of  the  follicle.  The  outermost  layer  of  the  proto- 
plasm remains  free  from  these  granules.  As  the  ovum 
grows  older  the  granules  become  larger,  first  of  all  in 
the  centre,  and  subsequently  at  the  periphery,  and  take 
the  form  of  white  yolk-spherules.  The  greater  part  of 
them  become  at  a  later  stage  converted  into  yellow 
yolk-spheres,  while  a  portion  of  them,  situated  in  the 
position  of  the  white  yolk  of  the  ripe  ovum,  retain  their 
original  characters. 

The  germinal  vesicle,  which  in  the  youngest  ova  is 
situated  centrally  or  subcentrally,  travels  in  the  course 
of  the  growth  of  the  ovum  towards  the  periphery,  and 
the  protoplasm  immediately  surrounding  it  remains 
relatively  free  from  yolk  granules,  and  so  constitutes 
the  germinal  disc.  In  the  younger  ova  there  is  but  a 
single  germinal  spot  in  the  germinal  vesicle,  but  as  the 
ova  enlarge  several  accessory  germinal  spots  make  their 
appearance,  while  in  the  ripe  ovum  it  seems  doubtful 
whether  there  is  any  longer  a  trace  of  a  germinal 
spot. 

The  cells  of  the  follicular  epithelium  are  at  first 
arranged  in  a  single  row,  but  at  a  later  stage  become 
two  or  more  rows  deep:  they  undergo  however  a 
nearly  complete  atrophy  in  the  ripe  ovum.  Around 
the  follicular  epithelium  there  is  present  a  membrana 
propria,  and  in  the  later  stages  of  the  growth  of  the 


I.]  THE   OVAEIAN   OVUM.  15 

ovum  this  is  in  its  turn  embraced  by  a  highly  vascular 
connective-tissue  capsule. 

The  youngest  ova  are,  as  has  already  been  stated, 
quite  naked.  In  ova  of  about  1*5  mm.  the  superficial 
layer  of  the  ovum  becomes  converted  into  a  radiately 
striated  membrane  called  the  zona  radiata.  At  a  later 
period  a  second  membrane,  placed  between  the  zona 
radiata  and  the  cells  of  the  follicle,  makes  its  appearance, 
but  its  mode  of  origin  is  still  unknown.  As  the  ovum 
approaches  maturity  the  zona  radiata  disappears,  and  in 
the  ripe  ovum  the  second  membrane,  which  has  already 
been  spoken  of  as  the  vitelline  membrane,  alone 
remains. 

From  what  has  just  been  stated  it  follows  that  in 
an  egg  which  has  been  laid  the  yolk  alone  constitutes 
the  true  ovum.  The  white  and  the  shell  are  in  fact 
accessory  structures  formed  during  the  passage  of  the 
ovum  down  the  oviduct. 

When  the  ovarian  ovum  is  ripe  and  about  to  be 
discharged  from  the  ovary,  its  capsule  is  clasped  by 
the  open  infundibulum  of  the  oviduct.  The  capsule 
then  bursts,  and  the  ovum  escapes  into  the  oviduct,  its 
longer  axis  corresponding  with  the  long  axis  of  the 
oviduct,  the  germinal  disc  therefore  being  to  one 
side. 

In  describing  the  changes  which  take  place  in  the 
oviduct,  it  will  be  convenient,  following  the  order  pre- 
viously adopted,  to  treat  first  of  all  of  the  formation 
of  the  accessory  parts  of  the  egg.  These  ai-e  secreted 
by  the  glandular  walls  of  the  oviduct.  This  organ 
therefore  requires  some  description.  It  may  be  said  to 
consist  of  four  parts : — 1st.      The  dilated  infundibulum 


16  THE   hen's   egg.  [chap. 

with  an  abdominal  opening.  2nd.  A  long  tubular 
portion — the  oviduct  proper — opening  by  a  narrow  neck 
or  isthmus  into  the  3rd  portion,  which  is  much  dilated, 
and  has  been  called  the  uterus ;  the  4th  part  is  some- 
what narrow,  and  leads  from  the  uterus  into  the  cloaca. 
The  whole  of  the  mucous  membrane  lining  the  oviduct 
is  largely  ciliated. 

The  accessory  parts  of  the  egg  are  entirely  formed 
in  the  2nd  and  3rd  portions.  The  layer  of  albumen 
which  immediately  surrounds  the  yolk  is  first  de- 
posited ;  the  chalazse  are  next  formed.  Their  spiral 
character  and  the  less  distinctly  marked  spiral  arrange- 
ment of  the  whole  albumen  is  brought  about  by  the 
motion  of  the  egg  along  the  spiral  ridges  into  which 
the  interior  of  the  second  or  tubular  portion  of  the 
oviduct  is  thrown.  The  spirals  of  the  two  chalazse  are 
in  different  directions.  This  is  probably  produced  by 
their  peripheral  ends  remaining  fixed  while  the  yolk  to 
which  their  central  ends  are  attached  is  caused  to 
rotate  by  the  contractions  of  the  oviduct.  During  the 
formation  of  the  chalazse  the  rest  of  the  albumen  is 
also  deposited ;  and  finally  the  shell-membrane  is  formed 
in  the  narrow  neck  of  the  2nd  portion,  by  the  fibrilla- 
tion of  the  most  external  layer  of  albumen.  The  egg 
passes  through  the  2nd  portion  in  little  more  than 
3  hours.  In  the  3rd  portion  the  shell  is  formed.  The 
mucous  membrane  of  this  part  is  raised  into  nume- 
rous flattened  folds,  like  large  villi,  containing  follicu- 
lar glands.  From  these  a  thick  white  fluid  is  poured 
out,  which  soon  forms  a  kind  of  covering  to  the  egg,  in 
which  the  inorganic  particles  are  deposited.  In  this 
portion  of  the  oviduct  the  egg  remains  from  12  to   18 


I.]  IMPREGNATION.  17 

hours,  during  which  time  the  shell  acquires  its  normal 
consistency.  At  the  time  of  laying  it  is  expelled  from 
the  uterus  by  violent  muscular  contractions,  and  passes 
with  its  narrow  end  downwards  along  the  remainder  of 
the  oviduct,  to  reach  the  exterior. 

Impregnation,  This  process  occurs  in  the  upper 
portion  of  the  oviduct;  the  spermatozoa  being  found 
actively  moving  in  a  fluid  which  is  there  contained. 

We  have  as  yet,  as  far  as  the  fowl  is  concerned,  no 
direct  observations  concerning  the  changes  preceding 
and  following  upon  impregnation  ;  nor  indeed  concern- 
ing the  actual  nature  of  the  act  of  impregnation. 

In  other  types  however  these  processes  have  been 
followed  with  considerable  care,  and  the  result  has  been 
to  shew  that  prior  to  impregnation  a  division  of  the 
ovum  takes  place  into  two  very  unequal  parts.  The 
smaller  of  these  parts  is  kno'^Ti  as  the  polar  hody,  and 
plays  no  further  part  in  the  development.  In  the 
course  of  the  division  of  the  ovum  into  these  two  parts 
the  germinal  vesicle  also  divides,  and  one  part  of  it 
enters  the  polar  body,  while  a  portion  remains  in  the 
larger  segment  which  continues  to  be  called  the  ovum, 
and  is  there  known  as  the  female  pronucleus.  Im- 
pregnation has  been  found  to  consist  essentially  in 
the  entrance  of  a  single  spermatozoon  into  the  ovum, 
followed  by  the  fusion  of  the  two.  The  spermatozoon 
itself  is  to  be  regarded  as  a  cell,  the  head  of  which 
corresponds  to  the  nucleus.  When  the  spermatozoon 
enters  the  ovum  the  substance  forming  its  tail  becomes 
mingled  with  the  protoplasm  of  the  latter,  but  the  head 
enlarges  and  constitutes  a  distinct  body  called  the  male 
pronucleus,  which  travels  towards  and  finally  fuses  with 
F.  &  B.  2 


18  THE  hen's  egg.  [chap. 

the  female  pronucleus  to  constitute  the  nucleus  of  the 
impregnated  ovum. 

Segmentation.  There  follows  upon  the  impregna- 
tion a  remarkable  process  known  as  the  segmentation. 
The  process  consists  essentially  in  the  division  of  the 
impregnated  ovum  by  a  series  of  successive  segmenta- 
tions into  a  number  of  cells,  of  which  the  whole  of  the 
cells  of  the  future  animal  are  the  direct  descendants. 
In  the  majority  of  instances  this  process  results  in  the 
division  of  the  whole  ovum  into  cells ;  but  in  cases  of 
ova  where  there  is  a  large  amount  of  food  yolk,  only 
that  part  of  the  ovum  in  which  the  protoplasm  is  but 
slightly  loaded  with  food  material,  and  which  we  have 
already  described  as  the  germinal  disc,  becomes  so 
divided.  The  remainder  of  the  ovum  constitutes  a 
food  reservoir  for  the  use  of  the  developing  embryo 
and  is  known  as  the  food  yolk.  The  segmentation  in 
such  ova,  of  which  that  of  the  fowl  is  one  of  the 
best  known  examples,  is  described  as  being  partial  or 
meroblastic\ 

In  order  to  understand  the  process  of  segmentation 
in  the  fowl's  ovum  it  must  be  borne  in  mind  that  the 
germinal  disc  is  not  sharply  separated  from  the  re- 
mainder of  the  ovum,  but  that  the  two  graduate  insen- 
sibly into  each  other. 

The  segmentation  commences  in  the  lower  part  of 
the  oviduct,  shortly  before  the  shell  has  begun  to  be 
formed. 

Viewed  from  above,  a  furrow  is  seen  to  make  its 

1  For  a  fuller  account  of  the  relation  between  holoblastic  and 
meroblastic  segmentation  the  reader  is  referred  to  the  treatise  on 
Comparative  Embryology  by  Balfour,  Vol.  i.  chapter  iii. 


I.] 


SEGMENTATION. 
Fig.  6. 


19 


■^^  /b 


Surface  Views  op  the  early  Stages  of  the  Segmentation 
IN  A  Fowl's  Egg.    {A  and  G  after  Coste.) 

A  represents  the  earliest  stage.  The  first  furrow  (6)  has 
begun  to  make  its  appearance  in  the  centre  of  the  germinal  disc, 
whose  periphery  is  marked  by  the  line  a.  In  B,  the  first  furrow 
is  completed  nearly  across  the  disc,  and  a  second  similar  furrow 
at  right  angles  to  the  first  has  appeared.  The  disc  thus 
becomes  divided  somewhat  irregularly  into  quadrants  by  four 
(half)  furrows.  In  a  later  stage  ((7)  the  meridian  furrows  h  have 
increased  in  number,  from  four,  as  in  B,  to  nine,  and  cross 
furrows  have  also  made  their  appearance.  The  disc  is  thus  cut 
up  into  small  central  (c)  and  larger  peripheral  {d)  segments. 
Several  new  cross  furrows  are  seen  just  beginning,  as  ex.  gr.  close 
to  the  end  of  the  line  of  reference  d. 

appearance,  running  across  tlie  germinal  disc,  though 
not  for  the  whole  breadth,  and  dividing  it  into  two 
halves  (Fig.  6,  A).  This  primary  furrow  is  succeeded 
by  a  second  at  right  angles  to  itself.  The  surface  thus 
becomes  divided  into  four  segments  or  quadrants  (Fig. 
6,S). 

2—2 


20  THE  hen's  egg.  [chap. 

The  second  furrow  cuts  tlie  first  somewliat  excen- 
trically. 

The  first  four  furrows  do  not  extend  through  the 
whole  thickness  of  the  germinal  disc,  and  the  four  seg- 
ments marked  out  by  them  are  not  separated  from  the 
disc  on  their  lower  aspect. 

Each  of  these  is  again  bisected  by  radiating  furrows, 
and  thus  the  number  of  segments  is  increased  from  four 
to  eight  (it  may  be  seven  or  nine).  The  central  portion 
of  each  segment  is  then,  by  a  cross  furrow,  cut  off  from 
the  peripheral  portion,  giving  rise  to  the  appearance  of 
a  number  of  central  smaller  segments,  surrounded  by 
more  external  elongated  segments  (Fig.  6,  G). 

The  excentricity  in  the  arrangement  of  the  segments 
is  moreover  still  preserved,  the  smaller  segments  being 
situated  nearer  one  side  of  the  germinal  disc.  The 
excentricity  of  the  segmentation  gives  to  the  segmenting 
germinal  disc  a  bilateral  symmetry,  but  the  relation 
between  the  axis  of  symmetry  of  the  segmenting  germinal 
disc  and  the  long  axis  of  the  embryo  is  not  known. 

Division  of  the  segments  now  proceeds  rapidly  by 
means  of  furrows  running  in  various  directions.  And 
it  is  important  to  note  that  the  central  segments 
divide  more  rapidly  than  the  peripheral,  and  con- 
sequently become  at  once  smaller  and  more  numerous 
(Fig.  7). 

Meanwhile  sections  of  the  hardened  blastoderm 
teach  us  that  segmentation  is  not  confined  to  the  sur- 
face, but  extends  through  the  mass  of  the  blastoderm ; 
they  shew  us  moreover  that  division  takes  place  by 
means  of  not  only  vertical,  but  also  horizontal  furrows, 
i.  e.  furrows  parallel  to  the  surface  of  the  disc  (Fig.  8). 


I] 


SEGMENTATION. 

Fig.  7. 


21 


Surface  View  of  the  Germinal  Disc  of  a  Hen's  Egg 

DURING   THE   LATER   StAGES   OF   SEGMENTATION. 

(Chromic  Acid  Preparation.) 

At  c  in  the  centre  of  the  disc  the  segmentation  masses  are 
very  small  and  numerous.  At  b,  nearer  the  edge,  they  are 
larger  and  fewer ;  while  those  at  the  extreme  margin  a  are  largest 
and  fewest  of  all.  It  will  be  noticed  that  the  radiating  furrows 
marking  off  the  segments  a  do  not  reach  to  the  extreme  margin 
e  of  the  disc. 

The  drawing  is  completed  in  one  quadrant  only  ;  it  will  of 
course  be  understood  that  the  whole  circle  ought  to  be  filled  up 
in  a  precisely  similar  manner. 

In  this  way,  by  repeated  division  or  segmentation, 
the  original  germinal  disc  is  cut  up  into  a  large  number 
of  small  rounded  masses  of  protoplasm,  which  are  small- 
est in  the  centre,  and  increase  in  size  towards  the  peri- 
phery. The  segments  lying  uppermost  are  moreover 
smaller  than  those  beneath,  and  thus  the  establishment 
of  the  two  layers  of  the  blastoderm  is  foreshadowed. 


^mmmm 


/ 


spite" 


^liisgi 


JJ0Sp$, 


Section  of  the  Germinal  Disc  op  a  Fowl  during  the 

Later  Stages  of  Segmentation. 
The  section,  which  represents  rather  more  than  half  the 
breadth  of  the  blastoderm  (the  middle  line  being  shewn  at  c), 
shews  that  the  upper  and  central  parts  of  the  disc  segment 
faster  than  those  below  and  towards  the  periphery.  At  the 
periphery  the  segments  are  still  very  large.  One  of  the  larger 
segments  is  shewn  at  a.  In  the  majority  of  segments  a  nucleus 
can  be  seen  ;  and  it  seems  probable  that  a  nucleus  is  present  in 
all.  Most  of  the  segments  are  filled  with  highly  refracting 
spherules,  but  these  are  more  numerous  in  some  cells  (especially 
the  larger  cells  near  the  yolk)  than  in  others.  In  the  central 
part  of  the  blastoderm  the  upper  cells  have  commenced  to  form 
a  distinct  layer. 

a.  large  peripheral  cell.  b.  larger  cells  of  the  lower  parts  of  the 
blastoderm,  c.  middle  hne  of  blastoderm,  e.  edge  of  the 
blastoderm  adjoining  the  white  yolk.     w.  white  yolk. 

In  the  later  stages  of  segmentation  not  only  do  the 
first-formed  segments  become  further  divided,  but  seg 
mentation  also  extends  into  the  remainder  of  the  germi- 
nal disc. 

The  behaviour  of  the  nucleus  during  the  segmenta- 
tion has  not  been  satisfactorily  followed,  but  there  is, 


I.]  SEGMENTATION.  23 

from  the  analogy  of  other  forms,  no  doubt  that  in  the 
formation  of  the  first  two  segments  the  original  nucleus, 
formed  by  the  fusion  of  the  male  and  female  pronuclei, 
becomes  divided,  and  that  a  fresh  division  of  the  nucleus 
takes  place  with  the  formation  of  each  fresh  segment. 
Nuclei  make  their  appearance  moreover  in  the  part  of 
the  ovum  immediately  below  that  in  which  the  segmen- 
tation has  already  taken  place ;  these  are  in  all  proba- 
bility also  derived  from  the  primitive  nucleus.  The 
substance  round  some  of  these  nuclei  rises  up  in  the 
form  of  papillae,  which  are  subsequently  constricted  off 
and  set  free  as  supplementary  segmentation  masses; 
while  some  of  the  nuclei  remain  and  form  the  nuclei 
already  spoken  of  as  existing  in  the  bed  of  white  yolk 
below  the  blastoderm  in  the  unincubated  egg. 

Between  the  segmented  germinal  disc,  which  we 
may  now  call  the  blastoderm,  and  the  bed  of  white  yolk 
on  which  it  rests,  a  space  containing  fluid  makes  its 
appearance. 

As  development  proceeds,  segmentation  reaches  its 
limits  in  the  centre,  but  continues  at  the  periphery,  and 
thus  eventually  the  masses  at  the  periphery  become  of 
the  same  size  as  those  in  the  centre. 

The  distinction  however  between  an  upper  and  a 
lower  layer  becomes  more  and  more  obvious. 

The  masses  of  the  upper  layer  arrange  themselves, 
side  by  side,  with  their  long  axes  vertical ;  their  nuclei 
become  very  distinct.  In  fact  they  form  a  membrane 
of  columnar  nucleated  cells. 

The  masses  of  the  lower  layer,  remaining  larger  than 
those  of  the  upper  layer,  continue  markedly  granular 
and  round,  and  form  rather  a  close  irregular  network 


24  THE   hen's  egg.  [chap.  I. 

than  a  distinct  membrane.  Their  nuclei  are  not  readily 
visible. 

At  the  time  when  the  segmentation-spheres  in  the 
centre  are  smaller  than  those  at  the  periphery,  and 
those  above  are  also  smaller  than  those  below,  a  few 
large  spherical  masses,  probably  containing  each  one  of 
the  nuclei  already  spoken  of,  arise  by  a  process  of  seg- 
mentation from  the  bed  of  white  yolk,  and  rest  directly 
on  the  white  yolk  at  the  bottom  of  the  shallow  cavity 
below  the  mass  of  segmentation- spheres.  They  contain 
either  numerous  small  spherules,  or  fine  granules; 
the  spherules  precisely  resembling  the  smaller  spheres 
of  white  yolk.  These  loose  spherical  masses  form  the 
majority  of  the  formative  cells  already  spoken  of. 

Thus  the  original  germinal  disc  of  the  ovarian  ovum 
becomes,  by  the  process  of  segmentation,  converted  into 
the  blastoderm  of  the  laid  egg  with  its  upper  layer  of 
columnar  nucleated  cells,  and  its  lower  layer  of  irregu- 
larly disposed  cells,  accompanied  by  a  few  stray  "  forma- 
tive "  cells  lying  loose  in  the  cavity  below. 


CHAPTER  II. 

A  BRIEF  SUMMARY  OF  THE  WHOLE   HISTORY  OF 
INCUBATION. 

Step  by  step  the  simple  two-layered  blastoderm 
described  in  the  previous  chapter  is  converted  into  the 
complex  organism  of  the  chick.  The  details  of  the 
many  changes  through  which  this  end  is  reached  will 
perhaps  be  rendered  more  intelligible  if  we  prefix  to  the 
special  history  of  them  a  brief  summary  of  the  general 
course  of  events  from  the  beginning  to  the  end  of  incu- 
bation. 

In  the  first  place,  it  is  to  be  borne  in  mind  that  the 
embryo  itself  is  formed  in  the  area  pellucida,  and  in  the 
area  pellucida  alone.  The  area  opaca  in  no  part  enters 
directly  into  the  body  of  the  chick;  the  structures  to 
which  it  gives  rise  are  to  be  regarded  as  appendages, 
which  sooner  or  later  disappear. 

G-erminal  layers.  The  blastoderm  at  starting  con- 
sists of  two  layers.  Very  soon  a  third  layer  makes  its 
appearance  between  the  other  two.  These  three  layers, 
known  as  the  germinal  layers,  the  establishment  of  which 
is  a  fact  of  fundamental  importance  in  the  history  of  the 
embryo,  are  called  respectively  the  upper,  middle  and 
lower  layers,  or  epihlast,  mesoblast  and  hypoblast     Of 


26  PRELIMINARY  ACCOUNT.  [CHAP. 

these  the  epiblast  and  hypoblast  constitute  the  primary 
layers. 

Three  similar  germinal  layers  are  found  in  the 
embryos  of  all  vertebrate  and  most  invertebrate  forms, 
and  their  history  is  one  of  the  most  important  parts  of 
comparative  embryology. 

The  epiblast  gives  rise  to  the  epidermis,  the  central 
and  peripheral  parts  of  the  nervous  system,  and  to  the 
most  important  parts  of  the  organs  of  special  sense. 
The  hypoblast  is  essentially  the  secretory  layer,  and 
furnishes  the  whole  epithelial  lining  of  the  alimentary 
tract  and  its  glands,  with  the  exception  of  part  of.  the 
mouth  and  anus  which  are  lined  by  the  epiblast  and 
are  spoken  of  by  embryologists  as  the  stomodceum  and 
proctodwum.  Finally  the  mesoblast  is  a  source  from 
which  the  whole  of  the  vascular  system,  the  muscular 
and  skeletal  system,  and  the  connective  tissue  of  all 
parts  of  the  body,  are  developed.  It  gives  in  fact  origin 
to  the  connective-tissue  basis  both  of  the  skin  and  of 
the  mucous  membrane  of  the  alimentary  tract,  and  to 
all  the  structures  lying  between  these  two  with  the 
exceptions  already  indicated.  It  is  more  especially  to 
be  noted  that  it  gives  rise  to  the  excretory  organs  and 
generative  glands. 

Formation  of  the  embryo.  The  blastoderm  which 
at  first,  as  we  have  seen,  lies  like  a  watch-glass  over  the 
cavity  below,  its  margin  resting  on  the  circular  germinal 
wall  of  white  yolk,  spreads,  as  a  thin  circular  sheet,  over 
the  yolk,  immediately  under  the  vitelline  membrane. 
Increasing  uniformly  at  all  points  of  its  circumference, 
the  blastodermic  expansion  covers  more  and  more  of  the 
yolk,  and  at  last,  reaching  the  opposite  pole,  completely 
envelopes  it.     Thus  the  whole  yolk,  instead   of  being 


II.J  THE   HEAD-FOLD.  27 

enclosed  as  formerly  by  the  vitelline  membrane  alone, 
comes  to  be  also  enclosed  in  a  bag  formed  by  the  blasto- 
derm. 

It  is  not  however  until  quite  a  late  period  that  the 
complete  closing  in  at  the  opposite  pole  takes  place ;  in 
fact  the  extension  of  the  blastoderm  must  be  thought 
of  as  going  on  during  the  first  seven  days  of  incubation. 

Both  the  area  opaca  and  the  area  pellucida  share  in 
this  enlargement,  but  the  area  opaca  increases  much 
more  rapidly  than  the  area  pellucida,  and  plays  the 
principal  part  in  encompassing  the  yolk. 

The  mesoblast,  in  that  part  of  the  area  opaca  which 
is  nearest  to  the  area  pellucida,  becomes  the  seat  of 
peculiar  changes,  which  result  in  the  formation  of  blood- 
vessels. Hence  this  part  of  the  area  opaca  is  called  the 
vascular  area. 

The  embryo  itself  may  be  said  to  be  formed  by  a 
folding  off  the  central  portion  of  the  area  pellucida  from 
the  rest  of  the  blastoderm.  At  first  the  area  pellucida 
is  quite  flat,  or,  inasmuch  as  it  forms  part  of  the  circum- 
ference of  the  yolk,  slightly  but  uniformly  curved.  Very 
soon,  however,  there  appears  at  a  certain  spot  a  semi- 
lunar groove,  at  first  small,  but  gradually  increasing  in 
depth  and  extent;  this  groove,  which  is  represented  in 
section  in  the  diagram  (Fig.  9,  A),  breaks  the  uni- 
formity of  the  level  of  the  area  pellucida.  It  may  be 
spoken  of  as  a  tucking  in  of  a  small  portion  of  the 
blastoderm  in  the  form  of  a  crescent.  When  viewed 
from  above,  it  presents  itself  as  a  curved  line  (the  hinder 
of  the  two  concentric  curved  lines  in  front  of  A  in  Fig. 
22),  which  marks  the  hind  margin  of  the  groove,  the 
depression  itself  being  hidden. 


28 


PRELIMINAKY  ACCOUNT. 
Fig.  9. 


[chap. 


fi 


r^. 


-US' 


Fig.  9,  ^  to  N  forms  a  series  of  purely  diagrammatic  repre- 
sentations introduced  to  facilitate  the  comprehension  of  the 
manner  in  -which  the  body  of  the  embryo  is  formed,  and  of  the 
various  relations  of  the  yolk-sac,  amnion  and  allantois. 

In  all  "ot  is  the  vitelline  membrane,  placed,  for  convenience 
sake,  at  some  distance  from  its  contents,  and  represented  as  per- 
sisting in  the  later  stages ;  in  the  actual  egg  it  is  in  direct  contact 
with  the  blastoderm  (or  yolk),  and  early  ceases  to  have  a  separate 
existence.  In  all  e  indicates  the  embryo,  'pp  the  general  pleuro- 
peritoneal  space,  af  the  folds  of  the  amnion  proper  ;  ae  or  ac  the 
cavity  holding  the  liquor  amnii ;  al  the  allantois  ;  a  the  ali- 
mentary canal ;  y  ov  ys  the  yolk  or  yolk-sac. 

J,  which  maybe  considered  as  a  vertical  section  taken  longi- 
tudinally along  the  axis  of  the  embryo,  represents  the  relations  of 
the  parts  of  the  egg  at  the  time  of  the  first  appearance  of  the 
head-fold,  seen  on  the  right-hand  side  of  the  blastoderm  e.     The 


II.]  THE   EMBRYONIC   APPENDAGES.  29 

blastoderm  is  spreading  both  behind  (to  the  left  hand  in  the 
figure),  and  in  front  (to  right  hand)  of  the  head-fold,  its  limits 
being  indicated  by  the  shading  and  thickening  for  a  certain  dis- 
tance of  the  margin  of  the  yolk  y.  As  yet  there  is  no  fold  on  the 
left  side  of  e  corresponding  to  the  head-fold  on  the  right. 

^  is  a  vertical  transverse  section  of  the  same  period  drawn 
for  convenience  sake  on  a  larger  scale  (it  should  have  been  made 
flatter  and  less  curved).  It  shews  that  the  blastoderm  (vertically 
shaded)  is  extending  laterally  as  well  as  fore  and  aft,  in  fact  in 
all  directions  ;  but  there  are  no  lateral  folds,  and  therefore  no 
lateral  limits  to  the  body  of  the  embryo  as  distinguished  from 
the  blastoderm. 

Incidentally  it  shews  the  formation  of  the  medullary  groove 
by  the  rising  up  of  the  laminse  dorsales.  Beneath  the  section  of 
the  groove  is  seen  the  rudiment  of  the  notochord.  On  either  side 
a  line  indicates  the  cleavage  of  the  mesoblast  just  commencing. 

In  C,  which  represents  a  vertical  longitudinal  section  of  later 
date,  both  head-fold  (on  the  right)  and  tail-fold  (on  the  left)  have 
advanced  considerably.  The  alimentary  canal  is  therefore  closed 
in,  both  in  front  and  behind,  but  is  in  the  middle  still  widely 
open  to  the  yolk  y  below.  Though  the  axial  parts  of  the  embryo 
have  become  thickened  by  growth,  the  body-walls  are  still  thin ; 
in  them  however  is  seen  the  cleavage  of  the  mesoblast,  and  the 
divergence  of  the  somatopleure  and  splanchnopleure.  The 
splanchnopleure  both  at  the  head  and  at  the  tail  is  folded  in  to 
a  greater  extent  than  the  somatopleure,  and  forms  the  still  wide 
splanchnic  stalk.  At  the  end  of  the  stalk,  which  is  as  yet  short, 
it  bends  outwards  again  and  spreads  over  the  surface  of  the  yolk. 
The  somatopleure,  folded  in  less  than  the  splanchnopleure  to 
form  the  wider  somatic  stalk,  sooner  bends  round  and  runs  out- 
wards again.  At  a  little  distance  from  both  the  head  and  the 
tail  it  is  raised  up  into  a  fold,  «/,  a/,  that  in  front  of  the  head 
being  the  highest.  These  are  the  amniotic  folds.  Descending  from 
either  fold,  it  speedily  joins  the  splanchnopleure  again,  and  the 
two,  once  more  united  into  an  uncleft  membrane,  extend  some 
way  downwards  over  the  yolk,  the  limit  or  outer  margin  of  the 
opaque  area  not  being  shewn.  All  the  space  between  the  soma- 
topleure and  the  splanchnopleure,  pp^  is  shaded  with  dots.    Close 


30 


PRELIMINARY  ACCOUNT. 


[chap. 


to  the  body  this  space  may  be  called  the  pleuroperitoneal  cavity ; 
but  outside  the  body  it  runs  up  into  either  amniotic  fold,  and 
also  extends  some  little  way  over  the  yolk. 

jD  represents  the  tail  end  at  about  the  same  stage  on  a  more 
enlarged  scale,  in  order  to  illustrate  the  position  of  the  allantois 
al  (which  was  for  the  sake  of  simplicity  omitted  in  (7),  shewn  as  a 
bud  from  the  splanchnopleure,  stretching  downwards  into  the  pleu- 
roperitoneal cavity  p'p.  The  dotted  area  representing  as  before  the 


H 


II.]  THE  EMBRYONIC  APPENDAGES.  31 

wliole  space  between  the  splanclinopleiire  and  the  somatopleure, 
it  is  evident  that  a  way  is  open  for  the  allantois  to  extend  from 
its  present  position  into  the  space  between  the  two  limbs  of  the 
amniotic  fold  af. 

E,  also  a  longitudinal  section,  represents  a  stage  still  farther 
advanced.  Both  splanchnic  and  somatic  stalks  are  much  nar- 
rowed, especially  the  former,  the  cavity  of  the  alimentary  canal 
being  now  connected  with  the  cavity  of  the  yolk-sack  by  a  mere 
canal.  The  folds  of  the  amnion  are  spreading  over  the  top  of 
the  embryo  and  nearly  meet.  Each  fold  consists  of  two  walls 
or  Hmbs,  the  space  between  which  (dotted)  is  as  before  merely 
a  part  of  the  space  between  the  somatopleure  and  splanchno- 
pleure.  Between  these  arched  amniotic  folds  and  the  body  of 
the  embryo  is  a  space  not  as  yet  entirely  closed  in. 

F  represents  on  a  difi'erent  scale  a  transverse  section  of  E 
taken  through  the  middle  of  the  splanchnic  stalk.  The  dark  ring 
in  the  body  of  the  embryo  shews  the  position  of  the  neural  canal, 
below  which  is  a  black  spot,  marking  the  notochord.  On  either 
side  of  the  notochord  the  divergence  of  somatopleure  and  splanch- 
nopleure  is  obvious.  The  splanchnopleure,  more  or  less  thick- 
ened, is  somewhat  bent  in  towards  the  middle  line,  but  the  two 
sides  do  not  unite,  the  alimentary  canal  being  as  yet  open  below 
at  this  spot ;  after  converging  somewhat  they  diverge  again  and 
run  outwards  over  the  yolk.  The  somatopleure,  folded  in  to 
some  extent  to  form  the  body- walls,  soon  bends  outwards  again, 
and  is  almost  immediately  raised  up  into  the  lateral  folds  of  the 
amnion  af.  The  continuity  of  the  pleuroperitoneal  cavity  within 
the  body  with  the  interior  of  the  amniotic  fold  outside  the  body 
is  evident ;  both  cavities  are  dotted. 

G,  which  corresponds  to  i)  at  a  later  stage,  is  introduced  to 
shew  the  manner  in  which  the  allantois,  now  a  distinctly  hollow 
body,  whose  cavity  is  continuous  with  that  of  the  alimentary 
canal,  becomes  directed  towards  the  amniotic  fold. 

In  ^  a  longitudinal,  and  /  a  transverse  section  of  later  date, 
great  changes  have  taken  place.  The  several  folds  of  the  amnion 
have  met  and  coalesced  above  the  body  of  the  embryo.  The  inner 
limbs  of  the  several  folds  have  united  into  a  single  membrane  (a), 
which  encloses  a  space  (ae  or  ac)  round  the  embryo.     This  mem- 


82 


PEELIMINAKY  ACCOUNT. 


[chap. 


brane(a)is-the  amnion  proper,  and  the  cavity  within  it,  i.e.  between 
it  and  the  embryo,  is  the  cavity  of  the  amnion  containing  the 
liquor  amnii.  The  allantois  is  omitted  for  the  sake  of  sim- 
plicity. 

It  will  be  seen  that  the  amnion  a  now  forms  in  every  direc- 
tion the  termination  of  the  somatopleure  ;  the  peripheral  portions 
of  the  somatopleure,  the  united  outer  or  descending  limbs  of  the 
folds  af  in  (7,  i>,  F,  G  having  been  cut  adrift,  and  now  forming 
an  independent  continuous  membrane,  the  serous  membrane, 
immediately  underneath  the  vitelline  membrane. 

In  /  the  splanchnopleure  is  seen  converging  to  complete  the 
closure  of  the  alimentary  canal  a'  even  at  the  stalk  (elsewhere 
the  canal  has  of  course  long  been  closed  in),  and  then  spreading 
outwards  as  before  over  the  yolk.  The  point  at  which  it  unites 
with  the  somatopleure,  marking  the  extreme  limit  of  the  cleavage 
of  the  mesoblast,  is  now  much  nearer  the  lower  pole  of  the 
diminished  yolk. 


y^ 


II.]  THE   EMBRYONIC   APPENDAGES.  33 

As  a  result  of  these  several  changes,  a  great  increase  in  the 
dotted  space  has  taken  place.  It  is  now  possible  to  pass  from 
the  actual  peritoneal  cavity  within  the  body,  on  the  one  hand 
round  a  great  portion  of  the  circumference  of  the  yolk,  and  on  the 
other  hand  above  the  amnion  a,  in  the  space  between  it  and  the 
serous  envelope. 

Into  this  space  the  aUantois  is  seen  spreading  in.  K  at  al. 

In  L  the  splanchnopleure  has  completely  invested  the  yolk- 
sac,  but  at  the  lower  pole  of  the  yolk  is  still  continuous  with 
that  peripheral  remnant  of  the  somatopleure  now  called  the 
serous  membrane.  In  other  words,  the  cleavage  of  the  mesoblast 
has  been  carried  all  round  the  yolk  (ys)  except  just  at  the  lower 
pole. 

In  M  the  cleavage  has  been  carried  through  the  pole  itself ; 
the  peripheral  portion  of  the  splanchnopleure  forms  a  complete 
investment  of  the  yolk,  quite  unconnected  with  the  peripheral 
portion  of  the  somatopleure,  which  now  exists  as  a  continuous 
membrane  lining  the  interior  of  the  shell.  The  yolk-sac  (ys)  is 
therefore  quite  loose  in  the  pleuroperitoneal  cavity,  being  con- 
nected only  with  the  alimentary  canal  (a!)  by  a  solid  pedicle. 

Lastly,  in  N  the  yolk-sac  {ys)  is  shewn  being  withdrawn  into 
the  cavity  of  the  body  of  the  embryo.  The  aUantois  is  as  before, 
for  the  sake  of  simplicity,  omitted  ;  its  pedicle  would  of  course  lie 
by  the  side  of  ys  in  the  somatic  stalk  marked  by  the  usual  dotted 
shading. 

It  may  be  repeated  that  the  above  are  diagrams,  the  various 
spaces  being  shewn  distended,  whereas  in  many  of  them  in  the 
actual  egg  the  walls  have  collapsed,  and  are  in  near  juxta- 
position. 

In  a  vertical  longitudinal  section  carried  tlirougli  the 
middle  Line,  we  may  recognize  the  following  parts  (Fig. 
9,  ^,  or  on  a  larger  scale  Fig.  10,  which  also  shews  details 
which  need  not  be  considered  now).  Beginning  at  what 
will  become  the  posterior  extremity  of  the  embryo  (the 
left-hand  side  of  the  figure  in  each  case),  and  following  the 
surface  of  the  blastoderm  forwards  (to  the  right  in  the 
F.  &B.  8 


34 


PKELIMINABY  ACCOUNT. 

Fig.  10. 

N.C. 


[chap. 


DiAaRAMMATIO   LONGITUDINAL   SECTION   THROUGH   THE  AxiS   OF 

AN  Embryo. 

The  section  is  supposed  to  be  made  at  a  time  when  the  head- 
fold  has  commenced  but  the  tail-fold  has  not  yet  appeared. 
F.  jSo.  fold  of  the  somatopleure. 
F.  Sp.  fold  of  the  splanchnopleure. 
The  line  of  reference  F.  JSo.  is  placed  in  the  lower  bay,  outside 
the  embryo.     The  line  of  Z)  is  placed  in  the  upper  bay  inside 
the  embryo  ;  this  will  remain  as  the  alimentary  canal.     Both 
folds  {F.  So. J  F.  Sp.)  are  parts  of  the  head- fold,  and  are  to  be 
thought  of  as  continually  travelhng  onwards  (to  the  left)  as  de- 
velopment proceeds. 
pjo.  space  between  somatopleure  and  splanchnopleure  :    pleuru- 

peritoneal  cavity. 
Am.  commencing  (head)  fold  of  the  amnion. 
A  fuller  explanation  is  given  under  Fig.  29. 

figures),  the  level  is  maintained  for  some  distance,  and 
then  there  is  a  sudden  descent,  the  blastoderm  bending 
round  and  pursuing  a  precisely  opposite  direction  to  its 
previous  one,  running  backwards  instead  of  forwards,  for 
some  distance.  It  soon,  however,  turns  round  again,  and 
once  more  running  forward,  with  a  gentle  ascent,  regains 
the  original  level.  As  seen  in  section,  then,  the  blasto- 
derm at  this  spot  may  be  said  to  be  folded  up  in  the 


II.]  THE  HEAD-FOLD.  35 

form  of  the  letter  g.  This  fold  we  shall  ahvays  speak  of 
as  the  head-fold.  In  it  we  may  recognize  two  limbs: 
an  upper  limb  in  which  the  curve  is  directed  forwards, 
and  its  bay,  opening  backwards,  is  underneath  the  blas- 
toderm, i.e.  as  we  shall  see,  inside  the  embryo  (Fig.  10. 
D) ;  and  an  under  limb  in  which  the  curve  is  directed 
backwards,  and  its  bay,  opening  forwards,  is  above  the 
blastoderm,  ^.e.  outside  the  embryo.  If  an  8  like  the  above, 
made  of  some  elastic  material,  were  stretched  laterally, 
the  effect  would  be  to  make  both  limbs  longer  and 
proportionally  narrower,  and  their  bays,  instead  of  being 
shallow  cups,  would  become  more  tubular.  Such  a 
result  is  in  part  arrived  at  by  the  growth  of  the  blasto- 
derm; the  upper  limb  of  the  g  is  continually  growing 
forward  (but,  unlike  the  stretched  elastic  model,  in- 
creases in  all  its  dimensions  at  the  same  time),  and  the 
lower  limb  is  as  continually  lengthening  backwards; 
and  thus  both  upper  and  lower  bays  become  longer  and 
longer.  This  we  shall  hereafter  speak  of  as  the  travel- 
ling backwards  of  the  head-fold. 

The  two  bays  do  not  however  both  become  tubular. 
The  section  we  have  been  speaking  of  is  supposed  to  be 
taken  vertically  along  a  line,  which  will  afterwards  be- 
come the  axis  of  the  embryo;  and  the  lower  bay  of  the 
8  is  a  section  of  the  crescentic  groove  mentioned  above, 
in  its  middle  or  deepest  part.  On  either  side  of  the 
middle  line  the  groove  gradually  becomes  shallower. 
Hence  in  sections  taken  on  either  side  of  the  middle 
line  or  axis  of  the  embryo  (above  or  below  the  plane 
of  the  figures),  the  groove  would  appear  the  less  marked 
the  farther  the  section  from  the  middle  line,  and  at  a 
certain  distance  would  disappear  altogether.   It  must  be 

3—2 


86  PRELIMINARY  ACCOUNT.  [CHAP. 

remembered  that  the  groove  is  at  first  crescent-shaped, 
with  the  concavity  of  the  crescent  turned  towards  what 
will  be  the  hind  end  of  the  embryo  (Fig.  22).  As  the  whole 
head-fold  is  carried  farther  and  farther  back,  the  horns 
of  the  crescent  are  more  and  more  drawn  in  towards  the 
middle  line,  the  groove  becoming  first  semicircular,  then 
horse-shoe-shaped.  In  other  words^  the  head-fold, 
instead  of  being  a  simple  fold  running  straight  back- 
wards, becomes  a  curved  fold  with  a  central  portion  in 
front  running  backwards,  and  two  side  portions  running 
in  towards  the  middle  line.  The  effect  of  this  is  that 
the  upper  bay  of  the  8  (that  within  the  embryo)  gets 
closed  in  at  the  sides  as  well  as  in  the  front,  and  thus 
speedily  becomes  tubular.  The  under  bay  of  the  ^ 
(that  outside  the  embryo)  remains  of  course  open  at  the 
sides  as  in  front,  and  forms  a  sort  of  horse-shoe-shaped 
ditch  surrounding  the  front  end  of  the  embryo. 

We  have  dwelt  thus  at  length  on  the  formation  of 
the  head-fold,  because,  unless  its  characters  are  fairly 
grasped,  much  difficulty  may  be  found  in  understanding 
many  events  in  the  history  of  the  chick.  The  reader 
will  perhaps  find  the  matter  easier  to  comprehend  if  he 
makes  for  himself  a  rough  model,  which  he  easily  can 
do  by  spreading  a  cloth  out  flat  to  represent  the  blasto- 
derm, placing  one  hand  underneath  it,  to  mark  the  axis 
of  the  embryo,  and  then  tucking  in  the  cloth  from  above 
under  the  tips  of  his  fingers.  The  fingers,  covered  with 
the  cloth  and  slightly  projecting  from  the  level  of  the 
rest  of  the  cloth,  will  represent  the  head,  in  front  of 
which  will  be  the  semicircular  or  horse-shoe-shaped 
groove  of  the  head-fold. 

At  its  first  appearance  the  whole  B  may  be  spoken 


II.]  THE   TAIL-FOLD.  37 

of  as  the  head-fold,  but  later  on  it  will  be  found  con- 
venient to  restrict  the  name  chiefly  to  the  lower  limb 
of  the  g. 

Some  time  after  the  appearance  of  the  head-fold,  an 
altogether  similar  but  at  first  less  conspicuous  fold 
makes  its  appearance,  at  a  point  which  will  become  the 
posterior  end  of  the  embryo.  This  fold,  which  travels 
forwards  just  as  the  head-fold  travels  backwards,  is  the 
taU-fold  (Fig.  9,  G). 

In  addition,  between  the  head-  and  the  tail-fold  two 
lateral  folds  appear,  one  on  either  side.  These  are 
simpler  in  character  than  either  head-fold  or  tail-fold, 
inasmuch  as  they  are  nearly  straight  folds  directed 
inwards  towards  the  axis  of  the  body  (Fig.  8,  i^,  and  not 
complicated  by  being  crescentic  in  form.  Otherwise  they 
are  exactly  similar,  and  in  fact  are  formed  by  the  con- 
tinuations of  the  head-  and  tail-folds  respectively. 

As  these  several  folds  become  more  and  more  de- 
veloped, the  head-fold  travelling  backwards,  the  tail- 
fold  forwards,  and  the  lateral  folds  inwards,  they  tend  to 
unite  in  the  middle  point ;  and  thus  give  rise  more  and 
more  distinctly  to  the  appearance  of  a  small  tubular 
sac  seated  upon,  and  connected,  by  a  continually-nar- 
rowing hollow  stalk,  with  that  larger  sac  which  is  formed 
by  the  extension  of  the  rest  of  the  blastoderm  over  the 
whole  yolk. 

The  smaller  sac  we  may  call  the  "  embryonic  sac," 
the  larger  one  "  the  yolk-sac."  As  incubation  proceeds, 
the  smaller  sac  (Fig.  9)  gets  larger  and  larger  at  the 
expense  of  the  yolk-sac  (the  contents  of  the  latter  being 
gradually  assimilated  by  nutritive  processes  into  the 
tissues  forming  the  growing  walls  of  the  former,  not 


38  PRELIMINARY  ACCOUNT.  [CHAP. 

directly  transferred  from  one  cavity  into  the  other). 
Within  a  day  or  two  of  the  hatching  of  the  chick,  at  a 
time  when  the  yolk-sac  is  still  of  some  considerable  size, 
or  at  least  has  not  yet  dwindled  away  altogether,  and 
the  development  of  the  embryonic  sac  is  nearly  com- 
plete, the  yolk-sac  (Fig.  9,  N)  is  slipped  into  the  body 
of  the  embryo,  so  that  ultimately  the  embryonic  sac 
alone  remains. 

The  embryo,  then,  is  formed  by  a  folding-off  of  a 
portion  of  the  blastoderm  from  the  yolk-sac.  The 
general  outline  of  the  embryo  is  due  to  the  direction 
and  shape  of  the  several  folds  which  share  in  its  forma- 
tion ;  these,  while  preserving  a  nearly  perfect  bilateral 
symmetry,  present  marked  differences  at  the  two  ends 
of  the  embryo.  Hence  from  the  very  first  there  is  no 
dijBficulty  in  distinguishing  the  end  which  will  be  the 
head  from  that  which  will  be  the  tail. 

In  addition  to  this,  the  tubular  sac  of  the  embryo, 
while  everywhere  gradually  acquiring  thicker  and 
thicker  walls,  undergoes  at  various  points,  through  local 
activities  of  growth  in  the  form  of  thickenings,  ridges, 
buds  or  other  processes,  many  modifications  of  the 
outline  conferred  upon  it  by  the  constituent  folds.  Thus 
bud-like  processes  start  out  from  the  trunk  to  form  the 
rudiments  of  the  limbs,  and  similar  thickenings  and 
ridges  give  rise  to  the  jaws  and  other  parts  of  the  face. 
By  the  unequal  development  of  these  outgrowths  the 
body  of  the  chick  is  gradually  moulded  into  its  proper 
outward  shape. 

Were  the  changes  which  take  place  of  this  class 
only,  the  result  would  be  a  tubular  sac  of  somewhat  com- 
plicated outline,  but  still  a  simple  tubular  sac.     Such 


IT.]  THE   MEDULLARY   CANAL.  39 

a  simple  sac  might  perhaps  be  roughly  taken  to  repre- 
sent the  body  of  many  an  invertebrate  animal ;  but  the 
typical  structure  of  a  bird  or  other  vertebrate  animal  is 
widely  different.  It  may  very  briefly  be  described  as 
follows. 

First  there  is,  above,  a  canal  running  lengthways 
along  the  body,  in  which  are  lodged  the  brain  and 
spinal  cord.  Below  this  neural  tube  is  an  axis  repre- 
sented by  the  bodies  of  the  vertebrae  and  their  con- 
tinuation forwards  in  the  structures  which  form  the  base 
of  the  skull.  Underneath  this,  again,  is  another  tube 
closed  in  above  by  the  axis,  and  on  the  sides  and  below 
by  the  body-walls.  Enclosed  in  this  second  tube,  and 
suspended  from  the  axis,  is  a  third  tube,  consisting  of 
the  alimentary  canal  with  its  appendages  (liver,  pan- 
creas, lungs,  &c.,  which  are  fundamentally  mere  diver- 
ticula from  one  simple  canal).  The  cavity  of  the  outer 
tube,  which  also  contains  the  heart  and  other  parts  of 
the  vascular  system,  is  the  general  body  cavity ;  it  con- 
sists of  a  thoracic  or  pleural,  and  an  abdominal  or  peri- 
toneal section ;  these  two  parts  are,  however,  from  their 
mode  of  origin,  portions  of  one  and  the  same  tube. 
Thus  a  transverse  section  of  a  vertebrate  animal  always 
shews  the  same  fundamental  structure  :  above  a  single 
tube,  below  a  double  tube,  the  latter  consisting  of  one 
tube  enclosed  within  another,  the  inner  being  the  ali- 
mentary canal,  the  outer  the  general  cavity  of  the  body. 
Into  such  a  triple  tube  the  simple  tubular  embryonic 
sac  of  the  chick  is  converted  by  a  series  of  changes  of  a 
remarkable  character. 

The  upper  or  neural  tube  is  formed  in  the  following 
way.     At  a  very  early  period  the  upper  layer  of  the 


40  PRELIMINAEY  ACCOUNT.  [CHAP. 

blastoderm  or  epiblast  in  the  region  which  will  become 
the  embryo,  is  raised  up  into  two  ridges  or  folds,  which 
run  parallel  to  each  other  at  a  short  distance  on  either 
side  of  what  will  be  the  long  axis  of  the  embryo,  and 
thus  leave  between  them  a  shallow  longitudinal  groove 
(Fig.  9,  B,  also  Figs.  21,  m.c).  As  these  ridges,  which 
bear  the  name  of  medullary  folds,  increase  in  height 
they  arch  over  towards  each  other,  and  eventually  meet 
and  coalesce  in  the  middle  line,  thus  converting  the 
groove  into  a  canal,  which  at  the  same  time  becomes 
closed  at  either  end  (Fig.  8,  F.  I,  also  Fig.  34.  ilfc). 
The  cavity  so  formed  is  the  cavity  of  the  neural  tube, 
and  eventually  becomes  the  cerebro-spinal  canal.  Its 
walls  are  wholly  formed  of  epiblast. 

The  lower  double  tube,  that  of  the  alimentary  canal, 
and  of  the  general  cavity  of  the  body,  is  formed  in  an 
entirely  different  way.  It  is,  broadly  speaking,  the 
result  of  the  junction  and  coalescence  of  the  funda- 
mental embryonic  folds,  the  head-fold,  tail-fold,  and 
lateral  folds ;  in  a  certain  sense  the  cavity  of  the  body 
is  the  cavity  of  the  tubular  sac  described  in  the  last 
paragraph. 

But  it  is  obvious  that  a  tubular  sac  formed  by  the 
folding-in  of  a  single  sheet  of  tissue,  such  as  we  have 
hitherto  considered  the  blastoderm  to  be,  must  be  a 
simple  tubular  sac  possessing  a  single  cavity  only.  The 
blastoderm  however  does  not  long  remain  a  single 
sheet,  but  speedily  becomes  a  double  sheet  of  such  a 
kind  that,  when  folded  in,  it  gives  rise  to  a  double 
tube. 

Very  early  the  blastoderm  becomes  thickened  in  the 
region  of  the  embryo,  the  thickening  being  chiefly  due 


II.]  THE  BODY   CAVITY.  41 

to  an  increase  in  the  middle  layer  or  mesoblast,  while 
at  the  same  time  it  becomes  split  or  cleft  horizontally 
over  the  greater  part  of  its  extent  into  two  leaves,  an 
upper  leaf  and  a  lower  leaf.  In  the  neighboiiirhood  of 
the  axis  of  the  body,  beneath  the  neural  tube,  this 
cleavage  is  absent  (Fig.  9,  B ;  also  Figs.  24,  34),  in  fact, 
it  begins  at  some  little  distance  on  either  side  of  the 
axis  and  spreads  thence  into  the  periphery  in  all  direc- 
tions. It  is  along  the  mesoblast  that  the  cleavage 
takes  place,  the  upper  part  of  the  mesoblast  uniting 
with  epiblast  to  form  the  upper  leaf,  and  the  lower 
part  with  the  hypoblast  to  form  the  lower  leaf. 

In  the  fundamental  folds  both  leaves  are  involved, 
both  leaves  are  folded  downwards  and  inwards,  both 
leaves  tend  to  meet  in  the  middle  below;  but  the 
lower  leaf  is  folded  in  more  rapidly,  and  thus  diverges 
from  the  upper  leaf,  a  space  being  gradually  developed 
between  them  (Fig.  9).  In  course  of  time  the  several 
folds  of  the  lower  leaf  meet  and  unite  to  form  an  inner 
tube  quite  independently  of  the  upper  leaf,  whose  own 
folds  in  turn  meet  and  unite  to  form  an  outer  tube 
separated  from  the  inner  one  by  an  intervening  space. 
The  inner  tube  which  from  its  mode  of  formation  is 
clearly  lined  by  hypoblast  is  the  ahmentary  canal  which 
is  subsequently  perforated  at  both  ends  to  form  the 
mouth  and  anus ;  the  walls  of  the  outer  tube  are  the 
walls  of  the  body ;  and  the  space  between  the  two  tubes 
is  the  general  body  or  pleuroperitoneal  cavity. 

Hence  the  upper  (or  outer)  leaf  of  the  blastoderm, 
from  its  giving  rise   to   the  body-walls,   is   called  the 
somato^leure  ^ ;  the  lower  (or  inner)  leaf,  from  its  form- 
1  Soma,  body,  pleuron,  side. 


42  PRELIMINARY  ACCOUNT.  [CHAP. 

ing  the  alimentary  canal  and  its  tributary  viscera,  the 
splanchnopleure  \ 

This  horizontal  splitting  of  the  blastoderm  into  a 
somatopleure  and  a  splanchnopleure,  which  we  shall 
hereafter  speak  of  as  the  cleavage  of  the  mesohlast,  is 
not  confined  to  the  region  of  the  embryo,  but  gradually 
extends  over  the  whole  of  the  yolk-sac.  Hence  in  the 
later  days  of  incubation  the  yolk-sac  comes  to  have 
two  distinct  coats,  an  inner  splanchnopleuric  and  an 
outer  somatopleuric,  separable  from  each  other  all 
over  the  sac.  We  have  seen  that,  owing  to  the 
manner  of  its  formation,  the  '  embryonic  sac '  is  con- 
nected with  the  '  yolk-sac '  by  a  continually  narrowing 
hollow  stalk ;  but  this  stalk  must,  like  the  embryonic 
sac  itself,  be  a  double  stalk,  and  consist  of  a  smaller 
inner  stalk  within  a  larger  outer  one.  Fig.  9,  E,  H. 
The  folds  of  the  splanchnopleure,  as  they  tend  to 
meet  and  unite  in  the  middle  line  below,  give 
rise  to  a  continually  narrowing  hollow  stalk  of  their 
own,  a  splanchnic  stalk,  by  means  of  which  the  walls  of 
the  alimentary  canal  are  continuous  with  the  splanch- 
nopleuric investment  of  the  yolk-sac,  and  the  interior 
of  that  canal  is  continuous  with  the  cavity  inside  the 
yolk-sac.  In  the  same  way  the  folds  of  the  somato- 
pleure form  a  similar  stalk  of  their  own,  a  somatic 
stalk,  by  means  of  which  the  body- walls  of  the  chick 
are  continuous  (for  some  time ;  the  continuity,  as  we 
shall  see,  being  eventually  broken  by  the  development 
of  the  amnion)  with  the  somatopleuric  investment  of 
the   yolk-sac ;  and  the  pleuroperitoneal  cavity  of  the 

1  Splanchnon,  viscus,  pleuron,  side. 


II.]  THE   AMNION.  43 

body  of  the  cliick  is  continuous  with,  the  narrow  space 
between  the  two  investments  of  the  yolk-sac. 

At  a  comparatively  early  period  the  canal  of  the 
splanchnic  stalk  becomes  obliterated,  so  that  the 
material  of  the  yolk  can  no  longer  pass  directly  into 
the  alimentary  cavity,  but  has  to  find  its  way  into 
the  body  of  the  chick  by  absorption  through  the  blood- 
vessels. The  somatic  stalk,  on  the  other  hand,  remains 
widely  open  for  a  much  longer  time ;  but  the  somatic 
shell  of  the  yolk-sac  never  undergoes  that  thickening 
which  takes  place  in  the  somatic  walls  of  the  embryo 
itself;  on  the  contrary,  it  remains  thin  and  insignificant. 
When,  accordingly,  in  the  last  days  of  incubation  the 
greatly  diminished  yolk-sac  with  its  splanchnic  invest- 
ment is  withdrawn  into  the  rapidly  enlarging  abdominal 
cavity  of  the  embryo,  the  walls  of  the  abdomen  close 
in  and  unite,  without  any  regard  to  the  shrivelled, 
emptied  somatopleuric  investment  of  the  yolk-sac, 
which  is  cast  off  as  no  longer  of  any  use.  (Fig.  9.  Com- 
pare the  series.) 

The  Amnion.  Very  closely  connected  with  the 
cleavage  of  the  mesoblast  and  the  division  into  soma- 
topleure  and  splanchnopleure,  is  the  formation  of  the 
amnion,  all  mention  of  which  was,  for  the  sake  of 
simplicity,  purposely  omitted  in  the  description  just 
given. 

The  amnion  is  a  peculiar  membrane  enveloping  the 
embryo,  which  takes  its  origin  from  certain  folds  of 
the  somatopleure,  and  of  the  somatopleure  only,  in  the 
following  way. 

At  a  time  when  the  cleavage  of  the  mesoblast  has 
somewhat  advanced,  there  appears,  a  little  way  in  front 


44  PRELIMINARY  ACCOUNT.  [CHAP. 

of  the  semilunar  head-fold,  a  second  fold  (Fig.  22,  also 
Fig.  9,  G),  running  more  or  less  parallel  or  rather  con- 
centric with  the  first,  and  not  unlike  it  in  general 
appearance,  though  differing  widely  from  it  in  nature. 
In  the  head-fold  the  whole  thickness  of  the  blastoderm 
is  involved;  in  it  both  somatopleure  and  splanchno- 
pleure  (where  they  exist,  i.  e.  where  the  mesoblast  is 
cleft)  take  part.  This  second  fold,  on  the  contrary,  is 
limited  entirely  to  the  somatopleure.  Compare  Figs. 
9  and  10.  In  front  of  the  head-fold,  and  therefore  alto- 
gether in  front  of  the  body  of  the  embryo,  the  somato- 
pleure is  a  very  thin  membrane,  consisting  only  of 
epiblast  and  a  very  thin  layer  of  mesoblast ;  and  the 
fold  we  are  speaking  of  is,  in  consequence,  itself  thin 
and  delicate.  Rising  up  as  a  semilunar  fold  with  its 
concavity  directed  towards  the  embryo  (Fig.  9,  G,  af?), 
as  it  increases  in  height  it  is  gradually  drawn  back- 
wards over  the  developing  head  of  the  embryo.  The 
fold  thus  covering  the  head  is  in  due  time  accompanied 
by  similar  folds  of  the  somatopleure  starting  at  some 
little  distance  behind  the  tail,  and  at  some  little  dis- 
tance from  the  sides  (Fig.  9,  G,  D,  E,  F,  and  Fig.  11  am). 
In  this  way  the  embryo  becomes  surrounded  by  a 
series  of  folds  of  thin  somatopleure,  which  form  a  con- 
tinuotis  wall  all  round  it.  All  are  drawn  gradually 
over  the  body  of  the  embryo,  and  at  last  meet  and 
completely  coalesce  (Fig.  9,  H,  I),  all  traces  of  their 
junction  being  removed.  Beneath  these  united  folds 
there  is  therefore  a  cavity,  within  which  the  embryo 
lies  (Fig.  9,  H,  ae).  This  cavity  is  the  cavity  of  the 
amnion.  The  folds  which  we  have  been  describing  are 
those  which  form  the  amnion. 


45 


Diagrammatic  longitudinal  section  through  the  pos- 
terior END  OF  an  Embryo  Bird,  at  the  time  of  the 
formation  of  the  Allantois. 

ep.  epiblast ;  Sp.c.  spinal  canal ;  ch.  notocliord ;  n.e.  neurenteric 
canal ;  hy.  hypoblast ;  p.a.g.  postanal  gut ;  pr.  remains  of 
primitive  streak  folded  in  on  the  ventral  side  ;  al.  allantois  ; 
me.  mesoblast ;  an.  point  where  anus  will  be  formed;  p.c. 
perivisceral  cavity ;  am.  amnion ;  so.  somatopleure  ;  sp. 
splanchnopleure. 

Each  fold,  of  course,  necessarily  consists  of  two 
limbs,  both  limbs  consisting  of  epiblast  and  a  \^ery  thin 
layer  of  mesoblast ;  but  in  one  limb  the  epiblast  looks 
towards  the  embryo,  while  in  the  other  it  looks  away 
from  it.  The  space  between  the  two  limbs  of  the  fold, 
as  can  easily  be  seen  in  Figs.  9  and  11,  is  really  part 
of  the  space  between  the  somatopleure  and  splanch- 
nopleure ;  it  is  therefore  continuous  with  the  general 
space,  part  of  which  afterwards  becomes  the  pleuro- 
peritoneal  cavity  of  the  body,  shaded  with  dots  in 
figure  9  and  marked  (p  p).  It  is  thus  possible  to 
pass  from  the  cavity  between  the  two  limbs  of  each 


46  PEELIMINARY  ACCOUNT.  [CHAP. 

fold  of  the  amnion  into  the  cavity  which  surrounds 
the  ahmentary  canal.  When  the  several  folds  meet 
and  coalesce  together  above  the  embryo,  they  unite 
in  such  a  way  that  all  their  inner  limbs  go  to  form  a 
continuous  inner  membrane  or  sac,  and  all  their  outer 
limbs  a  similarly  continuous  outer  membrane  or  sac. 
The  inner  membrane  thus  built  up  forms  a  completely 
closed  sac  round  the  body  of  the  embryo,  and  is  called 
the  amniotic  sac,  or  amnion  'proper  (Fig.  9,  H,  I,  &c.  a.), 
and  the  fluid  which  it  afterwards  contains  is  called 
the  amniotic  fluid,  or  liquor  amnii.  The  space  between 
the  inner  and  outer  sac,  being  formed  by  the  united 
cavities  of  the  several  folds,  is,  from  the  mode  of  its 
formation,  simply  a  part  of  the  general  cavity  found 
everywhere  between  somatopleure  and  splanchnopleure. 
The  outer  sac  over  the  embryo  lies  close  under  the 
vitelline  membrane,  while  its  periphery  is  gradually 
extended  over  the  yolk  as  the  somatopleuric  invest- 
ment of  the  yolk-sac  described  in  the  preceding  para- 
graph. It  constitutes  the  false  amnion  while  the  mem- 
brane of  which  it  forms  a  part  is  frequently  known  as 
the  serous  membrane. 

The  AUantois.  If  the  mode  of  origin  of  these  two 
sacs  (the  inner  or  true  amnion,  and  the  outer  or  false 
amnion,  as  Baer  called  it)  and  their  relations  to  the 
embryo  be  borne  in  mind,  the  reader  will  have  no  diffi- 
culty in  understanding  the  course  taken  in  its  growth 
by  an  important  organ,  the  allantois,  of  which  we  shall 
hereafter  have  to  speak  more  in  detail. 

The  allantois  is  essentially  a  diverticulum  of  the 
alimentary  tract,  into  which  it  opens  immediately  in 
front  of  the  anus.     It  at  first  (Fig.  11,  al)  forms  a 


11.  ]  THE  ALLANTOIS.  47 

flattened  sac  projecting  into  the  pleuroperitoneal  cavity, 
the  walls  of  the  sac  being  formed  of  a  layer  of  splanchnic 
mesoblast  lined  by  hypoblast. 

It  grows  forwards  in  the  peritoneal  cavity  until  it 
reaches  the  stalk  connecting  the  embryo  with  the  yolk- 
sac,  and  thence  very  rapidly  pushes  its  way  into  the  space 
between  the  true  and  false  amniotic  sacs  (Fig.  9,  G,  K). 
Curving  over  the  embryo,  it  comes  to  lie  above  the 
embryo  and  the  amnion  proper,  separated  from  the 
shell  (and  vitelline  membrane)  by  nothing  more  than 
the  thin  false  amnion.  In  this  position  it  becomes 
highly  vascular,  and  performs  the  functions  of  a  respi- 
ratory organ.  It  is  evident  that  though  now  placed 
quite  outside  the  embryo,  the  space  in  which  it  lies  is  a 
continuation  of  that  peritoneal  cavity  in  which  it  took 
its  origin. 

It  is  only  necessary  to  add,  that  the  serous  mem- 
brane, including  the  false  amnion,  either  coalesces  with 
the  vitelline  membrane,  in  contact  with  which  it  lies, 
or  else  replaces  it ;  and  in  the  later  days  of  incubation 
was  called  by  the  older  embryologists  the  chorion — a 
name  however  which  we  shall  not  adopt. 


CHAPTER    III. 

THE  CHANGES  WHICH   TAKE   PLACE  DUEING  THE  FIRST 
DAY  OF   INCUBATION. 

During  the  descent  of  the  egg  along  the  oviduct, 
where  it  is  exposed  to  a  temperature  of  about  40°  C,  the 
germinal  disc,  as  we  have  seen,  undergoes  important 
changes.  When  the  egg  is  laid  and  becomes  cold  these 
changes  all  but  entirely  cease,  and  the  blastoderm 
remains  inactive  until,  under  the  influence  of  the  higher 
temperature  of  natural  or  artificial  incubation,  the  vital 
activities  of  the  germ  are  brought  back  into  play,  the 
arrested  changes  go  on  again,  and  usher  in  the  series  of 
events  which  we  have  now  to  describe  in  detail. 

The  condition  of  the  blastoderm  at  the  time  when 
the  egg  is  laid  is  not  exactly  the  same  in  all  eggs ;  in 
some  the  changes  being  farther  advanced  than  in  others, 
though  the  differences  of  course  are  slight.  In  some 
eggs,  especially  in  warm  weather,  changes  of  the  same 
kind  as  those  caused  by  actual  incubation  may  take 
place,  to  a  certain  extent,  in  the  interval  between 
laying  and  incubation ;  lastly,  in  all  eggs,  both  under 
natural  and  especially  under  artificial  incubation,  the 


CHAP.  III.]  THE   EMBRYONIC   SHIELD.  49 

dates  of  tlie  several  changes  are,  within  the  limits  of 
some  hours,  very  uncertain,  particularly  in  the  first  few 
days ;  one  egg  being  found,  for  example,  at  86  hours  in 
the  same  stage  as  another  at  24  or  30  hours,  or  a  third 
at  40  or  48  hours.  When  we  speak  therefore  of  any 
event  as  taking  place  at  any  given  hour  or  part  of  any 
given  day,  we  are  to  be  understood  as  meaning  that 
such  an  event  will  generally  be  found  to  have  taken 
place  at  about  that  time.  We  introduce  exact  dates 
for  the  convenience  of  description. 

The  changes  which  take  place  during  the  first  day 
will  be  most  easily  considered  under  several  periods. 

Prom  the  1st  to  about  the  8th  hour. — During  this 
period  the  blastoderm,  when  viewed  from  above,  is 
found  to  have  increased  in  size.  The  pellucid  area, 
which  at  the  best  is  but  obscurely  marked  in  the  unin- 
cubated  egg,  becomes  very  distinct  (the  central  opacity 
having  disappeared),  and  contrasts  strongly  with  the 
opaque  area,  which  has  even  still  more  increased  both 
in  distinctness  and  size. 

For  the  first  few  hours  both  the  pellucid  and  opaque 
areas  remain  approximately  circular,  and  the  most  im- 
portant change,  besides  increase  in  size  and  greater 
distinctness  which  can  be  observed  in  them,  is  a  slight 
ill-defined  opacity  or  loss  of  transparency,  which  makes 
its  appearance  in  the  hinder  half  of  the  pellucid  area. 
This  is  known  as  the  emhryonic  shield. 

Slight  as  are  the  changes  which  can  at  this  stage  be 
seen  from  surface  views,  sections  taken  from  hardened 
specimens  bring  to  light  many  most  important  changes 
in  the  nature  and  arrangement  of  the  constituent 
cells. 

F.  &  B.  4 


THE  FIRST  DAY. 


>  g2 


moi 


[CHAP. 


Fig.  12. 


Section  of  a  Blastoderm  of  a  Fowl's  Egg 

AT   THE    COMMENCEMENT   OF   InCUBATION. 

The  thin  but  complete  upper  layer  ep 
composed  of  columnar  cells  rests  on  the  in- 
complete lower  layer  ?,  composed  of  larger 
and  more  granular  cells.  The  lower  layer  is 
thicker  in  some  places  than  in  others,  and  is 
especially  thick  at  the  periphery.  The  line 
below  the  under  layer  marks  the  upper  sur- 
face of  the  white  yolk.  The  larger  so-called 
formative  cells  are  seen  at  b,  lying  on  the 
white  yolk.  The  figure  does  not  take  in  quite 
the  whole  breadth  of  the  blastoderm ;  but  the 
reader  must  understand  that  both  to  the  right 
hand  and  the  left  ep  is  continued  farther  than 
I,  so  that  at  the  extreme  edge  it  rests  directly 
on  the  white  yolk. 


It  will  be  remembered  tbat  the 
blastoderm  in  the  unincubated  egg  is 
composed  of  two  layers,  an  upper  (Fig. 
12,  ep)  and  an  nnder  layer;  that  the 
upper  is  a  coherent  membrane  of  colum- 
nar nucleated  cells,  but  that  the  lower 
one  (Fig.  12, 1)  is  formed  of  an  irregular 
network  of  larger  cells  in  which  the 
nuclei  are  with  difficulty  visible;  and 
that  in  addition  to  this  there  are  certain 
still  larger  cells,  called  'formative  cells' 
(Fig.  12,6),  lying  at  the  bottom  of  the 
segmentation-cavity. 

Under  the  influence  of  incubation 
changes  take  place  very  rapidly,  which 


III.] 


THE  HYPOBLAST. 


51 


result  in  the  formation  of  the  three  layers  of  the  blasto- 
derm. 

The  upper  layer,  which  is  the  epihlast  already 
spoken  of  (Fig.  13),  takes  at  first  but  little  share  in 
these  changes. 

In  the  lower  layer,  however,  certain  of  the  cells 
begin  to  get  flattened  horizontally,  their  granules  become 
less  numerous,  and  the  nucleus  becomes  distinct;  the 
cells  so  altered  cohere  together  and  form  a  membrane. 
The  membrane  thus  formed,  which  is  first  completed  in 

Fig.  13. 


Transveese  Section  theough  the  Blastodeem  of  a  Chick 

BEFOEE  THE  APPEAEANCE  OF  THE  PeIMITIVE  StREAK. 

The  epiblast  is  represented  somewhat  diagrammatically.  The 
hyphens  shew  the  points  of  junction  of  the  two  halves  of  the 
section.  The  hypoblast  is  already  constituted  as  a  membrane  of 
flattened  cells,  and  a  number  of  scattered  cells  are  seen  between 
it  and  the  epiblast. 


the  centre  of  the  pellucid  area,  constitutes  the  hypoblast. 
Between  the  hypoblastic  membrane  and  the  epiblast 
there  remain  a  number  of  scattered  cells  (Fig.  13)  which 
cannot  however  be  said  to  form  a  definite  layer  altogether 
distinct  from  the  hypoblast.  They  are  almost  entirely 
confined  to  the  posterior  part  of  the  area  pellucida,  and 

4-2 


52  THE  FIEST   DAY.  [CHAP. 

give  rise  to  the  opacity  of  that  part,  which  we  have 
spoken  of  as  the  embryonic  shield. 

At  the  edge  of  the  area  pellucida  the  hypoblast 
becomes  continuous  with  a  thickened  rim  of  material, 
underlying  the  epiblast,  and  derived  from  the  original 
thickened  edge  of  the  blastoderm  and  the  subjacent 
yolk.  It  is  mainly  formed  of  yolk  granules,  with  a 
varying  number  of  cells  and  nuclei  imbedded  in  it.  It 
is  known  as  the  germinal  wall,  and  is  spoken  of  more  in 
detail  on  pp.  65  and  66. 

The  epiblast  is  the  Hornhlatt  (corneal  layer),  and  the  hypo- 
blast the  Darmdrusenhlatt  (epithelial  glandular  layer)  of  the 
Germans,  while  those  parts  of  the  mesoblast  which  take  part  in 
the  formation  of  the  somatople\ire  and  splanchnopleure  cor- 
respond respectively  to  the  Haut-mushel-platte  and  Darm-faser- 
iplatte. 

All  blood-vessels  arise  in  the  mesoblast.  Hence  the  vascular 
layer  of  the  older  writers  falls  entirely  within  the  mesoblast. 

The  serous  layer  of  the  old  authors  includes  the  whole  of 
the  epiblast,  but  also  comprises  a  certain  portion  of  mesoblast ; 
for  they  speak  of  all  the  organs  of  animal  Hfe  (skin,  bones, 
muscle,  &c.)  as  being  formed  out  of  the  serous  layer,  whereas  the 
epiblast  proper  gives  -rise  only  to  the  epidermis  and  to  certain 
parts  of  the  nervous  system.  In  the  same  way  their  mucous  layer 
corresponds  to  the  hypoblast  with  so  much  of  the  mesoblast  as 
takes  part  in  the  formation  of  the  organs  of  organic  life.  Their 
vascular  layer  therefore  answers  to  a  part  only  of  the  mesoblast 
viz.  that  part  in  which  blood-vessels  are  especially  developed. 

From  the  8th  to  the  12th  hour.  The  changes 
which  next  take  place  result  in  the  complete  differen- 
tiation of  the  embryonic  layers,  a  process  which  is  inti- 
mately connected  with  the  formation  of  a  structure  known 
as  the  primitive  streak.     The  full  meaning  of  the 


III.]  THE   PRIMITIVE   STREAK.  53 

latter  structure,  and  its  relation  to  the  embryo,  can  how- 
ever only  be  understood  by  comparison  with  the  develop- 
ment of  the  lower  forms  of  vertebrate  life. 

It  will  be  remembered  that  in  surface  views  of  the 
unincubated  blastoderm  a  small  arc,  at  what  we  stated 
to  be  the  posterior  end,  close  to  the  junction  between 
the  area  opaca  and  the  area  pellucida  is  distinguished 
by  its  more  opaque  appearance.  In  the  surface  view 
the  primitive  streak  appears  as  a  linear  opacity,  which 
gradually  grows  forwards  from  the  middle  of  this  arc 
till  it  reaches  about  one-third  of  the  diameter  of  the 

Fm.  14. 


a.ojo 
pr  8 
Area  Pellucida  of  a  very  young  Blastoderm  of  a  Chick, 

SHEWING     THE     PRIMITIVE     StREAK    SHORTLY    AFTER    ITS 
FIRST   APPEARANCE. 

'pr.s.  primitive  streak  ;  ajp.  area  pellucida  ;  a.op.  area  opaca. 

area  pellucida.  During  the  formation  of  the  primitive 
streak  the  embryonic  shield  grows  fainter  and  finally 
vanishes.  When  definitely  established  the  primitive 
streak  has  the  appearance  diagrammatically  represented 
in  Fig.  14. 


54  THE  FIEST  DAY.  [CHAP. 

Sections  at  this  stage  throw  a  very  important  light 
on  the  nature  and  mode  of  origin  of  the  primitive 
streak.  In  the  region  in  front  of  it  the  blastoderm  is 
still  formed  of  two  layers  only,  but  in  the  region  of  the 
streak  itself  the  structure  of  the  blastoderm  is  greatly 
altered.  The  most  important  features  in  it  are  repre- 
sented in  Fig.  15.     This  figure  shews  that  the  median 

Fig.  15. 


Transverse  Section  through  a  Blastoderm  of  about  the 
age  represented  in  fig.  14,  shewing  the  flrst  dif- 
FERENTIATION OF  THE  Primitive  Streak. 

The  section  passes  tlirough  about  the  middle  of  the  primitive 
streak. 

pvs.  primitive  streak  ;  ep.  epiblast ;  %.  hypoblast ;  t/L  yolk  of 
the  germinal  wall. 

portion  of  the  blastoderm  has  become  very  much  thick- 
ened (thus  producing  the  opacity  of  the  primitive  streak), 
and  that  this  thickening  is  caused  by  a  proliferation  of 
rounded  cells  from  the  epiblast.  In  the  very  young 
primitive  streak,  of  which  Fig.  15  is  a  section,  the  rounded 
cells  are  still  continuous  throughout  with  the  epiblast,  but 
they  form  nevertheless  the  rudiment  of  the  greater  part 
of  a  sheet  of  mesoblast,  which  will  soon  arise  in  this 
region. 


III.]  THE  PRIMITIVE   STREAK.  55 

In  addition  to  the  cells  clearly  derived  from  the 
epiblast,  there  are  certain  other  cells  (Fig.  15),  closely- 
adjoining  the  hypoblast;  these  are  derivatives  of  the 
cells,  interposed  between  the  epiblast  and  hypoblast, 
which  gave  rise  to  the  appearance  of  the  embryonic 
shield  during  the  previous  stage.  In  our  opinion  these 
cells  also  have  a  share  in  forming  the  future  meso- 
blast. 

It  thus  appears  that  the  primitive  streak  is  essen- 
tially a  linear  proliferation  of  epiblast  cells;  the  cells 
produced  being  destined  to  give  rise  to  the  mesoblast. 
This  proliferation  first  commences  at  the  hinder  end  of 
the  area  pellucida,  and  thence  proceeds  forwards. 

While  the  primitive  streak  is  being  established,  the 
epiblast  becomes  two  or  more  rows  of  cells  deep  in  the 
region  of  the  area  pellucida. 

Soon  after  this,  the  hitherto  circular  pellucid  area 
becomes  oval  (the  opaque  area  remaining  circular).  The 
oval  is,  with  remarkable  regularity,  so  placed  that  its 
long  axis  forms  a  right  angle,  or  very  nearly  a  right 
angle,  with  the  long  axis  of  the  egg  itself  Its  narrow 
end  corresponds  with  the  future  hind  end  of  the  embryo. 
If  an  egg  be  placed  with  its  broad  end  to  the  right  hand 
of  the  observer,  the  head  of  the  embryo  will  in  nearly 
all  cases  be  found  pointing  away  from  him. 

The  12th  to  the  16th  hour.  The  primitive  streak 
at  its  first  appearance  is  shadowy  and  ill-defined;  gradu- 
ally however  it  becomes  more  distinct;  and  during  the 
same  period  the  pellucid  area  rapidly  increases  in  size, 
and  from  being  oval  becomes  pear-shaped  (Fig.  16).  The 
primitive  streak  grows  even  more  rapidly  than  the 
peUucid  area;  so  that  by  the  16th  hour  it  is  not  only 


56  THE   FIRST   DAY.  [CHAP. 

absolutely,   but   also   relatively   to   the    pellucid   area, 
longer  than  it  was  at  the  12th  hour. 

It  finally  occupies  about  two-thirds  of  the  length  of 
the  area  pellucida;  but  its  hinder  end  in  many  instances 
appears  to  stop  short  of  the  posterior  border  of  the 
area  pellucida  (Fig.  16).      The    median    line    of   the 

Fig.  16. 


Surface  View  of  the  Area  Pellucida  of  a  Chick's 
Blastoderm  shortly  after  the  formation  of  the 
Primitive  Groove. 

'pr.  primitive  streak  with  primitive  groove ; 
af.   amniotic  fold. 

The  darker  shading  round  the  primitive  streak  shews  the 
extension  of  the  mesoblast. 

primitive  streak  becomes  marked  by  a  shallow  furrow 
running  along  its  axis.  In  fresh  specimens,  viewed  with 
transmitted  light,  this  furrow  appears  as  a  linear  trans- 
parency, but  in  hardened  specimens  seen  under  reflected 
light  may  be  distinctly  recognized  as  a  narrow  groove, 


III.]  THE   PEIMITIVE   GROOVE.  57 

the  bottom  of  which,  being  thinner  than  the  sides, 
appears  more  transparent  when  viewed  with  transmitted 
light.  It  is  known  as  the  primitive  groove.  Its  depth 
and  the  extent  of  its  development  are  subject  to  great 
variations. 

During  these  changes  in  external  appearance  there 
grow  from  the  edges  of  the  cord  of  cells  constituting  the 
primitive  streak  two  lateral  wings  of  mesoblast  cells, 
which  gradually  extend  till  they  reach  the  sides  of  the 
area  pellucida  (Fig.  17).  The  two  wings  of  mesoblast 
meet  along  the  line  of  the  primitive  streak,  where  they 
still  remain  attached  to  the  epiblast.  During  this  period 
many  sections  through  the  primitive  streak  give  an 
impression  of  the  mesoblast  being  involuted  along  the  lips 
of  a  groove.  The  hypoblast  below  the  primitive  streak 
is  always  quite  independent  of  the  mesoblast  above, 
though  much  more  closely  attached  to  it  in  the  median 
line  than  at  the  sides.  The  part  of  the  mesoblast,  which 
we  believe  to  be  derived  from  the  primitive  lower  layer 
cells,  can  generally  be  distinctly  traced.  In  many  cases, 
especially  at  the  front  end  of  the  primitive  streak,  it 
forms,  as  in  Fig.  17,  a  distinct  layer  of  stellate  cells,  quite 
unlike  the  rounded  cells  of  the  mesoblastic  involution 
of  the  primitive  streak. 

In  the  region  in  front  of  the  primitive  streak,  where 
the  first  trace  of  the  embryo  will  shortly  appear,  the 
layers  at  first  undergo  no  important  changes,  except 
that  the  hjrpoblast  becomes  somewhat  thicker.  Soon, 
however,  as  shewn  in  longitudinal  section  in  Fig.  18,  the 
hypoblast  along  the  axial  line  becomes  continuous  be- 
hind with  the  front  end  of  the  primitive  streak.  Thus 
at  this  point,  which  is  the   future   hind   end   of  the 


58 


THE   FIRST   DAY. 


[chap. 


Fig.  17. 


Fig.  18. 


III.]  FOKMATION   OF   THE   EMBETO.  59 

Fig.  17. 

Transvekse  Section  through  the  Front  End  op  the  Pri- 
mitive Streak  op  a  Blastoderm  op  the  same  age  as 
Fig.  16. 

'pv.  primitive  groove  ;  m.  mesoblast ;  ep.  epiblast ;  hy.  hypo- 
blast ;  yh.  yolk  of  germinal  wall. 

Fig.  18. 

Longitudinal  Section  through  the  Axial  Line  op  the 
Primitive  Streak,  and  the  Part  op  the  Blastoderm 
in  Front  op  it,  op  the  Blastoderm  op  a  Chick  some- 
what YOUNGER  THAN  FiG.    19. 

pr.s.  primitive  streak ;  ep.  epiblast ;  hy.  hypoblast  of  region  in 
front  of  primitive  streak ;  n.  nuclei ;  yh.  yolk  of  germinal 
wall. 

embryo,  the  mesoblast,  tbe  epiblast,  and  the  hypoblast 
all  unite  together. 

From  the  ISth  to  the  20th  hours.  At  about  the 
16th  hour,  in  blastoderms  of  the  stage  represented  in 
Fig.l  6,  an  important  change  takes  place  in  the  constitution 
of  the  primitive  hypoblast  in  front  of  the  primitive  streak. 
The  rounded  cells,  of  which  it  is  at  first  composed  (Fig. 
18),  break  up  into  (1)  a  layer  formed  of  a  single  row  of 
more  or  less  flattened  elements  below — the  hypoblast 
proper — and  (2)  into  a  layer  formed  of  several  rows  of 
stellate  elements,  between  the  hypoblast  and  the  epiblast 
- — the  mesoblast  (Fig.  19  ^i).  A  separation  between  these 
two  layers  is  at  first  hardly  apparent,  and  before  it  has 
become  at  all  well  marked,  especially  in  the  median  line, 
an  axial  opaque  line  makes  its  appearance  in  surface 
views,  continued  forwards  from  the  front  end  of  the 
primitive  streak,  but  stopping  short  at  a  semicircular 


60 


THE   FIEST   DAY. 
Fig.  19. 


[chap. 


Transverse  Section  through  the  Embryonic  Eegion  op 
THE  Blastoderm  of  a  Chick  shortly  prior  to  the 
Formation   op    the    Medullary    Groove    and    Noto- 

CHORD. 

ra.  median  line  of  the  section  ;  ep.  epiblast ;  11.  lower  layer  cells 
(primitive  hypoblast)  not  yet  completely  differentiated  into 
mesoblast  and  hypoblast ;  n.  nuclei. 

fold — the  future  head-fold — near  the  front  end  of  the 
area  pellucida.  In  section  (Fig.  20)  this  opaque  line  is 
seen  to  be  due  to  a  special  concentration  of  cells  in  the 
form  of  a  cord.  This  cord  is  the  commencement  of  an 
extremely  important  structure  found  in  all  vertebrate 
embryos,  which  is  known  as  the  notochord  (cA).  In  most 
instances  the  commencing  notochord  remains  attached 
to  the  hypoblast,  after  the  mesoblast  has  at  the  sides 
become  quite  detached  {^ide  Fig.  20),  but  in  other  cases 
the  notochord  appears  to  become  differentiated  in  the 
already  separated  layer  of  mesoblast.  In  all  cases  the 
notochord  and  the  hypoblast  helow  it  unite  with  the  front 
end  of  the  primitive  streak;  with  which  also  the  two 
lateral  plates  of  mesoblast  become  continuous. 

From  what  has  just  been  said  it  is  clear  that  in  the 
region  of  the  embryo  the  mesoblast  originates  as  two 
lateral  plates  split  off  from  the  primitive  hypoblast,  and 


III.] 


THE  NOTOCHORD. 
Fig.  20. 


61 


Transverse  Section  through  the  Embryonic  Eegion  of  the 
Blastoderm  of  a  Chick  at  the  time  of  the  formation 
op  the  Notochord,  but  before  the  appearance  of 
the  Medullary  Groove. 

ep.  epiblast ;  hy.  hypoblast ;  ch.  notocliord  ;  me.  mesoblast ; 
yh.  yolk  of  germinal  wall. 


Fig.  21. 


Transverse  Section  of  a  Blastoderm  incubated  for 

18   HOURS. 

The  section  passes  through  the  medullary  groove  mc,  at  some 
distance  behind  its  front  end. 

A.  Epiblast.     B,  Mesoblast.     C.  Hypoblast. 

m.c.  medullary  groove  ;  m.f.  medullary  fold ;  ch.  notochord. 


62  THE   FIRST   DAY.  [CHAP. 

that  the  notochord  originates  simultaneously  with  the 
mesoblast.with  which  it  is  at  first  continuous,  as  a  median 
plate  similarly  of  hypoblastic  origin. 

KoUiker  ^  holds  that  the  mesoblast  of  the  region  of  the  em- 
bryo is  derived  from  a  forward  growth  from  the  primitive  streak. 
There  is  no  theoretical  objection  to  this  view,  and  we  think  it  would 
be  impossible  to  shew  for  certain  by  sections  whether  or  no 
there  is  a  growth  such  as  he  describes  ;  but  such  sections  as  that 
represented  in  'Fig.  19  (and  we  have  series  of  such  sections  from 
several  embryos)  appear  to  us  to  be  conclusive  in  favour  of  the 
view  that  the  mesoblast  of  the  region  of  the  embryo  is  to  a  large 
extent  derived  from  a  differentiation  of  the  primitive  hypoblast. 
The  mesoblast  of  the  primitive  streak  forms  in  part  the  vascular 
structures  found  in  the  area  pellucida,  and  probably  also  in  part 
the  mesoblast  of  the  allantois. 

The  differentiation  of  the  embryo  may  be  said  to 
commence  with  the  formation  of  the  notochord  and  the 
lateral  plates  of  mesoblast.  Yery  shortly  after  the  for- 
mation of  these  parts,  the  axial  part  of  the  epiblast 
above  the  notochord  and  in  front  of  the  primitive  streak, 
being  here  somewhat  thicker  than  in  the  lateral  parts, 
becomes  differentiated  into  a  distinct  medullary  plate,  the 
sides  of  which  form  two  folds  knowTi  as  the  medullary 
folds,  enclosing  between  them  a  groove  known  as  the 
medullary  groove.  The  medullary  plate  itself  consti- 
tutes that  portion  of  the  epiblast  which  gives  rise  to  the 
central  nervous  system. 

Between  the  18th  to  the  20th  hour  the  medullary 
groove,  with  its  medullary  folds  or  laminse  dorsales,  is 
fully  established.  It  then  presents  the  appearance,  to- 
wards the  hinder  extremity  of  the  embryo,  of  a  shallow 

1  EntwicJc.  d.  Menschen  u.  hdheren  Thiere.  Leipzig,  1879. 


III.]  THE  NOTOCHORD.  63 

groove  with  sloping  diverging  walls,  which,  embrace  be- 
tween them  the  front  end  of  the  primitive  streak. 
Passing  forwards  towards  what  will  become  the  head 
of  the  embryo  the  groove  becomes  narrower  and  deeper 
with  steeper  walls.  On  reaching  the  head-fold  (Fig.  22), 
which  continually  becomes  more  and  more  prominent, 
the  medullary  folds  curve  round  and  meet  each  other  in 
the  middle  line,  so  as  to  form  a  somewhat  rounded  end 
to  the  groove.  In  front  therefore  the  canal  does  not 
become  lost  by  the  gradual  flattening  and  divergence  of 
its  walls,  as  is  the  case  behind,  but  has  a  definite  termi- 
nation, the  limit  being  marked  by  the  head-fold. 

In  front  of  the  head-fold,  quite  out  of  the  region  of 
the  medullary  folds,  there  is  usually  another  small  fold 
formed  earlier  than  the  head-fold,  which  is  the  begin- 
ning of  the  amnion  (Fig.  22). 

The  appearance  of  the  embryo  and  its  relation  to 
the  surrounding  parts  are  somewhat  diagrammatically 
represented  in  Fig.  22.  The  primitive  streak  now  ends 
with  an  anterior  swelling  (not  represented  in  the  figure), 
and  is  usually  somewhat  unsymmetrical.  In  most  cases 
its  axis  is  more  nearly  continuous  with  the  left,  or 
rarely  the  right,  medullary  fold  than  with  the  medullary 
groove.  In  sections  its  front  end  appears  as  a  ridge  on 
one  side  or  rarely  in  the  middle  of  the  floor  of  the  wide 
medullary  groove. 

The  general  structure  of  the  developing  embryo  at 
the  present  stage  is  best  understood  from  such  a  section 
as  that  represented  in  Fig.  21.  The  medullary  groove 
(m.  c.)  hned  by  thickened  epiblast  is  seen  in  the  median 
line  of  the  section.  Below  it  is  placed  the  notochord  (cA), 
which  at  this  stage  is  a  mere  rod  of  cells,  and  on  each 


64  THE   FIEST   DAY.  [CHAP. 

Fig.  22. 


i 


IK 


i"* 


Surface  View  of  the  Pellucid  Area  of  a  Blastoderm  of 
18  hours. 

None  of  the  opaque  area  is  shewn,  the  pear-shaped  outline 
indicating  the  limits  of  the  pellucid  area. 

At  the  hinder  part  of  the  area  isseen  the  primitive  groove 
pr.,  with  its  nearly  parallel  walls,  fading  away  behind,  but  curv- 
ing round  and  meeting  in  front  so  as  to  form  a  distinct  anterior 
termination  to  the  groove,  about  half  way  up  the  peUucid  area. 

Above  the  primitive  groove  is  seen  the  medullary  groove  m.c, 
with  the  medullary  folds  A.  These  diverging  behind,  slope  away 
on  either  side  of  the  primitive  groove,  while  in  front  they  curve 
round  and  meet  each  other  close  upon  a  curved  line  which  repre- 
sents the  head-fold. 

The  second  curved  line  in  front  of  and  concentric  with  the 
first  is  the  commencing  fold  of  the  amnion. 


Ill]  THE   GERMINAL   WALL.  65 

side  are  situated  the  mesoblastic  plates  (B).  Tlie  hypo- 
blast forms  a  continuous  and  nearly  flat  layer  below. 

While  the  changes  just  described  have  been  occur- 
ring in  the  area  pellucida,  the  growth  of  the  area  opaca 
has  also  progressed  actively.  The  epiblast  has  greatly 
extended  itself,  and  important  changes  have  taken  place 
in  the  constitution  of  the  germinal  wall  already  spoken 
of. 

The  mesoblast  and  hypoblast  of  the  area  opaca  do 
not  arise  by  simple  extension  of  the  corresponding  layers 
of  the  area  pellucida ;  but  the  whole  of  the  hypoblast 
of  the  area  opaca,  and  a  large  portion  of  the  meso- 
blast, and  possibly  even  some  of  the  epiblast,  take  their 
origin  from  the  peculiar  material  which  forms  the 
germinal  wall  and  which  is  continuous  with  the  hypo- 
blast at  the  edge  of  the  area  opaca  {vide  figs.  15,  17, 
18,  19,  20). 

The  exact  nature  of  this  material  has  been  the  subject  of 
many  controversies.  Into  these  controversies  it  is  not  our  purpose 
to  enter,  but  subjoined  are  the  results  of  our  own  examination. 
The  germinal  wall  first  consists,  as  aheady  mentioned,  of  the 
lower  cells  of  the  thickened  edge  of  the  blastoderm,  and  of  the 
subjacent  yolk  material  with  nuclei.  During  the  period  before 
the  formation  of  the  primitive  streak  the  epiblast  appears  to 
extend  itself  over  the  yolk,  partly  at  the  expense  of  the  cells  of 
the  germinal  wall,  and  possibly  even  of  cells  formed  around  the 
nuclei  in  this  part.  The  cells  of  the  germinal  wall,  which  are  at 
first  well  separated  from  the  yolk  below,  become  gradually  ab- 
sorbed in  the  growth  of  the  hypoblast,  and  the  remaining  cells 
and  yolk  then  become  mingled  together,  and  constitute  a  com- 
pound structure,  continuous  at  its  inner  border  with  the  hypo- 
blast. This  structure  is  the  germinal  wall  usually  so  described. 
It  is  mainly  formed  of  yolk  granules  with  numerous  nuclei,  and 
a  somewhat  variable  number  of  rather  large  cells  imbedded 
F.  &  B.  5 


66  THE  FIRST  DAY.  [CHAP. 

amongst  them.  The  nuclei,  some  of  which  are  probably  enclosed 
by  a  definite  cell  body,  typically  form  a  special  layer  immedi- 
ately below  the  epiblast.  A  special  mass  of  nuclei  {vide  Figs.  18 
and  20,  n)  is  usually  present  at  the  junction  of  the  hypoblast 
with  the  germinal  wall. 

The  germinal  wall  retains  the  characters  just  enumerated  till 
near  the  close  of  the  first  day  of  incubation.  One  function  of  its 
cells  appears  to  be  the  absorption  of  yolk  material  for  the  growth 
of  the  embryo. 


The  chief  events  then  of  the  second  period  of  the 
first  day  are  the  appearance  of  the  medullary  folds 
and  groove,  the  formation  of  the  notochord  and  lateral 
plates  of  mesoblast,  the  beginning  of  the  head-fold  and 
amnion,  and  the  histological  changes  taking  place  in  the 
several  layers. 

From  the  20th  to  the  24th  hour.  A  view  of 
the  embryo  during  this  period  is  given  in  Fig.  23. 
The  head-fold  enlarges  rapidly,  the  crescentic  groove 
becoming  deeper,  while  at  the  same  time  the  over- 
hanging margin  of  the  groove  (the  upper  limb  of  the 
g),  rises  up  above  the  level  of  the  blastoderm  ;  in  fact, 
the  formation  of  the  head  of  the  embryo  may  now  be 
said  to  have  definitely  begun. 

The  medullary  folds,  increasing  in  size  in  every 
dimension,  but  especially  in  height,  lean  over  from 
either  side  towards  the  middle  line,  and  thus  tend 
more  and  more  to  roof  in  the  medullary  canal,  espe- 
cially near  the  head.  About  the  end  of  the  first  day 
they  come  into  direct  contact  in  the  region  which 
will  afterwards  become  the  brain,  though  they  do  not 
as  yet  coalesce.  In  this  way  a  tubular  canal  is  formed. 
This  is  the  medullary  or  neural  canal  (Fig.  23,  Fig.  24, 


III.] 


THE   MEDULLARY   CANAL. 

Fig.  23. 


67 


Dorsal  View  of  the  hardened  area  pellucid  a  op  a  Chick 
WITH  Five  Mesoblastig  Somites.  The  Medullary 
Folds  have  met  for  part  of  their  extent,  but  have 
not  united. 

a.pr,  anterior  part  of  the  primitive  streak ;  'p.pr.  posterior  part 
of  the  primitive  streak. 

Mg).  It  is  not  completely  closed  in  till  a  period  con- 
siderably later  than  the  one  we  are  considering. 

Meanwhile  important  changes  are  taking  place  in 
the  axial  portions  of  the  mesoblast,  which  lie  on  each 
side  of  the  notochord  beneath  the  medullary  folds. 

In  an  embryo  of  the  middle  period  of  this  day, 
examined  with  transmitted  light,  the  notochord  is 
seen  at  the  bottom  of  the  medullary  groove  between 
the  medullary  folds,  as  a  transparent  line  shining 
through  the  floor  of  the  groove  when  the  embryo  is 
viewed  from  above.  On  either  side  of  the  notochord 
the   body  of  the   embryo   appears  somewhat  opaque, 

5—2 


68  THE   FIRST   DAY.  [CHAP. 

owing  to  the  thickness  of  the  medullary  folds;  as 
these  folds  slope  away  outwards  on  either  side,  so 
the  opacity  gradually  fades  away  in  the  pellucid  area. 
There  is  present  at  the  sides  no  sharp  line  of  demarca- 
tion between  the  body  of  the  embryo  and  the  rest  of 
the  area;  nor  will  there  be  any  till  the  lateral  folds 
make  their  appearance ;  and  transverse  vertical  sections 
shew  (Fig.  21)  that  there  is  no  break  in  the  mesoblast, 
from  the  notochord  to  the  margin  of  the  pellucid  area, 
but  only  a  gradual  thinning. 

During  the  latter  period  of  the  day,  however,  the 
plates  of  mesoblast  on  either  side  of  the  notochord 
begin  to  be  split  horizontally  into  two  layers,  the  one 
of  which  attaching  itself  to  the  epiblast,  forms  with 
it  the  somatopleure  (shewn  for  a  somewhat  later  stage 
in  Fig.  24),  while  the  other,  attaching  itself  to  the 
hypoblast,  forms  with  it  the  splanchnopleure.  By 
the  separation  of  these  two  layers  from  each  other, 
a  cavity  (Pp),  containing  fluid  only,  and  more  con- 
spicuous in  certain  parts  of  the  embryo  than  in  others, 
is  developed.  This  cavity  is  the  beginning  of  that 
great  serous  cavity  of  the  body  which  afterwards  becomes 
divided  into  separate  cavities.  We  shall  speak  of  it  as 
the  pleuTo-peritoneal  cavity. 

This  cleavage  into  somatopleure  and  splanchno- 
pleure extends  close  up  to  the  walls  of  the  medullary 
canal,  but  close  to  the  medullary  canal  a  central  or 
axial  portion  of  each  plate  becomes  marked  off  by 
a  slight  constriction  from  the  peripheral  (Fig.  24),  and 
receives  the  name  of  verteh'al  plate,  the  more  external 
mesoblast  being  called  the  lateral  plate.  The  cavity 
between   the   two   layers  of  the  lateral   plate  rapidly 


III.] 


VEETEBEAL    PLATE. 


69 


enlarges,  while  that  in  the  vertebral  plate  remains  in 
the  condition  of  a  mere  split. 


Fig.  24. 


/jvr 


Transverse  Section  through  the  Dorsal  Region  of  an 
Embryo  op  the  Second  Day  (copied  from  His),  intro- 
duced here  to  illustrate  the  formation  of  the  mesoblastic 
somitis,  and  the  cleavage  of  the  mesoblast. 

M.  medullary  canal ;  Pv.  mesoblastic  somite  ;  w.  mdiment  of 
Wolffian  duct ;  A.  epiblast ;  C.  hypoblast ;  Gh.  notochord  ; 
Ao.  aorta,;  BC.  splanchnopleure. 

At  first  each  vertebral  plate  is  not  only  unbroken 
along  its  length,  but  also  continuous  at  its  outer  edge 
with  the  upper  and  lower  layers  of  the  lateral  plate 
of  the  same  side.  Very  soon,  however,  clear  trans- 
verse lines  are  seen,  in  surface  views  (Fig.  23),  stretch- 
ing inwards  across  each  vertebral  plate  from  the  edge 
of  the  lateral  plate  towards  the  notochord;  while  a 
transparent  longitudinal  line  makes  its  appearance  on 
either  side  of  the  notochord  along  the  line  of  junction 
of  the  lateral  with  the  vertebral  plate. 

The  transverse  lines  are  caused  by  the  formation 
of  vertical  clefts,  that  is  to  say,  narrow  spaces  containing 
nothing  but  clear  fluid  ;  and   sections  shew  that  they 


70  THE  FIKST  DAT.  [CHAP. 

are  due  to  breaches  of  continuity  in  the  mesoblast 
only,  the  epiblast  and  hj^poblast  having  no  share  in  the 
matter. 

Thus  each  vertebral  plate  appears  in  surface  views 
to  be  cut  up  into  a  series  of  square  plots,  bounded  by 
transparent  lines  (Fig.  23).  Each  square  plot  is  the 
surface  of  a  corresponding  cubical  mass  (Fig.  24,  Pv.). 
The  two  such  cubical  masses  first  formed,  lying  one  on 
each  side  of  the  notochord,  beneath  and  a  little  to 
the  outside  of  the  medullary  folds,  are  the  first  pair 
of  mesoblastic  somites^. 

The  mesoblastic  somites  form  the  basis  out  of  which 
the  voluntary  muscles  of  the  trunk  and  the  bodies  of 
the  vertebrae  are  formed. 

The  first  somite  rises  close  to  the  anterior  ex- 
tremity of  the  primitive  streak,  but  the  next  is  stated 
to  arise  in  front  of  this,  so  that  the  first-formed  so- 
mite corresponds  to  the  second  permanent  vertebra. 
The  region  of  the  embryo  in  front  of  the  second  formed 
somite — at  first  the  largest  part  of  the  whole  embryo — is 
the  cephalic  region  (Fig.  23).  The  somites  following  the 
second  are  formed  in  regular  succession  from  before 
backwards,  out  of  the  unsegmented  mesoblast  of  the 
posterior  end  of  the  embryo,  which  rapidly  grows  in 
length  to  supply  the  necessary  material.  With  the 
growth  of  the  embryo  the  primitive  streak  is  con- 
tinually carried  back,  the  lengthening  of  the  embryo 
always  taking  place  between  the  front  end  of  the 
primitive  streak  and  the  last  somite ;  and  during  this 

1  These  bodies  are  frequently  called  protovertebrcs,  but  we  shall 
employ  for  tbein  the  term  mesoblastic  somites. 


III.]  THE  NEURENTERIC   PASSAGE.  71 

process  the  primitive  streak  undergoes  important 
changes  both  in  itself  and  in  its  relation  to  the  embryo. 
Its  anterior  thicker  part,  which  is  embraced  by  the 
diverging  medullary  folds,  soon  becomes  distinguished 
in  structure  from  the  posterior  part,  and  is  placed 
symmetrically  in  relation  to  the  axis  of  the  embryo, 
(Fig.  23  a.^r);  at  the  same  time  the  medullary  folds, 
which  at  first  simply  diverge  on  each  side  of  the 
primitive  streak,  bend  in  again  and  meet  behind  so 
as  completely  to  enclose  this  front  part  of  the  primi- 
tive streak.  The  region,  where  the  medullary  folds 
diverge,  is  known  as  the  sinus  rhomboidalis  of  the 
embryo  bird,  though  it  has  no  connection  with  the 
similarly  named  structure  in  the  adult. 

This  is  a  convenient  place  to  notice  remarkable  appearances 
which  present  themselves  close  to  the  junction  of  the  neural  plate 
and  the  primitive  streak.  These  are  temporary  passages  leading 
from  the  hinder  end  of  the  neural  groove  or  tube  into  the  alimen- 
tary canal.  They  vary  somewhat  in  different  species  of  birds,  and 
it  is  possible  that  in  some  species  there  may  be  several  openings 
of  the  kind,  which  appear  one  after  the  other  and  then  close  again. 
They  were  first  discovered  by  Gasser,  and  are  spoken  of  as  the 
neurenteric  passages  or  canals  i.  In  all  cases,  with  some  doubtful 
exceptions,  they  lead  round  the  posterior  end  of  the  noto  chord,  or 
through  the  point  where  the  notouhord  falls  into  the  primitive 
streak. 

The  largest  of  these  passages  is  present  in  the  embryo  duck 
with  twenty-six  mesoblastic  somites,  and  is  represented  in  the 
series  of  sections  (Fig.  25).  The  passage  leads  obhquely  back- 
wards and  ventralwards  from  the  hind  end  of  the  neural  tube 

1  "  Die  Primitivstreifen  bei  Yogelembryonen."  Schrift.  d.  Gesell. 
z.  Beford  d.  Gesammten  Naturwiss.  zu  Marburg.  Vol.  ii.  Supple- 
ment I.     1879. 


72 


THE   FIRST   DAY. 
Fia.  25. 


[chap. 


Four  Transverse  Sections  through  the  Neurenteric 
Passage  and  Adjoining  Parts  in  a  Duck  Embryo 
WITH  Twenty-six  Mesoblastc  Somites. 

A.  Section  in  front  of  the  neurenteric  canal,  shewing  a  lumen 
in  the  notochord. 

B.  Section  through  the  passage  from  the  medullary  canal 
into  the  notochord. 

C.  Section  shewing  the  hypoblastic  opening  of  the  neuren- 
teric canal,  and  the  groove  on  the  surface  of  the  primitive  streak, 
which  opens  in  front  into  the  medullary  canal. 

D.  Primitive  streak  immediately  behind  the  opening  of  the 
nem-enteric  passage. 

mc.  medullary  canal ;  ep.  epiblast  ;  hy.  hypoblast  ;  oh.  noto- 
chord ;  pr.  primitive  streak. 


III.]  THE   NEURENTERIC   PASSAGE.  73 

into  tlie  notochord,  where  the  latter  joins  the  primitive  streak 
(B).  A  narrow  diverticulum  from  this  passage  is  continued  for- 
wards for  a  short  distance  along  the  axis  of  the  notochord  (A, 
ch).  After  traversing  the  notochord,  the  passage  is  continued 
into  a  hypoblastic  diverticulum,  which  opens  ventrally  into  the 
future  lumen  of  the  ahmentary  tract  (C).  Shortly  behind  the 
point  where  the  neurenteric  passage  communicates  with  the 
neural  tube  the  latter  structure  opens  dorsally,  and  a  groove  on 
the  surface  of  the  primitive  streak  is  continued  backwards  from 
it  for  a  short  distance  (C).  The  first  part  of  this  passage  to 
appear  is  the  hypoblastic  diverticulum  above  mentioned. 


Diagrammatic  Longitudinal  Section  through  the  Pos- 
terior End  of  an  Embryo  Bird  at  the  time  of  the 
Formation  of  the  Allantois. 

ep.  epiblast ;  Sp.c.  spinal  canal ;  ch.  notochord  ;  n.e.  neurenteric 
canal ;  hy.  hypoblast ;  p.a.g.  post-anal  gut ;  pr.  remains  of 
primitive  streak  folded  in  on  the  ventral  side  ;  al.  allantois  ; 
one.  mesoblast ;  an.  point  where  anus  will  be  formed ;  p.c. 
perivisceral  cavity ;  am.  amnion ;  so.  somatopleure  ;  sp. 
splanchnopleure. 

In  the  chick  we  have  found  in  some  cases  an  incomplete  pas- 
sage prior  to  the  formation  of  the  first  somite.      At  a  later  stage 


74  THE   FIRST   DAY.  [CHAP. 

there  is  a  perforation  on  the  floor  of  the  neural  canal,  which  is 
not  so  marked  as  those  in  the  goose  or  duck,  and  never  results 
in  a  complete  continuity  between  the  neural  and  alimentary- 
tracts  ;  but  simply  leads  from  the  floor  of  the  neural  canal  into 
the  tissues  of  the  tail-swelling,  and  thence  into  a  cavity  in  the 
posterior  part  of  the  notochord.  The  hinder  diverticulum  of  the 
neural  canal  along  the  line  of  the  primitive  groove  is,  moreover, 
very  considerable  in  the  chick,  and  is  not  so  soon  obliterated  as 
in  the  goose.  The  incomplete  passage  in  the  chick  arises  at  a 
period  when  about  twelve  somites  are  present.  The  third 
passage  is  formed  in  the  chick  dm-ing  the  third  day  of  incuba- 
tion. 

The  anterior  part  of  the  primitive  streak  becomes  con- 
verted into  the  tail-swelling ;  the  groove  of  the  posterior  part 
gradually  shallows  and  finally  disappears.  The  hinder  part  itself 
atrophies  from  behind  forwards,  and  in  the  course  of  the  folding 
off  of  the  embryo  from  the  yolk  the  part  of  the  blastoderm  where 
it  was  placed  becomes  folded  in,  so  as  to  form  part  of  the  ventral 
wall  of  the  embryo.  The  apparent  hinder  part  of  the  primitive 
streak  is  therefore  in  reality  ventral  and  anterior  in  relation  to 
the  embryo. 

Since  the  commencement  of  incubation  the  area 
opaca  has  been  spreading  outwards  over  the  surface  of  the 
yolk,  and  by  the  end  of  the  first  day  has  reached  about 
the  diameter  of  a  sixpence.  It  appears  more  or  less 
mottled  over  the  greater  part  of  its  extent,  but  this  is 
more  particularly  the  case  with  the  portion  lying  next 
to  the  pellucid  area ;  so  much  so,  that  around  the  pel- 
lucid area  an  inner  ring  of  the  opaque  area  may  be 
distinguished  from  the  rest  by  the  difference  of  its 
aspect. 

The  mottled  appearance  of  this  inner  ring  is  due  to 
changes  taking  place  in  the  mesoblast  above  the  germi- 
nal wall — changes  which  eventually  result  in  the  forma- 


III.]  SUMMARY.  75 

tion  of  what  is  called  the  vascular  area,  the  outer  border 
of  which  marks  the  extreme  limit  to  which  the  meso- 
blast  extends. 

The  changes  then  which  occur  during  the  first  day 
may  thus  be  briefly  summarized : 

(1)  The  hypoblast  is  formed  as  a  continuous  layer 
of  plate-like  cells  from  the  lower  layer  of  the  segmenta- 
tion spheres. 

(2)  The  primitive  streak  is  formed  in  the  hinder 
part  of  the  area  pellucida  as  a  linear  proliferation  of 
epiblast  cells.  These  cells  spread  out  as  a  layer  on 
each  side  of  the  primitive  streak,  and  form  part  of  the 
mesoblast. 

(3)  The  primitive  groove  is  formed  along  the  axis 
of  the  primitive  streak. 

(4)  The  pellucid  area  becomes  pear-shaped,  the 
broad  end  corresponding  with  the  future  head  of  the 
embryo.  Its  long  axis  lies  at  right  angles  to  the  long 
axis  of  the  Qgg. 

(5)  The  medullary  plate  with  the  medullary  groove 
makes  its  appearance  in  front  of  the  primitive  groove. 

(6)  The  primitive  hypoblast  in  the  region  of  the 
medullary  plate  gives  rise  to  an  axial  rod  of  cells  forming 
the  notochord,  and  to  two  lateral  plates  of  mesoblast. 
The  innermost  stratum  of  the  primitive  layer  forms  the 
permanent  hjrpoblast. 

(7)  The  development  of  the  head-fold  gives  rise 
to  the  first  definite  appearance  of  the  head. 

(8)  The  medullary  folds  rise  up  and  meet  first  in 
the  region  of  the  mid-brain  to  form  the  neural  tube. 

(9)  By  the  cleavage  of  the  mesoblast,  the  somato- 
pleure  separates  from  the  splanchnopleure. 


76  THE   FIRST   DAY.  [CHAP.  III. 

(10)  One  or  more  pairs  of  mesoblastic  somites  make 
their  appearance  in  the  vertebral  portion  of  the  meso- 
blastic plates. 

(11)  The  first  trace  of  the  amnion  appears  in  front 
of  the  head-fold. 

(12)  The  vascular  area  begins  to  be  distinguished 
from  the  rest  of  the  opaque  area. 


CHAPTER   IV. 

THE   CHANGES   WHICH   TAKE   PLACE   DUEING   THE   FIRST 
HALF   OF   THE   SECOND   DAY. 

General  development.  I^i  attempting  to  remove 
the  blastoderm  from  an  egg  which  has  undergone 
from  30  to  36  hours'  incubation,  the  observer  can- 
not fail  to  notice  a  marked  change  in  the  consist- 
ency of  the  blastodermic  structures.  The  excessive 
delicacy  and  softness  of  texture  which  rendered  the 
extraction  of  an  18  or  20  hours'  blastoderm  so  difficult, 
has  given  place  to  a  considerable  amount  of  firmness; 
the  outlines  of  the  embryo  and  its  appendages  are  much 
bolder  and  more  distinct;  and  the  whole  blastoderm 
can  be  removed  from  the  egg  with  much  greater  ease. 

In  the  embryo  itself  viewed  from  above  one  of  the 
features  which  first  attracts  attention  is  the  progress 
in  the  head-fold  (Fig.  27).  The  upper  limb  or  head 
has  become  much  more  prominent,  while  the  lower 
groove  is  not  only  proportionately  deeper,  but  is  also 
being  carried  back  beneath  the  body  of  the  embryo. 

The  medullary  folds  are  closing  rapidly.  In  the 
region  of  the  head  they  have  quite  coalesced,  a  slight 
notch  in  the  middle  line  at  the  extreme  front  marking 


78 


THE  SECOND  DAY. 


[chap. 


for  some  little  time  their  line  of  junction  (Fig.  23). 
The  open  medullary  groove  of  the  first  day  has  thus 
become  converted  into  a  tube,  the  neural  canal,  closed 
in  front,  but  as  yet  open  behind.     Even  before   the 


Fig.   27. 


Embryo  of  the  Chick  between  thirty  and  thirty-six  hours, 

VIEWED   FROM  ABOVE   AS  AN   OpAQUE   ObJECT. 

(Chromic  acid  preparation.) 

f.h.  front- brain  :  mh.  mid-brain  ;  h.h.  hind-brain  ;  op.v.  optic  vesi- 
cle ;  au.p.  auditory  pit ;  o.f.  vitelline  vein  ;  p.v.  mesoblastic 
somite ;  m.f.  line  of  junction  of  the  medullary  folds  above  the 


IV.]  THE  BRAIN.  79 

medullary  canal ;  s.r.  sinus  rhomboidalis  ;  t.  tail-fold  ;  p.r. 
remains  of  primitive  groove  (not  satisfactorily  represented) ; 
a.p.  area  pellucida. 

The  line  to  the  side  between  p.v.  and  m./.  represents  the  true 
length  of  the  embryo. 

The  fiddle-shaped  outline  indicates  the  margin  of  the  pellucid 
area.  The  head,  which  reaches  as  far  back  as  o./.,  is  dis- 
tinctly marked  off;  but  neither  the  somatopleuric  nor 
splanchnopleuric  folds  are  shewn  in  the  figure  ;  the  latter 
diverge  at  the  level  of  o./.,  the  former  considerably  nearer 
the  front,  somewhere  between  the  lines  m.b.  and  h.b.  The 
optic  vesicles  op.v.  are  seen  bulging  out  beneath  the  superfi- 
cial epiblast.  The  heart  lying  underneath  the  opaque  body 
cannot  be  seen.  The  tail-fold  t.  is  just  indicated  ;  no  dis- 
tinct lateral  folds  are  as  yet  visible  in  the  region  midway 
between  head  and  tail.  At  m.f.  the  line  of  junction  between 
the  medullary  folds  is  still  visible,  being  lost  forwards  over 
the  cerebral  vesicles,  while  behind  may  be  seen  the  remains 
of  the  sinus  rhomboidalis,  s.r. 

medullary  folds  coalesce  completely  in  the  cephalic 
region,  the  front  end  of  the  neural  canal  dilates  into 
a  small  bulb,  whose  cavity  remains  continuous  with 
the  rest  of  the  canal,  and  whose  walls  are  similarly 
formed  of  epiblast.  This  bulb  is  known  as  the  first 
cerebral  vesicle,  Fig.  27,  f.b.,  and  makes  its  appearance 
in  the  early  hours  of  the  second  day.  From  its  sides 
two  lateral  processes  almost  at  once  grow  out :  they  are 
known  as  the  optic  vesicles  (Fig.  27,  op.  v.),  and  their 
history  will  be  dealt  with  at  length  somewhat  later. 
Behind  the  first  cerebral  vesicle  a  second  and  a  third 
soon  make  their  appearance;  they  are  successively 
formed  very  shortly  after  the  first  vesicle ;  but  the 
consideration  of  them  may  be  conveniently  reserved  to 
a  later  period.     At  the  level  of  the  hind  end  of  the 


80 


THE   SECOND   DAY. 


[chap. 


An  Embryo  Chick  of  about  Thirty-six  Hours,  viewed 

FROM  BELOW   AS  A   TRANSPARENT   ObJECT. 

FB.  the  fore-brain  or  first  cerebral  vesicle,  projecting  from  the 
sides  of  which  are  seen  the  optic  vesicles,  op.  A  definite 
head  is  now  constituted,  the  backward  limit  of  the  somato- 
plemre  fold  being  indicated  by  the  faint  line  S.O.  Around 
the  head  are  seen  the  two  limbs  of  the  amniotic  head-fold  : 
one,  the  true  amnion  a,  closely  enveloping  the  head,  the 
other,  the  false  amnion  a',  at  some  distance  from  it.  The 
head  is  seen  to  project  beyond  the  anterior  limit  of  the 
pellucid  area. 

The  splanchnopleure  folds  extend  as  far  back  as  sp.  Along  its 
diverging  limbs  are  seen  the  conspicuous  venous  roots  of 


IV.]  THE   MESOBLASTIC   SOMITES.  81 

the  vitelline  veins,  uniting  to  form  the  heart  ^,  already 
established  by  the  coalescence  of  two  lateral  halves  which, 
continuing  forward  as  the  bulbus  arteriosus  6. a.,  is  lost  in 
the  substance  of  the  head  just  in  front  of  the  somatopleure 
fold. 
HB.  hind-brain ;  MB.  mid-brain ;  p. v.  and  v. pi.  mesoblastic 
somites  ;  oh.  front  end  of  notochord  :  mc.  posterior  part  of 
notochord ;  e.  parietal  mesoblast ;  pi.  outline  of  area  pellu- 
cida  ;  pv.  primitive  streak. 

head  two  shallow  pits  are  visible.  They  constitute  the 
first  rudiments  of  the  organ  of  hearing,  and  are  known  as 
the  auditory  pits  (Fig.  27,  au.p.). 

The  number  of  mesoblastic  somites  increases  rapidly 
by  a  continued  segmentation  of  the  vertebral  plates  of 
mesoblast.  The  four  or  five  pairs  formed  during  the 
first  day  have  by  the  middle  of  the  second  increased  to 
as  many  as  fifteen.  The  addition  takes  place  from 
before  backwards ;  and  the  hindermost  one  is  for  some 
time  placed  nearly  on  a  level  with  the  boundary  be- 
tween the  hind  end  of  the  trunk  of  the  embryo,  and 
the  front  end  of  the  primitive  streak.  For  some  time 
the  already  formed  somites  do  not  increase  in  size, 
so  that  at  first  the  embryo  clearly  elongates  by  addi- 
tions to  its  hinder  end. 

Immediately  behind  the  level  of  the  last  meso- 
blastic somite  there  is  placed  an  enlargement  of  the 
unclosed  portion  o/  the  medullary  canal.  This  enlarge- 
ment is  the  sinus  rhomboidalis  already  spoken  of.  It 
is  shewn  in  Fig.  23.  On  its  floor  is  placed  the  front 
end  of  the  primitive  streak.  It  is  a  purely  embryonic 
structure  which  disappears  during  the  second  day. 

In  a  former  chapter  it  was  pointed  out  (p.  27) 
that  the  embryo  is  virtually  formed  by  a  folding 
F.  &  B.  Q 


82  THE   SECOND   DAY.  [CHAP. 

or  tucking  in  of  a  limited  portion  of  the  blastoderm, 
first  at  the  anterior  extremity,  and  afterwards  at  the 
posterior  extremity  and  at  the  sides.  One  of  the  results 
of  this  doubling  up  of  the  blastoderm  to  form  the  head 
is  the  appearance,  below  the  anterior  extremity  of  the 
medullary  tube,  of  a  short  canal,  ending  blindly  in 
front,  but  open  widely  behind  (Fig.  29,  D),  a  cul  de 
sac,  in  fact,  lined  with  hypoblast  and  reaching  from  the 
extreme  front  of  the  embryo  to  the  point  where  the 
splanchnopleuric  leaf  of  the  head-fold  (Fig.  29,  F.  Sp) 
turns  back  on  itself.  This  cul  de  sac,  which  of  course  be- 
comes longer  and  longer  the  farther  back  the  head-fold  is 
carried,  is  the  rudiment  of  the  front  end  of  the  alimen- 
tary canal,  the  fore-gut,  as  it  might  be  called.  In  trans- 
verse section  it  appears  to  be  flattened  horizontally, 
and  also  bent,  so  as  to  have  its  convex  surface  looking 
downwards  (Fig.  30,  al).  At  first  the  anterior  end  is 
quite  blind,  there  being  no  mouth  as  yet;  the  formation 
of  this  at  a  subsequent  date  will  be  described  later  on. 

At  the  end  of  the  first  half  of  the  second  day  the 
head-fold  has  not  proceeded  very  far  backwards,  and 
its  limits  can  easily  be  seen  in  the  fresh  embryo  both 
from  above  and  from  below  (Fig.  28). 

The  heart.  It  is  in  the  head-fold  that  the  forma- 
tion of  the  heart  takes  place,  its  mode  of  origin  being 
connected  with  that  cleavage  of  the  mesoblast  and  con- 
sequent formation  of  splanchnopleure  and  somatopleure 
of  which  we  have  already  spoken. 

At  the  extreme  end  of  the  embryo  (Fig.  29),  where 
the  blastoderm  begins  to  be  folded  back,  the  mesoblast 
is  never  cleft,  and  here  consequently  there  is  neither 
somatopleure  nor  splanchnopleure ;   but   at   a  point  a 


IV.] 


THE   HEAET. 

Fig.   29. 


83 


N.C. 


F.So. 


Diagrammatic  Longitudinal  Section  through  the  Axis  of 
AN  Embryo. 

The  section  is  supposed  to  be  made  at  a  time  when  the  head- 
fold  has  commenced  but  the  tail-fold  has  not  yet  appeared. 
N.C.  neural  canal,  closed  in  front  but  as  yet  open  behind.  Ch. 
notochord.  The  section  being  taken  in  the  middle  line, 
the  protovertebrse  are  of  course  not  shewn.  In  front  of 
the  notochord  is  seen  a  mass  of  uncleft  mesoblast,  which 
will  eventually  form  part  of  the  skull.  D.  the  commencing 
foregut  or  front   part  of  the   alimentary   canal.  F.  So. 

Somatopleure,  raised  up  in  its  peripheral  portion  into  the 
amniotic  fold  Ain.  Sp.  Splanchnopleure.  At  Sp.  it  forms 
the  under  wall  of  the  foregut ;  at  F.  Sp.  it  is  turning  round 
and  about  to  run  forward.  Just  at  its  turning  point  the 
cavity  of  the  heart  Ht.  is  being  developed  in  its  mesoblast. 
pp.  pleuroperitoneal  cavity.  A  epiblast,  B  mesoblast,  G 
hypoblast,  indicated  in  the  rest  of  the  figure  by  differences  in 
the  shading.  At  the  part  where  these  three  lines  of  reference 
end  the  mesoblast  is  as  yet  uncleft. 

very  little  further  back,  close  under  the  blind  end  of 
the  foregut,  the  cleavage  (at  the  stage  of  which  we  are 
speaking)  begins,  and  the  somatopleure,  F.So,  and 
splanchnopleure,  F.  Sp.  diverge  from  each  other.     They 

6—2 


84  THE   SECOND   DAY.  [CHAP. 

thus  enclose  between  them  a  cavity,  pp,  which  rapidly 
increases  behind  by  reason  of  the  fact  that  the  fold  of 
the  splanchnopleure  is  carried  on  towards  the  hinder 
extremity  of  the  embryo  considerably  in  advance  of 
that  of  the  somatopleure.  Both  folds,  after  running  a 
certain  distance  towards  the  hind  end  of  the  embryo, 
are  turned  round  again,  and  then  course  once  more  for- 
wards over  the  yolk-sac.  As  they  thus  return  (the 
somatopleure  having  meanwhile  given  off  the  fold  of 
the  amnion,  Am),  they  are  united  again  to  form  the 
uncleft  blastodermic  investment  of  the  yolk-sac.  In 
this  way  the  cavity  arising  from  their  separation  is 
closed  below. 

It  is  in  this  cavity,  which  from  its  mode- of  forma- 
tion the  reader  will  recognise  as  a  part  (and  indeed  at 
this  epoch  it  constitutes  the  greater  part)  of  the  general 
pleuroperitoneal  cavity,  that  the  heart  is  formed. 

This  makes  its  appearance  at  the  under  surface  and 
hind  end  of  the  foregut,  just  where  the  splanchnopleure 
folds  turn  round  to  pursue  a  forward  course  (Fig.  29, 
Ht) ;  and  by  the  end  of  the  first  half  of  the  second  day 
(Fig.  28,  h)  has  acquired  somewhat  the  form  of  a  flask 
with  a  slight  bend  to  the  right.  At  its  anterior  end  a 
slight  swelling  marks  the  future  hulhus  arteriosus ;  and 
a  bulging  behind  indicates  the  position  of  the  auricles. 
It  is  hollow,  and  its  cavity  opens  behind  into  two 
vessels  called  the  vitelline  veins  (Figs.  27,  o.f.  and  28  sp), 
which  pass  outwards  in  the  folds  of  the  splanchno- 
pleure at  nearly  right  angles  to  the  axis  of  the  embryo. 
The  anterior  extremity  of  the  heart  is  connected  with 
the  two  aortae. 

The  heart,  including  both  its  muscular  wall  and  its 


IV.]  THE   HEAET.  85 

epitheloid  lining,  is  developed  out  of  the  splanchnic 
mesoblast  on  the  ventral  side  of  the  throat.  But 
since  the  first  commencements  of  the  heart  make 
their  appearance  prior  to  the  formation  of  the  throat, 
the  development  of  this  organ  is  somewhat  complicated; 
and  in  order  to  gain  a  clear  conception  of  the  manner 
in  which  it  takes  place  the  topography  of  the  region 
where  it  is  formed  needs  to  be  very  distinctly  under- 
stood. 

In  the  region  where  the  heart  is  about  to  appear, 
the  splanchnopleure  is  continually  being  folded  in  on 
either  side,  and  these  lateral  folds  are  progressively 
meeting  and  uniting  in  the  middle  line  to  form  the  under 
or  ventral  wall  of  the  foregut.  At  any  given  moment 
these  folds  will  be  found  to  have  completely  united  in 
the  middle  line  along  a  certain  distance  measured  from 
the  point  in  front  where  the  cleavage  of  the  mesoblast 
{i.e.  the  separation  into  somatopleure  and  splanch- 
nopleure) begins,  to  a  particular  point  farther  back. 
They  will  here  be  found  to  be  diverging  from  the  point 
where  they  were  united,  and  not  only  diverging  late- 
rally each  from  the  middle  line,  but  also  both  turning 
so  as  to  run  in  a  forward  direction  to  regain  the  surface 
of  the  yolk  and  rejoin  the  somatopleure,  Fig.  29.  In  a 
transverse  section  taken  behind  this  extreme  point  of 
union,  or  point  of  divergence,  as  we  may  call  it,  the 
splanchnopleure  on  either  side  when  traced  downwards 
from  the  axis  of  the  embryo  may  be  seen  to  bend  in 
towards  the  middle  so  as  to  approach  its  fellow,  and  then 
to  run  rapidly  outwards,  Fig.  31,  B.  A  longitudinal 
section  shews  that  it  runs  forwards  also  at  the  same 
time,  Fig.  29.     A  section  through  the  verj>  point  of 


86  THE   SECOND   DAY.  [CHAP. 

divergence  shews  the  two  folds  meeting  in  the  middle 
line  and  then  separating  again,  so  as  to  form  something 
like  the  letter  x,  with  the  upper  limbs  converging,  and 
the  lower  limbs  diverging.  In  a  section  taken  in 
front  of  the  point  of  divergence,  the  lower  diverging 
limbs  of  the  x  have  disappeared  altogether;  nothing 
is  left  but  the  upper  limbs,  which,  completely  united 
in  the  middle  line,  form  the  under-wall  of  the  fore- 
gut. 

As  development  proceeds,  what  we  have  called  the 
point  of  divergence  is  continually  being  carried  farther 
and  farther  back,  so  that  the  distance  between  it  and 
the  point  where  the  somatopleure  and  splanchnopleure 
separate  from  each  other  in  front,  i.  e.  the  length  of  the 
foregut,  is  continually  increasing. 

In  the  chick,  as  we  have  already  stated,  the  heart 
commences  to  be  formed  in  a  region  where  the  folds  of 
the  splanchnopleure  have  not  yet  united  to  form  .the 
ventral  wall  of  the  throat,  and  appears  in  the  form  of 
two  thickenings  of  the  mesoblast  of  the  splanchno- 
pleure, along  the  diverging  folds,  i.e.  along  the  lower 
limbs  of  the  x,  just  behind  the  point  of  divergence. 
These  thickenings  are  continued  into  each  other  by  a 
similar  thickening  of  the  mesoblast  extending  through 
the  point  of  divergence  itself. 

The  heart  has  thus  at  first  the  form  of  an  inverted 
V,  and  consists  of  two  independent  cords  of  splanchnic 
mesoblast  which  meet  in  front,  without  however  uniting. 
As  the  folding-in  of  the  splanchnopleure  is  continued 
backwards  the  two  diverging  halves  of  the  heart  are 
gradually  brought  together.  Thus  very  soon  the  develojD- 
ing  heart  has  the  form  of  an  inverted  Y,  consisting  of  an 


IV.] 


THE   HEART. 


87 


unpaired  portion  in  front  and  two  diverging  limbs  be- 
hind. The  unpaired  portion  is  the  true  heart,  while  the 
diverging  limbs  are  the  vitelline  veins  already  spoken 
of  (Fig.  28,  sp).  While  the  changes  just  spoken  of 
have  been  taking  place  in  the  external  form  of  the 
heart,  its  internal  parts  have  also  become  differentiated. 
A  cavity  is  formed  in  each  of  the  halves  of  the 
heart  before  even  they  have  coalesced.  Each  of  these 
cavities   has   at   iirst  the  form   of  an   irregular   space 

Fig.    30. 


Transverse  Section  through  the  Posterior  Part  of  the 
Head  of  an  Embryo  Chick  op  Thirty  Hours. 

hb.  hind-brain  ;  vff.  vagus  nerve  ;  ep.  epiblast ;  ch.  notochord  ; 
.V.  thickening  of  hypoblast  (possibly  a  rudiment  of  the  sub- 
notochordal  rod) ;  al.  throat ;  ht.  heart ;  pp.  body  cavitj  ; 
50.  somatic  mesoblast ;  sf.  splanchnic  mesoblast ;  %.  hypo- 
blast. 


88  THE   SECOND  DAY.  [CHAP. 

between  the  splanchnic  mesoblast  and  the  wall  of  the 
throat  (Fig.  30,  ht).  During  their  formation  (Fig.  30), 
a  thin  layer  of  mesoblast  remains  in  contact  with  the 
hypoblast,  bnt  connected  with  the  main  mass  of  the 
mesoblast  of  the  heart  by  protoplasmic  processes.  A 
second  layer  next  becomes  split  from  the  main  mass  of 
mesoblast,  being  still  connected  with  the  first  layer  by  the 
above-mentioned  protoplasmic  processes.  These  two 
layers  unite  to  form  a  tube  which  constitutes  the  epithe- 
lioid lining  of  the  heart ;  the  lumen  of  this  tube  is  the 
cavity  of  the  heart,  and  soon  loses  the  protoplasmic 
trabeculaB  which  at  first  traverse  it.  The  cavity  of  the 
heart  may  thus  be  described  as  being  formed  by  a 
hollowing  out  of  the  splanchnic  mesoblast.  Some  of  the 
central  cells  of  the  original  thickenings  probably  become 
blood-corpuscles. 

The  thick  outer  part  of  the  cords  of  splanchnic  meso- 
blast which  form  the  heart  become  the  muscular  walls 
and  peritoneal  covering  of  this  organ.  The  muscular 
wall  of  each  division  of  the  heart  has  at  first  the  form 
of  a  half  tube  widely  open  on  its  dorsal  aspect,  that 
is  towards  the  hypoblast  of  the  gut  (Fig.  30  and  32). 
After  the  two  halves  of  the  heart  have  coalesced  in  the 
manner  already  explained,  the  muscular  walls  grow  in 
towards  the  middle  line  on  the  dorsal  side  until  they 
meet  each  other  and  coalesce,  thus  forming  a  complete 
tube  as  shewn  diagrammatically  in  Fig.  31,  A.  They 
remain,  however,  at  first  continuous  with  the  splanchnic 
mesoblast  surrounding  the  throat,  thus  forming  a  pro- 
visional mesentery — the  mesocardium — attaching  the 
heart  to  the  ventral  wall  of  the  throat.  The  epithelioid 
tubes  formed  in  the  two  halves  of  the  heart  remain  for 


IV.]  THE   VASCULAR   SYSTEM.  89 

some  time  separate,  and  cause  the  cavity  of  the  heart  to 
be  divided  into  two  tubes  even  after  its  two  halves  have 
to  all  appearance  completely  coalesced  \ 

Soon  after  its  formation  the  heart  begins  to  beat ; 
its  at  first  slow  and  rare  pulsations  beginning  at  the 
venous  and  passing  on  to  the  arterial  end.  It  is  of  some 
interest  to  note  that  its  functional  activity  commences 
long  before  the  cells  of  which  it  is  composed  shew  any 
distinct  differentiation  into  muscular  or  nervous  ele- 
ments. 

Vascular  system.  To  provide  channels  for  the 
fluid  thus  pressed  by  the  contractions  of  the  heart,  a 
system  of  tubes  has  made  its  appearance  in  the  meso- 
blast  both  of  the  embryo  itself  and  of  the  vascular  and 
pellucid  areas.  In  front  the  single  tube  of  the  bulbus 
arteriosus  bifurcates  into  two  'primitive  aortce,  each 
of  which  bending  round  the  front  end  of  the  foregut, 
passes  from  its  under  to  its  upper  side,  the  two  forming 
together  a  sort  of  incomplete  arterial  collar  imbedded 
in  the  mesoblast  of  the  gut.  Arrived  at  the  upper  side 
of  the  gut,  they  turn  sharply  round,  and  run  separate 
but  parallel  to  each  other  backwards  towards  the  tail,  in 
the  mesoblast  on  each  side  of  the  notochord  immediately 
under  the  mesoblastic  somites  (Figs.  32,  Ao,  34,  ao). 
About  half  way  to  the  hinder  extremity  each  gives  off 
at  right  angles  to  the  axis  of  the  embryo  a  large  branch, 
the  vitelline  artery  (Fig.  36,  Of,  A.),  which,  passing 
outwards,  is  distributed  over  the  pellucid  and  vascular 
areas,  the  main  trunk  of  each  aorta  passing  on  with 
greatly  diminished  calibre  towards  the  tail,  in  which  it 
becomes  lost. 

^  This  is  not  shewn  in  the  diagram,  Fig.  31,  A. 


90 


THE   SECOND    DAY. 


[chap. 


Two  Diagrammatic  Sections  of  a  thirty-six  hours'  Embryo 

ILLUSTRATING     THE     STRUCTURE    OF    THE     HbART     SHORTLY 
AFTER   ITS   FORMATION.      A   IS    THE    ANTERIOR   SECTION. 

hb.  hind  brain  ;  nc.  notochord  ;  K  epiblast ;  so.  somatopleure  ; 
sp.  splanchnopleure  ;  d.  alimentary  canal  ;  h?/.  hypoblast ; 
hz.  (in  A)  heart  ;  of.  vitelline  vein. 

In  A  the  two  halves  of  the  heart  have  coalesced  to  form  an 
unpaired  tube  suspended  from  the  ventral  wall  of  the  throat. 


IV.]  THE   VASCULAR   SYSTEM.  91 

In  B  are  seen  in  the  diverging  folds  of  the  splanchnopleure 
the  two  vitelline  veins  {of)  which  will  shortly  unite  to  form 
the  ductus  venosus. 


Teansverse  Section  of  an  Embryo  at  the  end  of  the 
Second  Day  passing  through  the  Eegion  of  the  Bulbus 
Arteriosus.     (Copied  from  His.) 

M.  medullary  canal  in  the  region  of  the  hind  brain  ;  V.  anterior 
cardinal  vein ;  Ao.  Aorta ;  Ch.  Notochord ;  al.  alimentary 
canal ;  H.  Heart  (bulbus  arteriosus) ;  Pp.  Pleiu-operitoneal 
cavity;   am.  amnion. 

In  the  vascular  and  pellucid  areas,  the  formation  of 
vascular  channels  with  a  subsequent  differentiation 
into  arteries,  capillaries  and  veins,  is  proceeding  rapidly. 
Blood-corpuscles  too  are  being  formed  in  considerable 
numbers.  The  mottled  yellow  vascular  area  becomes 
covered  with  red  patches  consisting  of  aggregations  of 
blood-corpuscles,  often  spoken  of  as  blood-islands. 

Round  the  extreme  margin  of  the  vascular  area  and 
nearly  completely  encircling  it,  is  seen  a  thin  red  hne, 
the  sinus  or  vena  terminalis  (Fig.  36,  Sv.).  This  will  soon 
increase  in  size  and  importance. 

From  the  vascular  and  pellucid  area  several  large 
channels  are  seen  to  unite  and  form  two  large  trunks, 


92  THE  SECOND   DAY.  [CHAP. 

one  on  either  side,  which  running  along  the  splanch- 
nopleure  folds  at  nearly  right  angles  to  the  axis  of  the 
embryo,  unite  at  the  "  point  of  divergence  "  to  join  the 
venous  end  of  the  heart.  These  are  the  vitelline  veins 
spoken  of  above. 

Both  vessels  and  corpuscles  are  formed  entirely 
from  the  cells  of  the  mesoblast;  and  in  the  regions 
where  the  mesoblast  is  cleft,  are  at  first  observed  ex- 
clusively in  the  splanchnopleure.  Ultimately  of  course 
they  are  found  in  the  mesoblast  everywhere. 

In  the  pellucid  area,  where  the  formation  of  the  blood-vessels 
may  be  most  easily  observed,  a  number  of  mesoblastic  cells  are 
seen  to  send  out  processes  (Fig.  33).  These  processes  unite,  and 
by  their  union  a  protoplasmic  network  is  formed  containing 
nuclei  at  the  points  from  which  the  processes  started.  The 
nuclei,  which  as  a  rule  are  much  elongated  and  contain  large  oval 
nucleoli,  increase  very  rapidly  by  division,  and  thus  form  groups 
of  nuclei  at  the,  so  to  speak,  nodal  points  of  the  network. 
Several  nuclei  may  also  be  seen  here  and  there  in  the  processes 
themselves.  The  network  being  completed,  these  groups,  by 
continued  division  of  the  nuclei,  increase  rapidly  in  size ;  the 
protoplasm  around  them  acquires  a  red  colour,  and  the  whole 
mass  breaks  up  into  blood-corpuscles  (Fig.  33,  b.c.)  The  proto- 
plasm on  the  outside  of  each  group,  as  well  as  that  of  the  uniting 
processes,  remains  granular,  and  together  with  the  nuclei  in  it 
forms  the  walls  of  the  blood-vessels.  A  plasma  is  secreted  by 
the  walls,  and  in  this  the  blood-corpuscles  float  freely. 

Each  nodal  point  is  thus  transformed  into  a  more  or  less 
rounded  mass  of  blood-corpuscles  floating  in  plasma  but  en- 
veloped by  a  layer  of  nucleated  protoplasm,  the  several  groups 
being  united  by  strands  of  nucleated  protoplasm.  These  uniting 
strands  rapidly  increase  in  thickness;  new  processes  are  also 
continually  being  formed ;  and  thus  the  network  is  kept  close 
and  thickset  while  the  area  is  increasing  in  size. 

By  changes  similar  to  those  which  took  place  in  the  nodal 


IV. 


THE   VASCULAR   SYSTEM. 


93 


points,  blood-corpuscles  make  their  appearance  in  the  pro- 
cesses also,  the  central  portions  of  which  become  at  the  same 
time  liquefied. 

By  the  continued  widening  of  the  connecting  processes  and 
solution  of  their  central  portions,  accompanied  by  a  corresponding 
increase  in  the  enveloping  nucleated   cells,  the   original  proto- 

FiG.  33. 


Surface  View  prom  below  of  a  small  portion  of  the 
Posterior  End  of  the  Pellucid  Area  of  a  Thirty-six 
hours'  Chick.  To  illustrate  the  formation  of  the  blood- 
capillaries  and  blood-corpuscles,  magnified  400  diameters. 

h.c.  Blood-corpuscles  at  a  nodal  point,  already  beginning  to 
acquire  a  red  colour.  They  are  enclosed  in  a  layer  of  proto- 
plasm, in  the  outermost  part  of  which  are  found  nuclei,  a. 
These  nuclei  subsequently  become  the  nuclei  of  the  cells 
forming  the  walls  of  the  vessels.  The  nodal  groups  are 
united  by  protoplasmic  processes  {p.pr),  also  containing 
nuclei  with  large  nucleoli  {n). 


94  THE   SECOND   DAY.  [CHAP. 

plasmic  network  is  converted  into  a  system  of  communicating 
tubes,  the  canals  of  which  contain  blood-corpuscles  and  plasma, 
and  the  walls  of  which  are  formed  of  flattened  nucleated  cells. 

The  blood-corpuscles  pass  freely  from  the  nodal  points  into 
the  hollow  processes,  and  thus  the  network  of  protoplasm  be- 
comes a  network  of  blood-vessels,  the  nuclei  of  the  corpuscles  and 
of  the  walls  of  which  have  been,  by  separate  paths  of  development, 
derived  from  the  nuclei  of  the  original  protoplasm. 

The  formation  of  the  corpuscles  does  not  proceed  equally 
rapidly  or  to  the  same  extent  in  all  parts  of  the  blastoderm.  By 
far  the  greater  part  are  formed  in  the  vascular  area,  but  some 
arise  in  the  pellucid  area,  especially  in  the  hinder  part.  In  the 
front  of  the  pellucid  area  the  processes  are  longer  and  the  network 
accordingly  more  open ;  the  corpuscles  also  are  both  later  in 
appearing  and  less  numerous  when  formed. 

Assuming  the  truth  of  the  above  account,  it  is  evident  that 
the  blood-vessels  of  the  yolk-sack  of  the  chick  do  not  arise  as 
spaces  or  channels  between  adjacent  cells  of  the  mesoblast,  but 
are  hollowed  out  in  the  communicating  protoplasmic  substance 
of  the  cells  themselves.  The  larger  vessels  of  the  trunk  are 
however  probably  formed  as  spaces  between  the  cells,  much  as  is 
the  case  with  the  heart. 


Wolffian  duct.  About  this  period  there  may  be 
seen  in  transverse  sections,  taken  through  the  embryo 
in  the  region  of  the  seventh  to  the  eleventh  somite  a 
small  group  of  cells  (Fig.  34,  W.  d)  projecting  on  either 
side  from  the  mass  of  uncleft  mesoblast  on  the  outside 
of  the  mesoblastic  somites,  into  the  somewhat  triangular 
space  bounded  by  the  epiblast  above,  the  upper  and 
outer  angle  of  the  mesoblastic  somite  on  the  inside, 
and  the  somatic  mesoblast  on  the  outside. 

This  group  of  cells  is  the  section  of  a  longitudinal 
ridge,  the  rudiment  of  the  Wolffian  duct  or  primitive 
duct  of  the  excretory  system ;  v^hile  the  mass  of  cells 


IV.]  SUMMAEY.  95 

from  which  it  springs  is  known  as  the  intermediate 
cell  mass.     We  shall  return  to  them  immediately. 

Summary.  The  most  important  changes  then  which 
take  place  during  the  first  half  of  the  second  day  are, 
the  closure  of  the  medullary  folds,  especially  in  the 
anterior  part,  and  the  dilatation  of  the  canal  so  formed 
into  the  first  cerebral  vesicle ;  the  establishment  of  a 
certain  number  of  mesoblastic  somites  ;  the  elevation  of 
the  head  from  the  plane  of  the  blastoderm ;  the  forma- 
tion of  the  tubular  heart  and  of  the  great  blood-vessels ; 
and  the  appearance  of  the  rudiment  of  the  Wolffian 
duct. 

It  is  important  to  remember  that  the  embryo  of  which 
we  are  now  speaking  is  simply  a  part  of  the  whole 
germinal  membrane,  which  is  gradually  spreading  over 
the  surface  of  the  yolk.  It  is  important  also  to  bear  in 
mind  that  all  that  part  of  the  embryo  which  is  in  front 
of  the  foremost  somite  corresponds  to  the  future  head, 
and  the  rest  to  the  neck,  body  and  tail.  During  this 
period  the  head  occupies  about  a  third  of  the  whole 
length  of  the  embryo. 


CHAPTER  Y. 

THE  CHANGES   WHICH   TAKE  PLACE  DURING  THE 
SECOND   HALF   OF   THE   SECOND   DAY. 

One  important  feature  of  this  stage  is  the  rapid 
increase  in  the  process  of  the  folding-off  of  the  embryo 
from  the  plane  of  the  germ,  and  its  conseqiient  con- 
version into  a  distinct  tubular  cavity.  At  the  begin- 
ning of  the  second  day,  the  head  alone  projected  from 
the  rest  of  the  germ,  the  remainder  of  the  embryo 
being  simply  a  part  of  a  flat  blastoderm,  nearly  com- 
pletely level  from  the  front  mesoblastic  somite  to  the  hind 
edge  of  the  pellucid  area.  At  this  epoch,  however,  a 
tail-fold  makes  its  appearance,  elevating  the  tail  above 
the  level  of  the  blastoderm  in  the  same  way  that  the 
head  was  elevated.  Lateral  folds  also,  one  on  either 
side,  soon  begin  to  be  very  obvious.  By  the  progress 
of  these,  together  with  the  rapid  backward  extension 
of  the  head-fold  and  the  slower  forward  extension  of 
the  tail-fold,  the  body  of  the  embryo  becomes  more  and 
more  distinctly  raised  up  and  marked  off  from  the  rest 
of  the  blastoderm. 

The  medullary  canal  closes  up  rapidly.  The  wide 
sinus  rhomboidalis  becomes  a  narrow   fusiform   space, 


CHAP,  v.]  THE  BRAIN.  97 

and  at  the  end  of  this  period  is  entirely  roofed  over. 
The  conversion  of  the  original  medullary  groove  into 
a  closed  tube  is  thus  completed. 

The  brain.  In  the  region  of  the  head  most  im- 
portant changes  now  take  place.  We  saw  that  at  the 
beginning  of  this  day  the  front  end  of  the  medullary 
canal  was  dilated  into  a  bulb,  the  first  cerebral  vesicle, 
which  by  budding  off  two  lateral  vesicles  became  con- 
verted into  three  vesicles:  a  median  one  connected 
by  short  hollow  stalks  with  a  lateral  one  on  either  side. 
The  lateral  vesicles  known  as  the  optio  vesicles  (Fig. 
27,  op.  V,  Fig.  35,  a),  become  converted  into  parts  of  the 
eyes ;  the  median  one  still  retains  the  name  of  the  first 
cerebral  vesicle. 

The  original  vesicle  being  primarily  an  involution 
of  the  epiblast,  the  walls  of  all  three  vesicles  are  formed 
of  epiblast;  all  three  vesicles  are  in  addition  covered 
over  with  the  common  epiblastic  investment  which  will 
eventually  become  the  epidermis  of  the  skin  of  the 
head.  Between  this  superficial  epiblast  and  the  invo- 
luted epiblast  of  the  vesicles,  there  exists  a  certain 
quantity  of  mesoblast  to  serve  as  the  material  out  of 
which  will  be  formed  the  dermis  of  the  scalp,  the  skull, 
and  other  parts  of  the  head.  At  this  epoch,  however, 
the  mesoblast  is  found  chiefly  underneath  the  several 
vesicles  (Fig.  30).  A  small  quantity  may  in  section  be 
seen  at  the  sides ;  but  at  the  top  the  epidermic  epiblast 
is  either  in  close  contact  with  the  involuted  epiblast  of 
the  cerebral  and  optic  vesicles  or  separated  from  it  by 
fluid  alone,  there  being  as  yet  in  this  region  between 
the  two  no  cellular  elements  representing  the  mesoblast. 

The  constrictions  marking  off  the  optic  vesicles  also 
F.  &  B.  7 


THE   SECOND   DAY. 
Fig.  34. 


[chap. 


Tkansverse    Section    through  the  dorsal  region  of   an 
Embryo  op  45  hours. 


Y.]  THE   BRAIN.  99 

A.  epiblast.  B.  mesoblast.  G.  hypoblast  consisting  of  a  single 
row  of  flattened  cells.  M.  c.  medullary  canal.  P.  v.  meso- 
blastic  somite.  W.  d.  Wolf&an  duct.  S.  o.  Somatopleiire. 
JS.p.  Splanchnopleure.  p.p.  pleuroperitoneal  cavity,  c.  h. 
notochord.  a.  o.  dorsal  aorta,  v.  blood-vessels  of  the  yolk- 
sac,  o.p.  line  of  junction  between  opaque  and  pellucid 
areas  ;  w.  palisade-like  yolk  spheres  which  constitute  the  ger- 
minal wall. 

Only  one-half  of  the  section  is  represented  in  the  figure — if 
completed  it  would  be  bilaterally  symmetrical  about  the  line  of 
the  medullary  canal. 


take  place  of  course  beneath  the  common  epiblastic 
investment,  which  is  not  involved  in  them.  As  a  con- 
sequence, though  easily  seen  in  the  transparent  fresh 

Fig.  35. 


Head  of  a  Chick  at  the  End  of  the  Second  Day  viewed 

pkom  below  as  a  transparent  object. 

(Copied  from  Huxley). 

7.  first  cerebral  vesicle,     a.  optic  vesicle,     d.  infundibulum. 

The  specimen  shews  the  formation  of  the  optic  vesicles  (a), 
as  outgrowths  from  the  1st  cerebral  vesicle  or  vesicle  of  the  3rd 
ventricle,  so  that  the  optic  vesicles  and  vesicle  of  the  3rd  ven- 
tricle at  first  freely  communicated  with  each  other,  and  also  the 
growth  of  the  lower  wall  of  the  vesicle  of  the  3rd  ventricle  into  a 
process  which  becomes  the  infundibulum  {d). 

7—2 


100  THE   SECOND   DAY.  [CHAP, 

embryo    (Fig.    28),   they  are  but  slightly  indicated  in 
hardened  specimens  (Fig.  27). 

When  an  embryo  of  the  early  part  of  the  second 
day  is  examined  as  a  transparent  object,  that  portion  of 
the  medullary  canal  which  lies  immediately  behind  the 
first  cerebral  vesicle  is  seen  to  be  conical  in  shape,  with 
its  walls  thrown  into  a  number  of  wrinkles.  These 
wrinkles  may  vary  a  good  deal  in  appearance,  and  shift 
from  time  to  time,  but  eventually,  before  the  close  of 
the  second  day,  after  the  formation  of  the  optical 
vesicles,  settle  down  into  two  constrictions,  one  separat- 
ing the  first  cerebral  vesicle  from  that  part  of  the 
medullary  canal  which  is  immediately  behind  it,  and 
the  other  separating  this  second  portion  from  a  third. 
So  that  instead  of  there  being  one  cerebral  vesicle  only^ 
as  at  the  commencement  of  the  second  day,  there  is  now, 
in  addition  to  the  optic  vesicles,  a  series  of  three,  one 
behind  the  other :  a  second  and  third  cerebral  vesicle 
have  been  added  to  the  first  (Fig.  27,  mb,  Kb).  They 
may  be  also  called  the  "fore  brain,"  the  "mid  brain,'^ 
and  the  "hind  brain,"  for  into  these  parts  will  they 
eventually  be  developed.. 

The  optic  vesicles,  lying  underneath  the  epiblast,, 
towards  the  end  of  the  day  are  turned  back  and  pressed 
somewhat  backwards  and  downwards  against  the  sides, 
of  the  first  cerebral  vesicle  or  fore  brain,  an  elongation 
of  their  stalks  permitting  this  movement  to  take  place. 
The  whole  head  becomes  in  consequence  somewhat 
thicker  and  rounder. 

Before  the  end  of  the  day  the  fore  brain  elongates, 
anteriorly.  The  part  so  established  is  not  at  first  sepa- 
rate from  that  behind,  but  it  is  nevertheless  the  first 


v.]  THE  CRANIAL  FLEXURE.  101 

unpaired  commencement  of  two  vesicles  which  develop 
into  the  cerebral  hemispheres ;  but  up  to  the  end  of  the 
•day  it  is  still  very  small  and  inconspicuous. 

Early  on  the  second  day  the  commencements  of 
several  of  the  cranial  nerves  make  their  appearance 
as  outgrowths  of  the  (Fig.  30,  vg)  roof  of  the  mid  and 
hind  brains,  but  their  development,  together  with  that 
•of  the  spinal  nerves,  will  be  dealt  with  in  the  next 
chapter. 

The  notochord.  The  notochord,  whose  origin 
was  described  in  the  account  of  the  first  day,  is  during 
the  whole  of  the  second  day  a  very  conspicuous  object. 
It  is  seen  as  a  transparent  rod,  somewhat  elliptical  in 
•section  (Fig.  34,  ch),  lying  immediately  underneath 
the  medullary  canal  for  the  greater  part  of  its  length, 
and  reaching  forward  in  front  as  far  as  below  the 
hind  border  of  the  first  cerebral  vesicle. 

Cranial  flexure.  Bound  the  anterior  termination 
of  the  notochord,  the  medullary  canal,  which  up  to  the 
present  time  has  remained  perfectly  straight,  towards 
the  end  of  the  day  begins  to  curve.  The  front  portion 
of  the  canal,  i.e.  the  fore-brain  with  its  optic  and  cere- 
bral vesicles,  becomes  slightl}^  bent  downwards,  so  as  to 
form  a  rounded  obtuse  angle  with  the  rest  of  the 
embryo.  This  is  the  commencement  of  the  so-called 
cranial  flexure  and  is,  mechanically  speaking,  a  con- 
sequence of  the  more  rapid  growth  of  the  dorsal  wall  of 
the  anterior  part  of  the  brain  as  compared  with  that  of 
the  ventral. 

Auditory  vesicle.  Lastly,  as  far  as  the  head  is 
concerned,  the  epiblastic  plates  forming  the  rudiments  of 
the  auditory  vesicles  become  converted  into  deep  pits 


102  THE  SECOND  DAY.  [CHAP, 

opening  one  on  each  side  of  the  hind-brain  (Fig.  27^ 
au.  p). 

Heart.  We  left  the  heart  as  a  fusiform  body 
slightly  bent  to  the  right,  attached  to  the  under  wall 
of  the  foregut  by  the  mesocardium.  The  curvature 
now  increases  so  much  that  the  heart  becomes  almost 
02  -shaped,  the  venous  portion  being  drawn  up  towards 
the  head  so  as  to  lie  somewhat  above  (dorsal  to)  and 
behind  the  arterial  portion.  (It  would  perhaps  be  more- 
correct  to  say  that  the  free  intermediate  portion  is  by 
its  own  growth  bent  downwards,  backwards,  and  some- 
what to  the  right,  while  the  venous  root  of  the  heart  is 
at  the  same  time  continually  being  lengthened  by  the 
carrying  back  of  that  "point  of  divergence"  of  the 
splanchnopleure  folds  which  marks  the  union  of  the 
vitelline  veins  into  a  single  venous  trunk.)  The  heart 
then  has  at  this  time  two  bends,  the  one,  the  venous 
bend,  the  right-hand  curve  of  the  U2 ;  the  other,  the 
arterial  bend,  the  left-hand  curve  of  the  go.  The 
venous  bend  which,  as  we  have  said,  is  placed  above 
and  somewhat  behind  the  arterial  bend,  becomes  marked 
by  two  bulgings,  one  on  either  side.  These  are  the 
rudiments  of  the  auricles,  or  rather  of  the  auricular 
appendages.  The  ascending  limb  of  the  arterial  bend 
soon  becomes  conspicuous  as  the  bulbus  arteriosus,, 
while  the  rounded  point  of  the  bend  itself  will  here- 
after grow  into  the  ventricles. 

Vascular  system.  The  blood-vessels,  whose  origin 
during  the  first  half  of  this  day  has  been  already 
described,  become  during  the  latter  part  of  the  day  so 
connected  as  to  form  a  complete  system,  through  which 
a  definite  circulation  of  the  blood  is  now  for  the  first 


v.]  THE   VASCULAR   SYSTEM.  108 

time  (consequently  some  little  while  after  the  com- 
mencement of  the  heart's  pulsation)  carried  on. 

The  two  primitive  aortce  have  already  been  de- 
scribed as  encircling  the  foregut,  and  then  passing 
along  the  body  of  the  embryo  immediately  beneath 
the  mesoblastic  somites  on  each  side  of  the  notochord. 
They  are  shewn  in  Figs.  32  A,o.  and  34  a.o  in  section  as 
two  large  rounded  spaces  lined  with  flattened  cells.  At 
first  they  run  as  two  distinct  canals  along  the  whole 
length  of  the  embryo ;  but,  after  a  short  time,  unite  at 
some  little  distance  behind  the  head  into  a  single  trunk, 
which  lies  in  the  middle  line  of  the  body  immediately 
below  the  notochord  (Fig.  57).  Lower  down,  nearer  the 
tail,  this  single  primitive  trunk  again  divides  into  two 
aortse,  which,  getting  smaller  and  smaller,  are  finally 
lost  in  the  small  blood-vessels  of  the  tail.  At  tLis 
epoch,  therefore,  there  are  two  aortic  arches  springing 
from  the  bulbus  arteriosus,  and  uniting  above  the  ali- 
mentary canal  in  the  back  of  the  embryo  to  form  the 
single  dorsal  aorta,  which  travelling  backwards  in  the 
median  line  divides  near  the  tail  into  two  main 
branches.  From  each  of  the  two  primitive  aortse,  or 
from  each  of  the  two  branches  into  which  the  single 
aorta  divides,  there  is  given  off  on  either  side  a  large 
branch.  These  have  been  already  spoken  of  as  the 
vitelline  arteries.  At  this  stage  they  are  so  large  that 
by  far  the  greater  part  of  the  blood  passing  down  the 
aorta  finds  its  way  into  them,  and  a  small  remnant  only 
pursues  a  straight  course  into  the  continuations  of  the 
aorta  towards  the  tail. 

Each  vitelline  artery  leaving  the  aorta  at  nearly 
right  angles  (at  a  point  some  little   way  behind   the 


104  THE  SECOND  DAY.  [CHAP. 

backward  limit  of  the  splanchnopleure  fold  which  is 
forming  the  alimentary  canal),  runs  outwards  beneath 
the  mesoblastic  somites  in  the  lower  range  of  the  meso- 
blast,  close  to  the  hypoblast.  Consequently,  when  in  its 
course  outwards  it  reaches  the  point  where  the  meso- 
blast  is  cleft  to  form  the  somatopleure  and  splanchno- 
pleure,  it  attaches  itself  to  the  latter.  Travelling  along 
this,  and  dividing  rapidly  into  branches,  it  reaches  the 
vascular  area  in  whose  network  of  small  vessels  (and 
also  to  a  certain  extent  in  the  similar  small  vessels  of 
the  pellucid  area)  it  finally  loses  itself. 

The  terminations  of  the  vitelline  arteries  in  the 
vascular  and  pellucid  areas  are  further  connected  with 
the  heart  in  two  different  ways.  From  the  network  of 
capillaries,  as  we  may  call  them,  a  number  of  veins  take 
their  origin,  and  finally  unite  into  two  main  trunks,  the 
vitelline  veins.  These  have  already  been  described  as 
running  along  the  folds  of  the  splanchnopleure  to  form 
the  venous  roots  of  the  heart.  Their  course  is  conse- 
quently more  or  less  parallel  to  that  of  the  vitelline 
arteries,  but  at  some  little  distance  nearer  the  head, 
inasmuch  as  the  arteries  run  in  that  part  of  the  splanch- 
nopleure which  has  not  yet  been  folded  in  to  form  the  ali- 
mentary canal.  Besides  forming  the  direct  roots  of  the 
vitelline  veins,  the  terminations  of  the  vitelline  arteries 
in  the  vascular  area  are  also  connected  with  the  sinus 
terminalis  spoken  of  above  as  running  almost  completely 
round,  and  forming  the  outer  margin  of  the  vascular 
area.  This  (Fig.  ^Q,  ST.),  may  be  best  described  as 
composed  of  two  semicircular  canals,  which  nearly  meet 
at  points  opposite  the  head  and  opposite  the  tail,  thus  all 
but  encircling  the  vascular  area  between  them.     At  the 


v.]  THE  VASCULAE   SYSTEM.  105 

point  opposite  tlie  head  the  end  of  each  semicircle  is 
connected  with  vessels  (Fig.  36),  which  run  straight  in 
towards  the  heart  along  the  fold  of  the  splanchnopleure, 
and  join  the  right  and  left  vitelline  veins.  At  the 
point  opposite  the  tail  there  is  at  this  stage  no  such 
definite  connection.  At  the  two  sides,  midway  between 
their  head  and  tail  ends,  the  two  semicircles  are  espe- 
cially connected  with  the  vitelline  arteries. 

The  circulation  of  the  blood  then  during  the  latter 
half  of  the  second  day  may  be  described  as  follows.  The 
blood  brought  by  the  vitelline  veins  falls  into  the 
twisted  cavity  of  the  heart,  and  is  driven  thence  through 
the  bulbus  arteriosus  and  aortic  arches  into  the  aorta. 
From  the  aorta,  by  far  the  greater  part  of  the  blood 
flows  into  the  vitelline  arteries,  only  a  small  remnant 
passing  on  into  the  caudal  terminations.  From  the 
capillary  net-work  of  the  vascular  and  pellucid  areas 
into  which  the  vitelline  arteries  discharge  their 
contents,  part  of  the  blood  is  gathered  up  at  once 
into  the  lateral  or  direct  trunks  of  the  vitelline 
veins.  Part  however  goes  into  the  middle  region 
of  each  lateral  half  of  the  sinus  terminalis,  and  there 
divides  on  each  side  into  two  streams.  One  stream, 
and  that  the  larger  one,  flows  in  a  forward  direction 
until  it  reaches  the  point  opposite  the  head,  thence  it 
returns  by  the  veins  spoken  of  above,  straight  to  the 
vitelline  trunks.  The  other  stream  flows  backward, 
and  becomes  lost  at  the  point  opposite  to  the  tail. 
This  is  the  condition  of  things  during  the  second  day; 
it  becomes  considerably  changed  on  the  succeeding  day. 

At  the  time  that  the  heart  first  begins  to  beat  the 
capillary  system  of  the  vascular  and  pellucid  areas  is 


106  THE  SECOND  DAY.  [CHAP, 

not  yet  completed;  and  the  fluid  which  is  at  first  driven 
by  the  heart  contains,  according  to  most  observers,  very 
few  corpuscles. 

At  the  close  of  the  second  day  the  single  pair  of 
aortic  arches  into  which  the  bulbus  arteriosus  divides 
is  found  to  be  accompanied  by  a  second  pair,  formed 
in  the  same  way  as  the  first,  and  occuppng  a  position  a 
little  behind  it.  Sometimes  even  a  third  pair  is  added. 
Of  these  aortic  arches  we  shall  have  to  speak  more  fully 
later  on. 

Wolffian  duct.  During  the  latter  half  of  the  second 
day  the  Wolffian  duct  to  which  we  have  already  alluded 
becomes  fully  established,  while  the  first  traces  of  the 
embryonic  excretory  organs  or  kidneys,  known  as  the 
Wolffian  bodies,  make  their  appearance.  The  develop- 
ment of  the  latter  will  be  dealt  with  in  the  history  of 
the  third  day,  but  the  history  of  the  duct  itself  may 
conveniently  be  completed  here. 

The  first  trace  of  it  is  visible  in  an  embryo  Chick 
with  eight  somites,  as  a  ridge  projecting  from  the  inter- 
mediate cell  mass  towards  the  epiblast  in  the  region  of 
the  seventh  somite.  In  the  course  of  further  develop- 
ment it  continues  to  constitute  such  a  ridge  as  far  as 
the  eleventh  somite  (Fig.  34  Wd.),  but  from  this  point  it 
grows  backwards  by  the  division  of  its  cells,  as  a  free 
column  in  the  space  between  the  epiblast  and  mesoblast. 
In  an  embryo  with  fourteen  somites  of  about  the 
stage  represented  in  fig.  28  a  small  lumen  has  appeared 
in  its  middle  part,  and  in  front  it  is  connected  with 
rudimentary  Wolffian  tubules,  which  develop  in  con- 
tinuity with  it.  In  the  succeeding  stages  the  lumen  of 
the   duct  gradually   extends  backwards  and  forwards. 


v.]  THE  AMNION.  107 

and  tlie  duct  itself  also  passes  inwards  relatively  to  tli& 
epiblast  (fig.  43  wcZ).  Its  hind  end  elongates  till  it 
comes  into  connection  with,  and  opens  on  the  fourth 
day  into  the  cloacal  section  of  the  hind-gut. 

The  amnion  and  allantois.  The  amnion,  especially 
the  anterior  or  head  fold,  advances  in  growth  very 
rapidly  during  the  second  day,  and  at  the  close  of  the 
day  completely  covers  the  head  and  neck  of  the  embryo ; 
so  much  so  that  it  is  necessary  to  tear  or  remove  it  when 
the  head  has  to  be  examined  in  hardened  opaque  speci- 
mens. The  tail  and  lateral  folds  of  the  amnion,  though 
still  progressing,  lag  considerably  behind  the  head-fold. 

The  side-folds  eventually  meet  in  the  median  dorsal 
line,  and  their  coalescence  proceeds  backwards  from  the 
head-fold  in  a  linear  direction,  till  there  is  only  a  small 
opening  left  over  the  tail  of  the  embryo.  This  finally 
becomes  closed  early  on  the  third  day. 

In  Figs.  32  and  43  am.  the  folds  of  the  amnion  are 
shewn  before  they  have  coalesced.  After  the  coalescence 
of  the  folds  of  the  amnion  above  the  embryo  the  two 
Hmbs  of  which  each  is  formed  become,  as  already  ex- 
plained in  chapter  ii.,  separate  from  each  other:  the 
inner,  forming  a  special  investment  of  the  embryo,  and 
constituting  the  amnion  proper  (Fig.  65),  the  outer  at- 
taching itself  to  the  vitelline  membrane  and  becoming 
the  serous  envelope. 

The  development  of  the  allantois  commences  during 
the  second  day,  but  since  it  is  mainly  completed  during 
the  third  day  we  need  not  dwell  upon  it  further  in  this 
place. 

Summary.  The  chief  events,  then,  which  occur 
during  the  second  half  of  the  second  day  are  as  follow: — 


108  THE   SECOND   DAY.  [CHAP.  V. 

1.  The  second  and  third  cerebral  vesicles  make 
their  appearance  behind  the  first. 

2.  The  optic  vesicles  spring  as  hollow  buds  from 
the  lateral,  and  the  unpaired  commencement  of  the  cere- 
bral hemispheres  from  the  front,  portions  of  the  first 
cerebral  vesicle. 

3.  The  auditory  plate  becomes  converted  into  a 
pit,  opening  at  the  side  of  the  hind-brain  or  third  cere- 
bral vesicle. 

4.  The  first  indications  of  the  cranial  flexure  be- 
<jome  visible. 

5.  The  head-fold,  and  especially  the  splanchno- 
pleure  moiety,  advances  rapidly  backwards ;  the  head  of 
the  embryo  is  in  consequence  more  definitely  formed. 
The  tail-fold  also  becomes  distinct. 

6.  The  curvature  of  the  heart  increases;  the  first 
rudiments  of  the  auricles  appear. 

7.  The  circulation  of  the  yolk-sac  is  established. 

8.  The  amnion  grows  rapidly,  and  the  allantois 
-commences  to  be  formed. 


CHAPTER  VI. 

THE  CHANGES   WHICH   TAKE   PLACE  DUEING  THE   THmi> 

DAY. 

Of  all  days  in  the  history  of  the  chick  within 
the  egg  this  perhaps  is  the  most  eventful;  the  rudi- 
ments of  so  many  important  organs  now  first  make  their 
appearance. 

In  many  instances  we  shall  trace  the  history  of  these 
organs  beyond  the  third  day  of  incubation,  in  order  to 
give  the  reader  a  complete  view  of  their  development. 

On  opening  an  egg  on  the  third  day  the  first  thing 
which  attracts  notice  is  the  diminution  of  the  white  of 
the  egg.  This  seems  to  be  one  of  the  consequences  of 
the  functional  activity  of  the  newly-established  vascular 
area  whose  blood-vessels  are  engaged  either  in  directly 
absorbing  the  white  or,  as  is  more  probable,  in  absorbing 
the  yolk,  which  is  in  turn  replenished  at  the  expense  of 
the  white.  The  absorption,  once  begun,  goes  on  so 
actively  that,  by  the  end  of  the  day,  the  decrease  of  the 
white  is  very  striking. 

The  blastoderm  has  now  spread  over  about  half 
the  yolk,  the  extreme  margin  of  the  opaque  area  reach- 


110  THE   THIRD   DAY.  [CHAP. 

ing  about  half-way  towards  the  pole  of  the  yolk  opposite 
to  the  embryo. 

The  vascular  area,  though  still  increasing,  is  much 
smaller  than  the  total  opaque  area,  being  in  average- 
sized  eggs  about  as  large  as  a  florin.  Still  smaller  than 
the  vascular  area  is  the  pellucid  area  in  the  centre  of 
which  lies  the  rapidly  growing  embryo. 

During  the  third  day  the  vascular  area  is  not 
only  a  means  for  providing  the  embryo  with  nourish- 
ment from  the  yolk,  but  also,  inasmuch  as  by  the  dimi- 
nution of  the  white  it  is  brought  close  under  the  shell 
and  therefore  fully  exposed  to  the  influence  of  the 
atmosphere,  serves  as  the  chief  organ  of  respiration. 

This  in  fact  is  the  period  at  which  the  vascular  area 
may  be  said  to  be  in  the  stage  of  its  most  complete  de- 
velopment; for  though  it  will  afterwards  become  larger, 
it  will  at  the  same  time  become  less  definite  and  rela- 
tively less  important.  We  may  therefore,  before  we 
proceed,  add  a  few  words  to  the  description  of  it  given 
in  the  last  chapter. 

The  blood  leaving  the  body  of  the  embryo  by  the 
vitelline  arteries  (Fig.  36,  B.  Of.  A.,  L.  Of.  A)  is 
carried  to  the  small  vessels  and  capillaries  of  the  vascu- 
lar area,  a  small  portion  only  being  appropriated  by  the 
pellucid  area. 

From  the  vascular  area  part  of  the  blood  returns 
directly  to  the  heart  by  the  main  lateral  trunks  of  the 
vitelline  veins,  R.  Of.,  L.  Of  During  the  second  day 
these  venous  trunks  joined  the  body  of  the  embryo 
considerably  in  front  of,  that  is,  nearer  the  head  than, 
the  corresponding  arterial  ones.  Towards  the  end  of 
the  third  day,  owing  to  the  continued  lengthening  of 


VI.] 


THE  VASCULAR  AREA 
Fig.  36. 


AA 


111 


DiAGEAM  OF  THE   CIRCULATION   OF  THE  YoLK-SaCK  AT  THE  END 

OF  THE  Third  Day  of  Incubation. 

H.  heart.  A  A.  the  second,  third  and  fourth  aortic  arches  ;  the 
first  has  become  obliterated  in  its  median  portion,  but  is 
continued  at  its  proximal  end  as  the  external  carotid,  and  at 
its  distal  end  as  the  internal  carotid.  AO.  dorsal  aorta. 
Z.  Of.  A.  left  vitelline  artery.  E.  Of.  A.  right  vitelline 
artery.  S.  T.  sinus  terminalis.  L.  Of  left  vitelline  vein. 
R.  Of.  right  vitelline  vein.  ;S'.  V.  sinus  venosus.  D.  C. 
ductus  Cuvieri.  S.  Ca.  V.  superior  cardinal  or  jugular  vein. 
V.   Ca.   inferior  cardinal  vein.     The  veins  are  marked  in 


112  THE   THIRD   DAY.  [CHAP, 

outline  and  the  arteries  are  made  black.  The  whole  blasto- 
derm has  been  removed  from  the  egg  and  is  supposed  to  be 
viewed  from  below.  Hence  the  left  is  seen  on  the  right,  and 
vice  versa. 

the  heart,  the  veins  and  arteries  run  not  only  parallel 
to  each  other,  but  almost  in  the  same  line,  the  points  at 
which  they  respectively  join  and  leave  the  body  being^ 
nearly  at  the  same  distance  from  the  head. 

The  rest  of  the  blood  brought  by  the  vitelline 
arteries  finds  its  way  into  the  lateral  portions  of  the 
sinus  terminalis,  S.T.,  and  there  divides  on  each  side 
into  two  streams.  Of  these,  the  two  which,  one  on 
each  side,  flow  backward,  meet  at  a  point  about  oppo- 
site to  the  tail  of  the  embryo,  and  are  conveyed  along  a 
distinct  vein  which,  running  straight  forward  parallel  to 
the  axis  of  the  embryo,  empties  itself  into  the  left  vitel- 
line vein.  The  two  forward  streams  reaching  the  gap 
in  the  front  part  of  the  sinus  terminalis  fall  into  either 
one,  or  in  some  cases  two  veins,  which  run  straight 
backward  parallel  to  the  axis  of  the  embryo,  and  so 
reach  the  roots  of  the  heart.  When  one  such  vein  only 
is  present,  it  joins  the  left  vitelline  trunk;  where  there 
are  two  they  join  the  left  and  right  vitelline  trunks- 
respectively.  The  left  vein  is  always  considerably 
larger  than  the  right;  and  the  latter  when  present 
rapidly  gets  smaller  and  speedily  disappears. 

The  chief  differences,  then,  between  the  peripheral 
circulation  of  the  second  and  of  the  third  day  are  due 
to  the  greater  prominence  of  the  sinus  terminalis  and 
the  more  complete  arrangements  for  returning  the  blood 
from  it  to  the  heart.  After  this  day,  although  the  vas- 
cular area  will  go  on  increasing  in  size  until  it  finally 


VI.]  CHANGE   OF  POSITION   OF  THE   EMBRYO.  113 

all  but  encompasses  the  yolk,  the  prominence  of  the 
sinus  terminalis  will  become  less  and  less  in  proportion 
as  the  respiratory  work  of  the  vascular  area  is  shifted 
on  to  the  allantois,  and  its  activities  confined  to  absorb- 
ing nutritive  matter  from  the  yolk. 

The  folding-in  of  the  embryo  makes  great  pro- 
gress during  this  day.  Both  head  and  tail  have  become 
most  distinct,  and  the  side  folds  which  are  to  constitute 
the  lateral  walls  have  advanced  so  rapidly  that  the 
embryo  is  now  a  bond  fide  tubular  sac,  connected  with 
the  rest  of  the  yolk  by  a  broad  stalk.  This  stalk, 
as  was  explained  in  Chap,  ii,  is  double,  and  consists  of 
an  inner  splanchnic  stalk  continuous  with  the  alimen- 
tary canal,  which  is  now  a  tube  closed  at  both  ends  and 
open  to  the  stalk  along  its  middle  third  only,  and  an 
outer  somatic  stalk  continuous  with  the  body-walls  of 
the  embryo,  which  have  not  closed  nearly  to  the  same 
extent  as  the  walls  of  the  alimentary  canal.  (Compare 
Fig.  9,  A  and  B,  which  may  be  taken  as  diagrammatic 
representations  of  longitudinal  and  transverse  sections 
of  an  embryo  of  this  period.) 

The  embryo  is  almost  completely  covered  by  the 
amnion.  Early  in  this  day  the  several  amniotic  folds 
will  have  met  and  completely  coalesced  along  a  line 
over  the  back  of  the  embryo  in  the  manner  already 
explained  in  the  last  chapter. 

During  this  day  a  most  remarkable  change  takes 
place  in  the  position  of  the  embryo.  Up  to  this 
time  it  has  been  lying  symmetrically  upon  the  yolk 
with  the  part  which  will  be  its  mouth  directed  straight 
downwards.  It  now  turns  round  so  as  to  lie  on  its  left 
side. 

F.  &  B.  8 


114 


THE   THIRD   DAY. 


[chap. 


Chick  ob'  the  Third  Day  (Fifty-four  Hours)  viewed  from 
underneath  as  a  transparent  object. 

a',  the  outer  amniotic  fold  or  false  amnion.  This  is  very  con- 
spicuous around  the  head,  but  may  also  be  seen  at  the  tail. 

a.  the  true  amnion,  very  closely  enveloping  the  head,  and  here 
seen  only  between  the  projections  of  the  several  cerebral 
vesicles.     It  may  also  be  traced  at  the  tail. 

In  the  embryo  of  which  this  is  a  drawing,  the  head-fold  of  the 
amnion  reached  a  little  farther  backward  than  the  reference  u. 


VI.]  GENERAL   VIEW   OF   EMBRYO.  115 

but  its  limit  could  not  be  distinctly  seen  through  the  body  of  the 
embryo.  The  prominence  of  the  false  amnion  at  the  head  is  apt 
to  puzzle  the  student ;  but  if  he  bears  in  mind  the  fact,  which 
could  not  well  be  shewn  in  Fig.  9,  that  the  whole  amniotic  fold, 
both  the  true  and  the  false  limb,  is  tucked  in  underneath  the 
head,  the  matter  will  on  reflection  become  intelligible. 

(7.  H.  cerebral  hemisphere.  F.  B.  thalamencephalon  or  vesicle  of 
the  third  ventricle.  M.  B.  mid-brain.  H.  B.  hind-brain.  Op. 
optic  vesicle.  Ot.  otic  vesicle.  Of  V.  vitelline  veins  forming 
the  venous  roots  of  the  heart.  The  trunk  on  the  right  hand 
(left  trunk  when  the  embryo  is  viewed  in  its  natural  position 
from  above)  receives  a  large  branch,  shewn  by  dotted  lines, 
coming  from  the  anterior  portion  of  the  sinus  terminahs. 
Ht.  the  heart,  now  completely  twisted  on  itself.  Ao.  the 
bulbus  arteriosus,  the  three  aortic  arches  being  dimly  seen 
stretching  from  it  across  the  throat,  and  uniting  into  the 
aorta,  still  more  dimly  seen  as  a  curved  dark  line  running 
along  the  body.  The  other  curved  dark  line  by  its  side, 
ending  near  the  reference  7/,  is  the  notochord  ch. 

About  opposite  the  line  of  reference  x  the  aorta  divides  into  two 
trunks,  which,  running  in  the  line  of  the  somewhat  opaque 
mesoblastic  somites  on  either  side,  are  not  clearly  seen. 
Their  branches  however,  Ofa,  the  vitelline  arteries,  are 
conspicuous  and  are  seen  to  curve  round  the  commencing 
side  folds. 

Pv.  mesoblastic  somites.  Below  the  level  of  the  vitelline  arteries 
the  vertebral  plates  are  but  imperfectly  cut  up  into  meso- 
blastic somites,  and  lower  down  still,  not  at  all. 

a:  is  placed  at  the  "point  of  divergence"  of  the  splanchnopleure 
folds.  The  bhnd  foregut  begins  here  and  extends  about  up 
to  y.  ^  therefore  marks  the  present  hind  limit  of  the 
splanchnopleure  folds.  The  limit  of  the  more  transparent 
somatopleure  folds  is  not  shewn. 

It  will  be  of  course  understood  that  all  the  body  of  the  embryo 
above  the  level  of  the  reference  a;,  is  seen  through  the  portion  of 
the  yolk-sac  (vascular  and  pellucid  area),  which  has  been  removed 

8—2 


116  THE  THIKD  DAY.  [CHAP. 

with  the  embryo  from  the  egg,  as  well  as  through  the  double 
amiQiotic  fold. 

We  may  repeat  that,  the  view  being  from  below,  whatever  is 
described  in  the  natural  position  as  being  to  the  right  here 
appears  to  be  left,  and  vice  versa. 

This  important  change  of  position  at  first  affects 
only  the  head  (Fig.  37),  but  subsequently  extends  also  to 
the  trunk.  It  is  not  usually  completed  till  the  fourth 
day.  At  the  same  time  the  left  vitelline  vein,  the  one  on 
the  side  on  v^hich  the  embryo  comes  to  lie,  grows  very 
much  larger  than  the  right,  which  henceforward  gradu- 
ally dwindles  and  finally  disappears. 

Coincidently  with  the  change  of  position  the  whole 
embryo  begins  to  be  curved  on  itself  in  a  slightly 
spiral  manner.  This  curvature  of  the  body  becomes 
still  more  marked  on  the  fourth  day.  Fig.  67. 

In  the  head  very  important  changes  take  place. 
One  of  these  is  the  cranial  flexure,  Figs.  37,  38.  This 
(which  must  not  be  confounded  with  the  curvature  of 
the  body  just  referred  to)  we  have  already  seen  was 
commenced  in  the  course  of  the  second  day,  by  the 
bending  downwards  of  the  head  round  a  point  which 
may  be  considered  as  the  extreme  end  either  of  the 
notochord  or  of  the  alimentary  canal. 

The  flexure  progresses  rapidly,  the  front-brain  being 
more  and  more  folded  down  till,  at  the  end  of  the  third 
day,  it  is  no  longer  the  first  vesicle  or  fore-brain,  but 
the  second  cerebral  vesicle  or  mid-brain,  which  occupies 
the  extreme  front  of  the  long  axis  of  the  embryo.  In 
fact  a  straight  line  through  the  long  axis  of  the  embryo 
would  now  pass  through  the  mid-brain  instead  of,  as  at 
the  beginning  of  the  second  day,  through  the  fore-brain. 


yi.]  THE   BKAIN.  117 

SO  completely  has  the  front  end  of  the  neural  canal 
been  folded  over  the  end  of  the  notochord.  The  com- 
mencement of  this  cranial  flexure  gives  the  body  of  an 
embryo  of  the  third  day  somewhat  the  appearance  of  a 
retort,  the  head  of  the  embryo  corresponding  to  the 
bulb.  On  the  fourth  day  the  flexure  is  still  greater 
than  on  the  third,  but  on  the  fifth  and  succeeding  days 
it  becomes  less  obvious,  owing  to  the  filling  up  of  the 
parts  of  the  skull. 

The  brain.  The  vesicle  of  the  cerebral  hemispheres, 
which  on  the  second  day  began  to  grow  out  from  the 
front  of  the  fore-brain,  increases  rapidly  in  size  during 
the  third  day,  growing  out  laterally,  so  as  to  form  two 
vesicles,  so  much  so  that  by  the  end  of  the  day  it  (Fig. 
37,  CH,  Fig.  38)  is  as  large  or  larger  than  the  original 
vesicle  from  which  it  sprang,  and  forms  the  most  con- 
spicuous part  of  the  brain.  In  its  growth  it  pushes 
^side  the  optic  vesicles,  and  thus  contributes  largely  to 
the  roundness  which  the  head  is  now  acquiring.  Each 
lateral  vesicle  possesses  a  cavity,  which  afterwards 
becomes  one  of  the  lateral  ventricles.  These  cavities  are 
continuous  behind  with  the  cavity  of  the  fore-brain.    • 

Owing  to  the  development  of  the  cerebral  vesicle  the 
original  fore-brain  no  longer  occupies  the  front  position 
(Fig.  37,  FB,  Fig.  38,  Ih),  and  ceases  to  be  the  con- 
spicuous object  that  it  was.  Inasmuch  as  its  walls  will 
hereafter  be  developed  into  the  parts  surrounding  the 
so-called  third  ventricle  of  the  brain,  we  shall  hence- 
forward speak  of  it  as  the  vesicle  of  the  third  ventricle, 
or  thalamencephalon. 

On  the  summit  of  the  thalamencephalon  there  may 
now  be  seen  a  small  conical  projection,  the  rudiment  of 


118  THE   THIRD   DAY.  [CHAP, 


Head  of  a  Chick  op  the  Third  Day  viewed  sideways  as  a 
Transparent  Object.     (From  Huxley.) 

I  a.  the  vesicle  of  the  cerebral  hemisphere.  1 6.  the  vesicle  of 
the  third  ventricle  (the  original  fore-brain) ;  at  its  summit 
is  seen  the  projection  of  the  pineal  gland  e. 

Below  this  portion  of  the  brain  is  seen,  in  optical  section,  the 
optic  vesicle  a  already  involuted  with  its  thick  inner  and  thinner 
outer  wall  (the  letter  a  is  placed  on  the  junction  of  the  two,  the 
primary  cavity  being  almost  obliterated).  In  the  centre  of  the 
vesicle  lies  the  lens,  the  shaded  portion  being  the  expression  of 
its  cavity.  Below  the  lens  between  the  two  limbs  of  the  horse- 
shoe is  the  choroidal  fissure. 

II.  the  mid-brain.  III.  the  hind-brain.  V.  the  rudiments  of 
the  fifth  cranial  nerve,  YII.  of  the  seventh.  Below  the  seventh 
nerve  is  seen  the  auditory  vesicle  h.  The  head  having  been 
subjected  to  pressure,  the  vesicle  appears  somewhat  distorted  as 
if  squeezed  out  of  place.     The  orifice  is  not  yet  quite  closed  up. 

I,  the  inferior  maxillary  process  of  the  first  visceral  or  man- 
dibular fold.  Below,  and  to  the  right  of  this,  is  seen  the  first 
visceral  cleft,  below  that  again  the  second  visceral  fold  (2),  and 
lower  down  the  third  (3)  and  fourth  (4)  visceral  folds.  In  front 
of  the  folds  (i.e.  to  the  left)  is  seen  the  arterial  end  of  the  heart, 
the  aortic  arches  being  buried  in  their  respective  visceral  folds. 

/.  represents  the  mesoblast  of  the  base  of  the  brain  and  spinal 
cord. 


VI.]  THE  PITUITAET  BODY.  119 

the  pineal  gland  (Fig.  38,  e),  while  the  centre  of  the 
floor  is  produced  into  a  funnel-shaped  process,  the  infun- 
dihulum  (Fig.  39,  In),  which,   stretching  towards  the 

Fig.  39. 


mTi 


Longitudinal  Section  through  the  Brain  op  a  young 
Pristiurus  Embryo. 

cer.  commencement  of  cerebral  hemisphere ;  pn.  pineal  gland  ; 
In.  infundibulum  ;  pt.  ingrowth  of  mouth  to  form,  the 
pituitary  body ;  mh.  mid-brain  ;  cb.  cerebellum  ;  ch.  noto- 
chord  ;  al.  alimentary  tract ;  laa.  artery  of  mandibular  arch. 

extreme  end  of  the  oral  invagination  or  stomodceum, 
joins  a  diverticulum  of  this  which  becomes  the  pituitary 
body. 

The  development  of  the  pituitary  body  or  hypophysis  cerebri 
has  been  the  subject  of  considerable  controversy  amongst  embryo- 
logists,  and  it  is  only  within  the  last  few  years  that  its  origin 
from  the  oral  epithelium  has  been  satisfactorily  estabhshed. 

In  the  course  of  cranial  flexure  the  epiblast  on  the  under  side 
of  the  head  becomes  tucked  in  between  the  blind  end  of  the 
throat  and  the  base  of  the  brain.  The  part  so  tucked  in  constitutes 
a  kind  of  bay,  and  forms  the  stomodseum  or  primitive  buccal 
cavity  already  spoken  of.  The  bhnd  end  of  this  bay  becomes 
produced  as  a  papilliform  diverticulum  which  may  be  called  the 
pituitary  diverticulum.     It  is  represented   as   it   appears   in   a 


120  THE   THIED   DAY.  [CHAP. 

lower  vertebrate  embryo  (Elasmobrancli)  in  Fig,  39,  but  is  in  all 
important  respects  exactly  similar  in  the  chick.  Very  shortly  after 
the  pituitary  diverticulum  becomes  first  established  the  boundary 
wall  between  the  stomodeeum  and  the  throat  becomes  perforated, 
and  the  limits  of  the  stomodaeum  obliterated,  so  that  the  pituitary 
diverticulum  looks  as  if  it  had  arisen  from  the  hypoblast.  During 
the  third  day  of  incubation  the  front  part  of  the  notochord 
becomes  bent  downward,  and,  ending  in  a  somewhat  enlarged 
extremity,  comes  in  contact  with  the  termination  of  the  pituitary 
diverticulum.  The  mesoblast  around  increases  and  grows  up,  in 
front  of  the  notochord  and  behind  the  vesicle  of  the  third 
ventricle,  to  form  the  posterior  clinoid  process.  The  base  of  the 
vesicle  of  the  third  ventricle  at  the  same  time  grows  downwards 
towards  the  pituitary  diverticulum,  and  forms  what  is  known  as  the 
infundibulum.  On  the  fourth  day  the  mesoblastic  tissue  around 
the  notochord  increases  in  quantity,  and  the  end  of  the  notochord, 
though  still  bent  downwards,  recedes  a  little  from  the  termination 
of  the  pituitary  diverticulum,  which  is  still  a  triangular  space  with 
a  wide  opening  into  the  alimentary  canal. 

On  the  fifth  day,  the  opening  of  the  pituitary  diverticulum 
into  the  alimentary  canal  has  become  narrowed,  and  around  the 
whole  diverticulum  an  investment  of  mesoblast-cells  has  appeared. 
Behind  it  the  clinoid  process  has  become  cartilaginous,  while  to 
the  sides  and  in  front  it  is  enclosed  by  the  trabeculae.  At  this 
stage,  in  fact,  we  have  a  diverticulum  from  the  alimentary  canal 
passing  through  the  base  of  skull  to  the  infundibulum. 

On  the  seventh  day  the  communication  between  the  cavity 
of  the  diverticulum  and  that  of  the  throat  has  become  still 
narrower.  The  diverticulum  is  all  but  converted  into  a  vesicle, 
and  its  epiblastic  walls  have  commenced  to  send  out  into  the 
mesoblastic  investment  solid  processes.  The  infundibulum  now 
appears  as  a  narrow  process  from  the  base  of  the  vesicle  of  the 
third  ventricle,  which  approaches,  but  does  not  unite  with,  the 
pituitary  vesicle. 

By  the  tenth  day  the  opening  of  the  pituitary  vesicle  into 
the  throat  becomes  almost  obliterated,  and  the  lumen  of  the 
vesicle  itself  very  much  diminished.  The  body  consists  of 
anastomosing   cords    of  epiblast-cells,   the    mesoblast  between 


VI.]  THE   PITUITARY   BODY.  121 

wliicli  has  already  commenced  to  become  vascular.  The  cords 
or  masses  of  epiblast  cells  are  surrounded  by  a  delicate  mem- 
brana  propria,  and  a  few  of  them  possess  a  small  lumen.  The 
infundibulum  has  increased  in  length.  The  relative  positions  of 
the  pituitary  body  and  infundibulum  are  shewn  in  the  figure  of 
the  brain  in  Chapter  yiii. 

On  the  twelfth  day  the  communication  between  the  pituitary 
vesicle  and  the  throat  is  entirely  obliterated,  but  a  solid  cord  of 
cells  still  connects  the  two.  The  vessels  of  the  pia  mater  of  the 
vesicle  of  the  third  ventricle  have  become  connected  with  the 
pituitary  body,  and  the  infundibulum  has  grown  down  along  its 
posterior  border. 

In  the  later  stages  all  connection  is  lost  between  the  pituitary 
body  and  the  throat,  and  the  former  becomes  attached  to  the 
elongated  processus  infundibuli. 

The  real  nature  of  the  pituitary  body  is  still  extremely  obscure, 
but  it  is  not  improbably  the  remnant  of  a  glandular  structure 
which  may  have  opened  into  the  mouth  in  primitive  vertebrate 
forms,  but  which  has  ceased  to  have  a  function  in  existing 
vertebrates^. 

Beyond  an  increase  in  size,  which  it  shares  with 
nearly  all  parts  of  the  embryo,  and  the  change  of 
position  to  which  we  have  already  referred,  the  mid- 
brain undergoes  no  great  alteration  during  the  third 
day.  Its  roof  will  ultimately  become  developed  into 
the  corpora  higemina  or  optic  lobes,  its  floor  will  form 
the  crura  cerebri,  and  its  cavity  ^vill  be  reduced  to  the 
narrow  canal  known  as  the  iter  a  tertio  ad  quartum 
ventriculum. 

In  the  hind-brain,  or  third  cerebral  vesicle,  that 
part   which   lies  nearest   to  the  mid-brain,  is   during 

^  Wilhelm  Miiller  Ueber  die  Entwicklung  und  Bau  der  Hypophysis 
und  des  Processus  Infundibuli  Cerebri.  Jenaische  Zeitschrift,  Bd.  vi. 
1871,  and  V,  von  Mihalkovics,  Wirbelsaite  u.  Hirnanhang,  Archiv  f. 
mikr.  Anat.  Vol.  xi.  1875. 


122  THE   THIRD   DAY.  [CHAP. 

the  third  day  marked  off  from  the  rest  by  a  slight 
constriction.  This  distinction,  which  becomes  much 
more  evident  later  on  by  a  thickening  of  the  walls  and 
roof  of  the  front  portion,  separates  the  hind-brain  into 
the  cerebellum  in  front,  and  the  medulla  oblongata 
behind  (Figs.  38  and  39).  While  the  walls  of  the 
cerebellar  portion  of  the  hind-brain  become  very  much 
thickened  as  well  at  the  roof  as  at  the  floor  and  sides, 
the  roof  of  the  posterior  or  medulla  oblongata  portion 
thins  out  into  a  mere  membrane,  forming  a  delicate 
covering  to  the  cavity  of  the  vesicle  (Fig.  40,  iv),  which 
here  becoming  broad  and  shallow  with  greatly  thick- 
ened floor  and  sides,  is  known  as  the  fourth  ventricle, 
subsequently  overhung  by  the  largely  developed  pos- 
terior portion  of  the  cerebellum. 

The  third  day,  therefore,  marks  the  differentiation 
of  the  brain  into  five  distinct  parts:  the  cerebral 
hemispheres,  the  central  masses  round  the  third 
ventricle,  the  corpora  bigemina  or  optic  lobes,  the 
cerebellum  and  the  medulla  oblongata;  the  original 
cavity  of  the  neural  canal  at  the  same  time  passing 
from  its  temporary  division  of  three  single  cavities  into 
the  permanent  arrangement  of  a  series  of  connected 
ventricles,  viz.  the  lateral  ventricles,  the  third  ventricle, 
the  iter  (with  a  prolongation  into  the  optic  lobe  on 
each  side),  and  the  fourth  ventricle. 

At  the  same  time  that  the  outward  external  shape 
of  the  brain  is  thus  being  moulded,  internal  changes 
are  taking  place  in  the  whole  neural  canal.  These  are 
best  seen  in  sections. 

At  its  first  formation,  the  section  of  the  cavity  of 
the  neural  canal  is  round,  or  nearly  so. 


VI.]  THE   CRANIAL   AND   SPINAL   NERVES.  12.S 

About  this  time,  however,  the  lining  of  invokited 
epiblast  along  the  length  of  the  whole  spinal  cord 
becomes  very  much  thickened  at  each  side,  while 
increasing  but  little  at  the  mid-points  above  and  below. 
The  result  of  this  is  that  the  cavity  as  seen  in  section 
(Figs.  64  and  65),  instead  of  being  circular,  has  become 
a  narrow  vertical  slit,  almost  completely  filled  in  on 
each  side. 

In  the  region  of  the  brain  the  thickening  of  the 
lining  epiblast  follows  a  somewhat  different  course. 
While  almost  everywhere  the  sides  and  floor  of  the 
canal  are  greatly  thickened,  the  roof  in  the  region  of 
the  various  ventricles,  especially  of  the  third  and  fourth, 
becomes  excessively  thin,  so  as  to  form  a  membrane 
reduced  to  almost  a  single  layer  of  cells.     (Fig.  40,  iv.) 

Cranial  and  spinal  nerves.  A  most  important 
event  which  takes  place  during  the  second  and  third 
days,  is  the  formation  of  the  cranial  and  spinal  nerves. 
Till  within  a  comparatively  recent  period  embryologists 
were  nearly  unanimous  in  believing  that  the  peripheral 
nerves  originated  from  the  mesoblast  at  the  sides  of 
the  brain  and  spinal  cord.  This  view  has  now  however 
been  definitely  disproved,  and  it  has  been  estabHshed 
that  both  the  cranial  and  spinal  nerves  take  their  origin 
as  outgrowths  of  the  central  nervous  system. 

The  cranial  nerves  are  the  first  to  be  developed  and 
arise  before  the  complete  closure  of  the  neural  groove. 
They  are  formed  as  paired  outgrowths  of  a  continuous 
band  known  as  the  neural  band,  composed  of  two 
laminae,  which  connects  the  dorsal  edges  of  the  incom- 
pletely closed  neural  canal  with  the  external  epiblast. 
This  mode  of  development  will  best  be  understood  by 


124 


THE   THIRD   DAY. 


[chap. 


CV 


AOA 
Section  through  the  Hind-Brain  of  a  Chick  at  the  end 
OF  THE  Third  Day  of  Incubation. 

IV.  Fourth  ventricle.  The  section  shews  the  very  thin  roof  and 
thicker  sides  of  the  ventricle. 

Ch.  Notochord — (diagrammatic  shading). 

CV.  Anterior  cardinal  or  jugular  vein. 

CO.  Involuted  auditory  vesicle.  CC  points  to  the  end  which 
will  form  the  cochlear  canal.  RL.  Eecessus  labyrinthi.  hy. 
hypoblast  lining  the  alimentary  canal,  hy  is  itself  placed  in 
the  cavity  of  the  alimentary  canal,  in  that  part  of  the  canal 
which  will  become  the  throat.  The  ventral  (anterior)  wall  of 
the  canal  is  not  shewn  in  the  section,  but  on  each  side  are 
seen  portions  of  a  pair  of  visceral  arches.  In  each  arch 
is  seen  the  section  of  the  aortic  arch  AOA  belonging  to  the 
visceral  arch.  The  vessel  thus  cut  through  is  running 
upwards  towards  the  head,  being  about  to  join  the  dorsal 
aorta  AO.  Had  the  section  been  nearer  the  head,  and 
carried  through  the  plane  at  which  the  aortic  arch  curves 


VI.] 


THE   CKANIAL   AND   SPINAL   NEKVES. 


125 


round  the  alimentary  canal  to  reach  the  mesoblast  above  it, 
AOA  and  AO  would  have  formed  one  continuous  curved 
space.  In  sections  lower  down  in  the  back  the  two  aortse, 
AO,  one  on  each  side,  would  be  found  fused  into  one  median 
canal. 


an  examination  of  Fig.  41,  where  the  two  roots  of  the 
vagus  nerve  (vg)  are  shewn  growing  out  from  the  neural 
band.  Shortly  after  this  stage  the  neural  band  becomes 
separated  from  the  external  epiblast,  and  constitutes 


Fig.  41. 


Transverse  Section  through  the  Posterior  Part  op  the 
Head  of  an  Embryo  Chick  op  Thirty  Hours. 

hb.  hind-brain  ;  v^.  vagus  nerve  ;  ep.  epiblast ;  ch.  notochord  ; 
X.  thickening  of  hypoblast  (possibly  a  rudiment  of  the  sub- 
notochordal  rod)  ;  al.  throat ;  ht.  heart ;  pjo.  body  cavity  ; 
so.  somatic  mesoblast ;  sf.  splanchnic  mesoblast ;  Ay.  hypo- 
blast. 


126  THE   THIRD   DAY.  [CHAP. 

a  crest  attached  to  the  roof  of  the  brain,  while  its  two 
laminae  become  fused. 

Anteriorly,  the  neural  crest  extends  as  far  as  the 
roof  of  the  mid-brain.  The  pairs  of  nerves  which 
undoubtedly  grow  out  from  it  are  the  fifth  pair,  the 
seventh  and  auditory  (as  a  single  root),  the  glosso- 
pharyngeal and  the  various  elements  of  the  vagus  (as  a 
single  root). 

After  the  roots  of  these  nerves  have  become  estab- 
lished, the  crest  connecting  them  becomes  partially 
obliterated.  The  roots  themselves  grow  centrifugally, 
and  eventually  give  rise  to  the  whole  of  each  of  the 
cranial  nerves.  Each  complete  root  develops  a  gan- 
glionic enlargement  near  its  base,  and  (with  the  ex- 
ception of  the  third  nerve)  is  distributed  to  one  of  the 
visceral  arches,  of  which  we  shall  say  more  hereafter. 
The  primitive  attachment  of  the  nerves  is  to  the  roof 
of  the  brain,  but  in  most  instances  this  attachment  is 
replaced  by  a  secondary  attachment  to  the  sides  or 
floor. 

The  rudiments  of  four  cranial  nerves,  of  which  two 
lie  in  front  of  and  two  behind  the  auditory  vesicle, 
are  easily  seen  during  the  third  day  at  the  sides  of  the 
hind-brain.  They  form  a  series  of  four  small  opaque 
masses,  somewhat  pearshaped,  with  the  stalk  directed 
away  from  the  middle  hne. 

The  most  anterior  of  these  is  the  rudiment  of  the 
fifth  nerve  (Figs,  42  and  67,  Y).  Its  narrowed  outer 
portion  or  stalk  divides  into  two  bands  or  nerves.  Of 
these  one  passing  towards  the  eye  terminates  at  present 
in  the  immediate  neighbourhood  of  that  organ.  The 
other  branch  (the  rudiment  of  the  inferior  maxillary 


VI.]  THE   CRANIAL   NERVES.  127 

Fig.  42. 


Head  op  an  Embryo  Chick  of  the  Third  Day  (Seventy- 
Five  Hours)  viewed  sideways  as  a  Transparent  Object. 
(From  Huxley.) 

la.  cerebral  hemispheres.  lb.  vesicle  of  the  third  ventricle.  II. 
mid-brain.  III.  hind-brain,  g.  nasal  pit.  a.  optic  vesicle. 
h.  otic  vesicle,  d.  infundibulum.  e.  pineal  body.  A.  noto- 
chord.  y.  fifth  nerve.  VII.  seventh  nerve.  VIII.  imited 
glossopharyngeal  and  pnemnogastric  nerves,  i,  2,  3,  4,  5 
the  five  visceral  folds. 

branch  of  the  fifth  nerve)  is  distributed  to  the  first 
visceral  arch. 

The  second  mass  (Figs.  42  and  67,  VII)  is  the  rudi- 
ment of  the  seventh,  or  facial  nerve,  and  of  the  audi- 
tory nerve.     It  is  the  nerve  of  the  second  visceral  arch. 

The  two  masses  behind  the  auditory  vesicle  repre- 
sent the  glossopharyngeal  and  pneumogastric  nerves 
(Fig.  42,  VIII,  Fig.  67,  G.  Ph.  and  Pg).  At  first 
united,  they  subsequently  become  separate.  The  glosso- 
pharyngeal supplies  the  third  arch,  and  the  pneumo- 
gastric the  fourth  and  succeeding  arches. 

The  later  development  of  the  cranial  nerves  has  only  been 
partiaUy  worked  out,  and  we  wiU  confine  ourselves  here  to  a  very 


128  THE   THIRD  DAY.  [CHAP. 

brief  statement  of  some  of  the  main  results  arrived  at.  The 
outgrowth  for  the  vagus  nerve  supplies  in  the  embryo  the  fourth 
and  succeeding  visceral  arches,  and  from  what  we  know  of  it 
in  the  lower  vertebrate  types,  we  may  conclude  that  it  is  a 
compound  nerve,  composed  of  as  many  primitively  distinct 
nerves  as  there  are  branches  to  the  visceral  arches. 

The  glossopharyngeal  nerve  is  the  nerve  supplying  the  third 
visceral  arch,  the  homologue  of  the  first  branchial  arch  of  Fishes. 
The  development  of  the  hypoglossal  nerve  is  not  known,  but  it  is 
perhaps  the  anterior  root  of  a  spinal  nerve.  The  spinal  accessory 
nerve  has  still  smaller  claims  than  the  hypoglossal  to  be  regarded 
as  a  true  cranial  nerve.  The  primitively  single  root  of  the 
seventh  auditory  nerves  divides  almost  at  once  into  two  branches. 
The  anterior  of  these  pursues  a  straight  course  to  the  hyoid  arch 
and  forms  the  rudiment  of  the  facial  nerve.  Fig.  67,  vii ;  the  second 
of  the  two,  which  is  the  rudiment  of  the  auditory  nerve,  develops 
a  ganglionic  enlargement,  and,  turning  backwards,  closely  hugs 
the  ventral  wall  of  the  auditory  involution.  The  sixth  nerve 
appears  to  arise  later  than  the  seventh  nerve  from  the  ventral 
part  of  the  hind-brain,  and  has  no  ganglion  near  its  root. 

Shortly  after  its  development  the  root  of  the  fifth  nerve  shifts 
so  as  to  be  attached  about  half-way  down  the  side  of  the  brain. 
A  large  ganglion  is  developed  close  to  the  root,  which  becomes 
the  Gasserian  ganglion.  The  main  branch  of  the  nerve  grows 
into  the  mandibular  arch  (Fig.  67),  maintaining  towards  it  similar 
relations  to  those  of  the  nerves  behind  it  to  their  respective 
arches. 

An  important  branch  becomes  early  developed  which  is 
directed  straight  towards  the  eye  (Fig.  67),  near  which  it  meets 
and  unites  with  the  third  nerve,  where  the  ciliary  ganglion 
is  developed.  This  branch  is  usually  called  the  ophthalmic 
branch  of  the  fifth  nerve,  and  may  perhaps  represent  an  inde- 
pendent nerve. 

Later  than  these  two  branches  there  is  developed  a  third 
branch,  passing  the  upper  process  of  the  first  visceral  arch. 
It  forms  the  superior  maxillary  branch  of  the  adult. 

Nothing  is  known  with  reference  to  the  development  of  the 
fourth  nerve. 


VI.]  THE   SPINAL   NERVES.  129 

The  liistory  of  the  third  nerve  is  still  imperfectly  known. 
There  is  developed  early  on  the  second  day  from  the  neural 
crest,  on  the  roof  of  the  mid-brain,  an  outgrowth  on  each  side, 
very  similar  to  the  rudiment  of  the  posterior  nerves.  This  out- 
growth is  believed  by  Marshall  to  be  the  third  nerve,  but  it  must 
be  borne  in  mind  that  there  is  no  direct  evidence  on  the  point, 
the  fate  of  the  outgrowth  in  question  not  having  been  satisfac- 
torily followed. 

At  a  very  considerably  later  period  a  nerve  may  be  found 
springing  from  the  floor  of  the  mid-hrain^  which  is  undoubtedly 
the  third  nerve.  If  identical  with  the  outgrowth  just  spoken  of, 
it  must  have  shifted  its  attachment  from  the  roof  to  the  floor  of 
the  brain. 

The  nerve  when  it  springs  from  the  floor  of  the  brain  runs 
directly  backwards  till  it  terminates  in  the  ciliary  ganglion, 
from  which  two  branches  to  the  eye-muscles  are  given  ofl". 

[A.  Marshall.  *'  The  development  of  the  cranial  nerves  in  the 
Chick."     Quart.  Journal  of  Microscop.  Science,  Vol.  xviii.] 

In  the  case  of  the  spinal  nerves  the  posterior  roots 
originate  as  outgrowths  of  a  series  of  median  processes 
of  cells,  which  make  their  appearance  on  the  dorsal  side 
of  the  spinal  cord.  The  outgrowths,  symmetrically 
placed  on  each  side,  soon  take  a  pyriform  aspect,  and 
apply  themselves  to  the  walls  of  the  spinal  cord.  They 
are  represented  as  they  appear  in  birds  in  Fig.  43,  sp.  g., 
and  as  they  appear  in  a  lower  vertebrate  form  in  Fig.  44. 

The  original  attachment  of  the  nerve -rudiment  to 
the  medullary  wall  is  not  permanent.  It  becomes,  in 
fact,  very  soon  either  extremely  delicate  or  absolutely 
interrupted. 

The  nerve-rudiment  now  becomes  divided  into  three 
parts,  (1)  a  proximal  rounded  portion;  (2)  an  enlarged 
middle  portion,  forming  the  rudiment  of  a  ganglion ;  (3) 
a  distal  portion,  forming  the  commencement  of  the  nerve. 
The  proximal  portion  may  very  soon  be  observed  to  be 
F.  &  B.  9 


THE  THIKD   DAY. 
Fig.  43. 


Transverse  section  through  the  trunk  of  a  Duck  Embryo 
WITH  about  twenty-four  mesoblastic  somites. 

am.  amnion ;  so.  somatopleure ;  sp.  splanchnopleure ;  wd.  "Wolffian 
duct ;  8t.  segmental  tube  ;  ca.v.  cardinal  vein  ;  ms.  muscle- 
plate  ;  sp.g.  spinal  ganglion;  sp.c.  spinal  cord;  ch.  notochord; 
ao.  aorta ;  hy.  hypoblast. 

united  with  the  side  of  the  spinal  cord  at  a  very  con- 
siderable distance  from  its  original  point  of  origin.  It  is 
moreover  attached,  not  by  its  extremity,  but  by  its  side. 
The  above  points,  which  are  much  more  easily 
studied  in  some  of  the  lower  vertebrate  forms  than  in 
Birds,  are  illustrated  by  the  subjoined  section  of  an 
Elasmobranch  embryo.  Fig.  45. 


VI  ]  THE   SPINAL   NERVES.  ]  31 

Fig.  44.  . 


pr 


mp 


Transverse  section  through  the  trunk  of  a  young  embryo 
OF  A  Dog-Fish. 

nc.  neural  canal ;  pr.  posterior  root  of  spinal  nerve  ;  x.  sub- 
notochordal  rod ;  ao.  aorta ;  sc.  somatic  mesoblast ;  sp. 
splanchnic  mesoblast ;  mp.  muscle-plate ;  mp'.  portion  of 
muscle-plate  converted  into  muscle  ;  Vv.  portion  of  the 
vertebral  plate  which  will  give  rise  to  the  vertebral  bodies  ; 
al.  alimentary  tract. 

It  is  extremely  difficult  to  decide  whether  the  per- 
manent attachment  of  the  posterior  nerve-roots  to  the 
spinal  cord  is  entirely  a  new  formation,  or  merely  due 
to  the  shifting  of  the  original  point  of  attachment. 
We  are  inclined  to  adopt  the  former  view. 

The  origin  of  the  anterior  roots  of  the  spinal  nerves 
has  not  as  yet  been  satisfactorily  made  out  in  Birds ; 
but  it  appears  probable  that  they  grow  from  the  ventral 
comer  of  the  spinal  cord,  considerably  later  than  the 
posterior  roots.,  as  a  number  of  strands  for  each  nerve, 

9—2 


132 


THE  THIRD  DAY. 

Fig.  45. 


[chap, 


A L_^ 


Section  through  the  dorsal  region  of  an  embryo  Dog-Fish. 

'pr.  posterior  root ;  sjp.g.  spinal  ganglion ;  n.  nerve ;  x.  attach- 
ment of  ganglion  to  spinal  cord ;  no.  neural  canal ;  m-p. 
muscle-plate  ;  ch.  notochord  ;  i.  investment  of  spinal  cord. 

which  subsequently  join  the  posterior  roots  below  the 
ganglia.  The  shape  of  the  root  of  a  completely  formed 
spinal  nerve,  as  it  appears  in  an  embryo  of  the  fourth 
day,  is  represented  in  Fig.  68. 

The  Eye.  In  the  preceding  chapter  we  saw  how 
the  first  cerebral  vesicle,  by  means  of  lateral  outgrowths 
followed  by  constrictions,  gave  rise  to  the  optic  vesicles. 
These  and  the  parts  surrounding  them  undergo  on  the 
third  day  changes  which  result  in  the  formation  of  the 
eyeball. 

At  their  first  appearance  the  optic  vesicles  stand 
out  at  nearly  right  angles  to  the  long  axis  of  the 
embryo  (Fig.  27),  and  the  stalks  which  connect  them 


YL] 


THE   EYE. 


133 


with  the  fore-brain  are  short  and  wide.  The  con- 
strictions which  give  rise  to  the  stalks  take  place  chiefly 
from  above  downwards,  and  also  somewhat  inwards  and 
backwards.  Thus  from  the  first  the  vesicles  appear  to 
spring  from  the  under  part  of  the  fore-brain. 

These  stalks  soon  become  comparatively  narrow, 
and  constitute  the  rudiments  of  the  optic  nerves  (Fig. 
46  b).      The  constriction  to  which  the  stalk   or  optic 

Fia.  46. 


Section  through  the  head  of  an  embryo  Teleostean,  to 

SHEW   THE   formation  OF  THE   OPTIC  VESICLES,  ETC.     (From 

Gegenbaur ;  after  Schenk.) 

c.   fore-brain ;   a.  optic  vesicle ;    b.  stalk  of  optic  vesicle ;    d. 
epidermis. 

nerve  is  due  takes  place  obliquely  downwards  and 
backwards,  so  that  the  optic  nerves  open  into  the  base 
of  the  front  part  of  the  thalamencephalon  (Fig.  46  h). 

While  these  changes  have  been  going  on  in  the 
optic  stalks,  development  has  also  proceeded  in  the 
region  of  the  vesicles  themselves,  and  given  rise  to  the 
rudiments  of  the  retina,  lens,  vitreous  humour,  and 
other  parts  of  the  eye. 


134  THE  THIRD   DAY.  [CHAP. 

Towards  the  end  of  the  second  day  the  external 
or  superficial  epiblast  which  covers,  and  is  in  all  but 
immediate  contact  with,  the  most  projecting  portion  of 
the  optic  vesicle,  becomes  thickened.  This  thickened 
portion  is  then  driven  inwards  in  the  form  of  a  shallow 
open  pit  with  thick  walls  (Fig.  47  A,  o),  carr3dng  before 
it  the  front  wall  (r)  of  the  optic  vesicle.  To  such  an 
extent  does  this  involution  of  the  superficial  epiblast 
take  place,  that  the  front  wall  of  the  optic  vesicle  is 
pushed  close  up  to  the  hind  wall,  and  the  cavity  of  the 
vesicle  becomes  almost  obliterated  (Fig.  47,  B). 

The  bulb  of  the  optic  vesicle  is  thus  converted  into 
a  cup  with  double  walls,  containing  in  its  cavity  the 
portion  of  involuted  epiblast.  This  cup,  in  order  to 
distinguish  its  cavity  from  that  of  the  original  optic 
vesicle,  is  generally  called  the  secondary  optic  vesicle. 
We  may,  for  the  sake  of  brevity,  speak  of  it  as  the 
optic  cup;  in  reality  it  never  is  a  vesicle,  since  it 
always  remains  widely  open  in  front.  Of  its  double 
walls  the  inner  or  anterior  (Fig.  47  B,  r)  is  formed 
from  the  front  portion,  the  outer  or  posterior  (Fig.  47 
B,  u)  from  the  hind  portion  of  the  wall  of  the  primary 
optic  vesicle.  The  inner  or  anterior  (r),  which  very 
speedily  becomes  thicker  than  the  other,  is  converted 
into  the  retina;  in  the  outer  or  posterior  {u),  which 
remains  thin,  pigment  is  eventually  deposited,  and  it 
ultimately  becomes  the  tesselated  pigment-layer  of  the 
choroid. 

By  the  closure  of  its  mouth  the  pit  of  involuted 
epiblast  becomes  a  completely  closed  sac  with  thick 
walls  and  a  small  central  cavity  (Fig.  47  B,  I).  At 
the  same  time  it  breaks  away  from  the  external  epi- 


VL]  THE   EYE.  135 

Fig.  47. 


Diagrammatic    Sections    illustrating    the    Formation    of 
THE  Eye.     (After  Eemak.) 

In  A,  the  tliiii  superficial  epiblast  h  is  seen  to  be  thickened  at  x^ 
in  front  of  the  optic  vesicle,  and  involuted  so  as  to  form 
a  pit  0,  the  mouth  of  which  has  already  begun  to  close  in. 
Owing  to  this  involution,  which  forms  the  rudiment  of  the 
lens,  the  optic  vesicle  is  doubled  in,  its  front  portion  r  being 
pushed  against  the  back  portion  u^  and  the  original  cavity 
of  the  vesicle  thus  reduced  in  size.  The  stalk  of  the  vesicle 
is  shewn  as  still  broad. 

In  B^  the  optic  vesicle  is  still  further  doubled  in  so  as  to  form  a 
cup  with  a  posterior  wall  u  and  an  anterior  wall  r.  In  the 
hollow  of  this  cup  lies  the  lens  I,  now  completely  detached 
from  the  superficial  epiblast  x.  Its  cavity  is  still  shewn. 
The  cavity  of  the  stalk  of  the  optic  vesicle  is  already  much 
narrowed. 

blast,  whicli  forms  a  continuous  layer  in  front  of  it, 
all  traces  of  the  original  opening  being  lost.  There  is 
thus  left  lying  in  the  cup  of  the  secondary  optic  vesicle, 
an  isolated  elliptical  mass  of  epiblast.  This  is  the 
rudiment  of  the  lens.  The  small  cavity  within  it 
speedily  becomes  still  less  by  the  thickening  of  the 
walls,  especially  of  the  hinder  one. 

At  its  first  appearance  the  lens  is  in  immediate 
contact  with  the  anterior  wall  of  the  secondary  optic 
vesicle  (Fig.  47  B).     In  a  short  time,  however,  the  lens 


136  THE   THIRD   DAY.  [CHAP. 

is  seen  to  lie  in  the  mouth  of  the  cup  (Fig.  50  A),  a 
space  (vh)  (which  is  occupied  by  the  vitreous  humour) 
making  its  appearance  between  the  lens  and  anterior 
wall  of  the  vesicle. 

In  order  to  understand  how  this  space  is  developed, 
the  position  of  the  optic  vesicle  and  the  relations  of 
its  stalk  must  be  borne  in  mind. 

'  The  vesicle  lies  at  the  side  of  the  head,  and  its 
stalk  is  directed  downwards,  inwards  and  backwards. 
The  stalk  in  fact  slants  away  from  the  vesicle.  Hence 
when  the  involution  of  the  lens  takes  place,  the  direc- 
tion in  which  the  front  wall  of  the  vesicle  is  pushed  in 
is  not  in  a  line  with  the  axis  of  the  stalk,  as  for 
simplicity's  sake  has  been  represented  in  the  diagram 
Fig.  47,  but  forms  an  obtuse  angle  with  that  axis,  after 
the  manner  of  Fig.  48,  where  5'  represents  the  cavity 

Fig.  48. 


Diagrammatic  Section  of  the  Eye  and  the  Optic  Nerve 
AT  AN  early  stage  (from  Lieberkiihn), 

bo  shew  the  lens  I  occupying  the  whole  hollow  of  the  optic  cup, 
the  inclination  of  the  stalk  s  to  the  optic  cup,  and  the 
continuity  of  the  cavity  of  the  stalk  s  with  that  of  the 
primary  vesicle  c  ;  r,  anterior,  u  posterior  waU  of  the  optic 
cup. 


VI.]  THE   EYE.  137 

of  the  stalk  leading  away  from  the  almost  obliterated 
cavity  of  the  primary  vesicle. 

Fig.  48  represents  the  early  stage  at  which  the 
lens  fills  the  whole  cup  of  the  secondary  vesicle.  The 
subsequent  state  of  affairs  is  brought  about  through 
the  growth  of  the  walls  of  the  cup  taking  place  more 
rapidly  than  that  of  the  lens.  But  this  growth  or  this 
dilatation  does  not  take  place  equally  in  all  parts  of 
the  cup.  The  walls  of  the  cup  rise  up  all  round  except 
that  part  of  the  circumference  of  the  cup  which 
adjoins  the  stalk.  While  elsewhere  the  walls  increase 
rapidly  in  height,  carrying  so  to  speak  the  lens  with 
them,  at  this  spot,  which  in  the  natural  position  of  the 
eye  is  on  its  under  surface,  there  is  no  growth:  the 
wall  is  here  imperfect,  and  a  gap  is  left.  Through  this 
gap,  which  afterwards  receives  the  name  of  the  cho- 
roidal fissure,  a  way  is  open  from  the  mesoblastic  tissue 
surrounding  the  optic  vesicle  and  stalk  into  the  interior 
of  the  cavity  of  the  cup. 

From  the  manner  of  its  formation  the  gap  or  fissure 
is  evidently  in  a  line  with  the  axis  of  the  optic  stalk, 
and  in  order  to  be  seen  must  be  looked  for  on  the 
under  surface  of  the  optic  vesicle.  In  this  position  it 
is  readily  recognized  in  the  transparent  embryo  of  the 
third  day,  Figs.  37  and  48. 

Bearing  in  mind  these  relations  of  the  gap  to  the 
optic  stalk,  the  reader  will  understand  how  sections  of 
the  optic  vesicle  at  this  stage  present  very  different 
appearances  according  to  the  plane  in  which  the 
sections  are  taken. 

When  the  head  of  the  chick  is  viewed  from  under- 
neath as  a  transparent  object  the  eye  presents   very 


138 


THE  THIRD  DAY. 


[chap. 


much   the    appearance    represented    in   the    diagram 
Fig.  49. 

A  section  of  such  an  eye  taken  along  the  Hne  y, 
perpendicular  to  the  plane  of  the  paper,  would  give  a 
figure  corresponding  to  that  of  Fig.  50  A.  The  lens, 
the  cavity  and  double  walls  of  the  secondary  vesicle,  and 
the  remains  of  the  primary  cavity,  would  all  be  repre- 

FiG.  49. 


Diagrammatic  Eepresentation  of  the  Eye  of  the  Chick 
OF  about  the  Third  Day  as  seen  when  the  head  is 

viewed   FROM   UNDERNEATH  AS  A  TRANSPARENT   OBJECT. 

I  the  lens,  V  the  cavity  of  the  lens,  lying  in  the  hollow  of  the 

optic  cup. 
r  the  anterior,  u  the  posterior  wall  of  the  optic  cup,  c  the  cavity 

of  the  primary  optic  vesicle,  now  nearly  obliterated.     By 

inadvertence  u  has  been  drawn  thicker  than  r,  it  should 

have  been  thinner  throughout. 
s  the  stalk  of  the  optic  cup  with  s  its  cavity,  at  a  lower  level 

than  the  cup  itself  and  therefore  out  of  focus  ;  the  dotted 

line  indicates  the  continuity  of  the  cavity  of  the  stalk  with 

that  of  the  primary  vesicle. 
The  line  2,  z,  through  which  the  section  shewn  in  Fig.  50  C  is 

supposed  to  be  taken,  passes  through  the  choroidal  fissure. 


VI.] 


139 


A.  Diagrammatic  section  takeu  perpendicular  to  the  plane  of 
the  paper,  along  the  line  y,  y,  Fig.  49.  The  stalk  is  not 
seen,  the  section  falling  quite  out  of  its  region,  vh,  hollow 
of  optic  cup  filled  with  vitreous  humour  ;  other  letters  as  in 
rig.  47  B. 

B.  Section  taken  parallel  to  the  plane  of  paper  through  Fig.  49, 
so  far  behind  the  front  surface  of  the  eye  as  to  shave  off  a 
small  portion  of  the  posterior  surface  of  the  lens  I,  but  so 
far  in  front  as  not  to  be  carried  at  all  through  the  stalk. 
Letters  as  before  ;  /,  the  choroidal  fissure. 

C.  Section  along  the  line  0,  z,  perpendicular  to  the  plane  of  the 
paper,  to  shew  the  choroidal  fissure/,  and  the  continuity  of 
the  cavity  of  the  optic  stalk  with  that  of  the  primary  optic 
vesicle.  Had  this  section  been  taken  a  little  to  either  side  of 
the  line  z,  z,  the  wall  of  the  optic  cup  would  have  extended 
up  to  the  lens  below  as  well  as  above.     Letters  as  above. 

sented  (the  superficial  epiblast  of  the  head  would  also 
be  shewn) ;  but  there  would  be  nothing  seen  of  either 
the  stalk  or  the  fissure.  If  on  the  other  hand  the 
section  were  taken  in  a  plane  parallel  to  the  plane  of 
the  paper,  at  some  distance  above  the  level  of  the 
stalk,  some  such  figure  would  be  gained  as  that  shewn 
in  Fig.  50  B.  Here  the  fissure  /  is  obvious,  and  the 
communication  of  the  cavity  vh  of  the  secondary  vesicle 
with  the  outside  of  the  eye  evident;  the  section  of 
course  would  not  go  through  the  superficial  epiblast. 


140  THE   THIRD   DAY.  [CHAP. 

Lastly,  a  section,  taken  perpendicular  to  the  plane  of 
the  paper  along  the  line  z,  i.e.  through  the  fissure 
itself,  would  present  the  appearances  of  Fig.  50  C, 
where  the  wall  of  the  vesicle  is  entirely  wanting  in  the 
region  of  the  fissure  marked  by  the  position  of  the 
letter  f.  The  external  epiblast  has  been  omitted  in 
the  figure. 

The  fissure  such  as  we  have  described  it  exists  for 
a  short  time  only.  Its.  lips  come  into  contact,  and 
unite  (in  the  neighbourhood  of  the  lens,  directly,  but  in 
the  neighbourhood  of  the  stalk,  by  the  intervention  of 
a  structure  which  we  shall  describe  presently),  and  thus 
the  cup-like  cavity  of  the  secondary  optic  vesicle  is 
furnished  with  a  complete  wall  all  round.  The  interior 
of  the  cavity  is  filled  by  the  vitreous  humour,  a  clear 
fluid  in  which  are  a  few  scattered  cells. 

With  reference  to  the  above  description,  two  points  require 
to  be  noticed.  Firstly  it  is  extremely  doubtful  whether  the 
invagination  of  the  secondary  optic  vesicle  is  to  be  viewed  as  an 
actual  mechanical  result  of  the  ingrowth  of  the  lens.  Secondly 
it  seems  probable  that  the  choroid  fissure  is  not  simply  due  to  a 
deficiency  in  the  growth  of  part  of  the  walls  of  the  secondary 
optic  cup,  but  is  ]3artly  due  to  a  more  complicated  inequality  of 
growth  resulting  in  a  doubling  up  of  the  primary  vesicle  from 
the  side  along  the  line  of  the  fissure,  at  the  same  time  that  the 
lens  is  being  thrust  in  in  front.  In  Mammalia,  the  doubling  up 
involves  the  optic  stalk,  which  becomes  flattened  (whereby  its 
original  cavity  is  obliterated)  and  then  folded  in  on  itself,  so  as 
to  embrace  a  new  central  cavity  continuous  with  the  cavity  of 
the  vitreous  humour. 

During  the  changes  in  the  optic  vesicle  just  de- 
scribed, the  surrounding  mesoblast  takes  on  the  cha- 
racters of  a  distinct  investment,  whereby  the  outline  of 


VI.]  THE   EYE.  141 

the  eyeball  is  definitely  formed.  The  internal  portions 
of  this  investment,  nearest  to  the  retina,  become  the 
choroid  {i.e.  the  chorio-capillaris,  and  the  lamina 
fusca,  the  pigment  epithelium,  as  we  have  seen,  being 
derived  from  the  epiblastic  optic  cup),  and  pigment  is 
subsequently  deposited  in  it.  The  remaining  external 
portion  of  the  investment  forms  the  sclerotic. 

The  complete  differentiation  of  these  two  coats 
of  the  eye  does  not  however  take  place  till  a  late 
period. 

In  front  of  the  optic  cup  the  mesoblastic  invest- 
ment grows  forwards,  between  the  lens  and  the  super- 
ficial epiblast,  and  so  gives  rise  to  the  substance  of 
the  cornea;  the  epiblast  supplying  only  the  anterior 
epithelium. 

We  may  now  proceed  to  give  some  further  details 
with  reference  to  the  histological  differentiation  of  the 
parts,  whose  general  development  has  been  dealt  with 
in  the  preceding  pages. 

The  histological  condition  of  the  eye  in  its  earliest 
stages  is  very  simple.  Both  the  epiblast  forming  the 
walls  of  the  optic  vesicle,  and  the  superficial  layer 
which  is  thickened  to  become  the  lens,  are  composed  of 
simple  columnar  cells.  The  surrounding  mesoblast  is 
made  up  of  cells  whose  protoplasm  is  more  or  less 
branched  and  irregular.  These  simple  elements  are 
gradually  modified  into  the  complicated  tissues  of  the 
adult  eye,  the  changes  undergone  being  most  marked 
in  the  cases  of  the  retina,  the  optic  nerve,  and  the 
lens  with  its  appendages. 

The  optic  vesicle.  We  left  the  original  cavity  of 
the  primary  optic  vesicle  as  a  nearly  obliterated  space 


142  THE   THIRD   DAY.  [CHAP. 

between  ttie  two  walls  of  the  optic  cup.  By  the  end 
of  the  third  day  the  obliteration  is  complete,  and  the 
two  walls  are  in  immediate  contact. 

The  inner  or  anterior  wall  is,  from  the  first,  thicker 
than  the  outer  or  posterior ;  and  over  the  greater  part 
of  the  cup  this  contrast  increases  with  the  growth  of 
the  eye,  the  anterior  wall  becoming  markedly  thicker 
and  undergoing  changes  of  which  we  shall  have  to 
speak  directly  (Fig.  51). 

In  the  front  portion  however,  along,  so  to  speak,  the 
lip  of  the  cup,  anterior  to  a  line  which  afterwards  be- 
comes the  ora  serrata,  both  layers  not  only  cease  to 
take  part  in  the  increased  thickening,  accompanied  by 
peculiar  histological  changes,  which  the  rest  of  the  cup 
is  undergoing,  but  also  completely  coalesce  together. 
Thus  a  hind  portion  or  true  retina  is  marked  off  from  a 
front  portion. 

The  front  portion,  accompanied  by  the  choroid 
which  immediately  overlays  it,  is,  behind  the  lens, 
thrown  into  folds,  the  ciliary  ridges ;  while  further  for- 
ward it  bends  in  between  the  lens  and  the  cornea  to 
form  the  iris.  The  original  wide  opening  of  the  optic 
cup  is  thus  narrowed  to  a  smaller  orifice,  the  pupil; 
and  the  lens,  which  before  lay  in  the  open  mouth,  is 
now  inclosed  in  the  cavity  of  the  cup.  While  in  the 
hind  portion  of  the  cup,  or  retina  proper,  no  deposit  of 
black  pigment  takes  place  in  the  layer  formed  out  of 
the  inner  or  anterior  wall  of  the  vesicle,  in  the  front 
portion  we  are  speaking  of,  pigment  is  largely  deposited 
throughout  both  layers,  so  that  eventually  this  portion 
seems  to  become  nothing  more  than  a  forward  pro- 
longation of  the  pigment-epithelium  of  the  choroid. 


YLJ 


THE   OPTIC  VESICLE. 
Fig.  51. 


143 


p.Ch 


Section  of  the  Eye  of  Chick  at  the  Fourth  Day. 

ep.  superficial  epiblast  of  tlie  side  of  the  head. 

R.  true  retina  :  anterior  wall  of  the  optic  cup.  jp.  Ch.  pigment- 
epithelium  of  the  choroid  :  posterior  wall  of  the  optic  cup. 
h  is  placed  at  the  extreme  lip  of  the  optic  cup  at  what  will 
become  the  margin  of  the  iris. 

I.  the  lens.  The  hind  wall,  the  nuclei  of  whose  elongated  cells 
are  shewn  at  nl,  now  forms  nearly  the  whole  mass  of  the  lens, 
the  front  wall  being  reduced  to  a  layer  of  flattened  cells  el. 

m.  the  mesoblast  surrounding  the  optic  cup  and  about  to  form 
the  choroid  and  sclerotic.  It  is  seen  to  pass  forward  between 
the  lip  of  the  optic  cup  and  the  superficial  epiblast. 


144  THE  THIRD  DAY.  [CHAP. 

Filling  up  a  large  part  of  the  hollow  of  the  optic  cup  is  seen 
a  hyaline  mass  forming  the  hyaloid  membrane  and  the  coagulum 
of  the  vitreous  humour.  In  the  neighbourhood  of  the  lens  it 
seems  to  be  continuous  as  at  cl  with  the  tissue  a,  which  in  turn 
is  continuous  with  the  mesoblast  m,  and  appears  to  be  the 
rudiment  of  the  capsule  of  the  lens  and  suspensory  ligament. 

Thus  while  the  hind  moiety  of  the  optic  cup  be- 
comes the  retina  proper,  including  the  choroid -pigment 
in  which  the  rods  and  cones  are  imbedded,  the  front 
moiety  is  converted  into  the  ciliary  portion  of  the 
retina,  covering  the  ciliary  processes,  and  into  the  uvea 
of  the  iris ;  the  bodies  of  the  ciliary  processes  and  the 
substance  of  the  iris,  their  vessels,  muscles,  connective 
tissue  and  ramified  pigment,  being  derived  from  the 
mesoblastic  choroid.  The  margin  of  the  pupil  marks 
the  extreme  lip  of  the  optic  vesicle,  where  the  outer  or 
posterior  wall  turns  round  to  join  the  inner  or  anterior. 

The  ciliary  muscle  and  the  ligamentum  pectinatum 
are  both  derived  from  the  mesoblast  between  the 
cornea  and  the  iris. 

The  retina.  At  first,  as  we  have  said,  the  two  walls 
of  the  optic  cup  do  not  greatly  differ  in  thickness.  On 
the  third  day  the  outer  or  posterior  becomes  much 
thinner  than  the  inner  or  anterior,  and  by  the  middle 
of  the  fourth  day  is  reduced  to  a  single  layer  of  flat- 
tened cells  (Fig.  51,  p.  Ch.).  At  about  the  80th  hour 
its  cells  commence  to  receive  a  deposit  of  pigment,  and 
eventually  form  the  so-called  pigmentary  epithelium  of 
the  choroid ;  from  them  no  part  of  the  true  retina  (or 
no  other  part  of  the  retina,  if  the  pigment-layer  in 
question  be  supposed  to  belong  more  truly  to  the  retina 
than  to  the  choroid)  is  derived. 


VI.]  THE  EETINA.  145 

On  the  fourth  day,  the  inner  (anterior)  wall  of  the 
optic  cup  (Fig.  51,  R)  is  perfectly  uniform  in  structure, 
being  composed  of  elongated  somewhat  spindle-shaped 
cells,  with  distinct  nuclei.  On  its  external  (posterior) 
surface  a  distinct  cuticular  membrane,  the  membrana 
Umitans  externa,  early  appears. 

As  the  wall  increases  in  thickness,  its  cells  multiply 
rapidly,  so  that  it  soon  appears  to  be  several  cells  thick  : 
each  cell  being  however  probably  continued  through 
the  whole  thickness  of  the  layer.  The  wall  at  this 
stage  corresponds  closely  in  its  stnicture  with  the  brain, 
of  which  it  may  properly  be  looked  upon  as  part.  Ac- 
cording to  the  usual  view,  which  is  not  however  fully 
supported  by  recent  observations,  the  retina  becomes 
divided  in  its  subsequent  growth  into  (1)  an  outer 
part,  corresponding  morphologically  to  the  epithelial 
lining  of  the  cerebro-spinal  canal,  composed  of  what 
may  be  called  the  visual  cells  of  the  eye,  i.  e.  the  cells 
forming  the  outer  granular  (nuclear)  layer  and  the  rods 
and  cones  attached  to  them  ;  and  (2)  an  inner  portion 
consisting  of  the  inner  granular  (nuclear)  layer,  the 
inner  molecular  layer,  the  ganglionic  layer  and  the 
layer  of  nerve-fibres  corresponding  morphologically  to 
the  substance  of  the  brain  and  spinal  cord. 

The  actual  development  of  the  retina  is  not  thoroughly 
understood.  According  to  the  usual  statements  (Kollikeri)  the 
layer  of  ganglion  cells  and  the  inner  molecular  layer  are  first 
differentiated,  while  the  remaining  cells  give  rise  to  the  rest 
of  the  retina  proper,  and  are  bounded  externally  by  the  membrana 
limitans  externa.  On  the  inner  side  of  the  ganglionic  layer  the 
stratum  of  nerve-fibres  is  also  very  early  established.     The  rods 

1  Entwick.  d.  Menschen,  etc.,  1879. 
P.  &  B.  10 


146  THE  THIRD   DAY.  [CHAP. 

and  cones  are  forined  as  prolongations  or  cuticularizations  of  the 
cells  which  eventually  form  the  outer  granular  layer.  The  layer 
of  cells  external  to  the  molecular  layer  is  not  divided  till 
comparatively  late  into  the  inner  and  outer  granular  (nuclear) 
layers,  and  the  interposed  outer  molecular  layer. 

Lowe^  has  recently  written  an  elaborate  paper  on  this  subject 
in  which  he  arrives  at  very  different  results  from  Kolliker 
and  other  observers. 

According  to  him  only  the  outer  limbs  of  the  rods  and 
cones,  which  he  holds  to  be  metamorphosed  cells,  correspond  to 
the  epithelial  layer  of  the  brain. 

The  changes  described  above  are  confined  to  that 
portion  of  the  retina  which  lies  behind  the  ora  serrata. 
In  front  of  this  both  walls  of  the  cup  coalesce  as  we 
have  said  into  a  cellular  layer  in  which  a  deposit  of 
pigment  takes  place. 

At  a  very  early  period  a  membrane  appears  on  the  side  of 
the  retina  adjoining  the  vitreous  humour.  This  membrane  is 
the  hyaloid  membrane.  It  is  formed  at  a  time  when  there  is  no 
trace  of  mesoblastic  structures  in  the  cavity  of  the  vitreous 
humour,  and  must  therefore  be  regarded  as  a  cuticular  deposit 
of  the  cells  of  the  optic  cup. 

The  optic  nerve.  The  optic  nerves  are  derived, 
as  we  have  said,  from  the  at  first  hollow  stalks  of  the 
optic  vesicles.  Their  cavities  gradually  become  oblite- 
rated by  a  thickening  of  the  walls,  the  obliteration 
proceeding  from  the  retinal  end  inwards  towards  the 
brain.  While  the  proximal  ends  of  the  optic  stalks 
are  still  hollow,  the  rudiments  of  the  optic  chiasma 
are  formed  at  the  roots  of  the  stalks,  the  fibres  of 
the  one  stalk  growing  over  into  the  attachment  of  the 
other.  The  decussation  of  the  fibres  would  appear 
^  ArcMv  fur  mikr.  Anat.  Vol.  xv. 


VI.]  THE   CHOROID   FISSURE.  147 

to  be  complete.  The  fibres  arise  in  the  remainder  of 
the  nerves  somewhat  later.  At  first  the  optic  nerve 
is  equally  continuous  with  both  walls  of  the  optic  cup ; 
as  must  of  necessity  be  the  case,  since  the  interval 
which  primarily  exists  between  the  two  walls  is  con- 
tinuous with  the  cavity  of  the  stalk.  When  the  cavity 
within  the  optic  nerve  vanishes,  and  the  fibres  of  the 
optic  nerve  appear,  all  connection  between  the  outer 
wall  of  the  optic  cup  and  the  optic  nerve  disappears, 
and  the  optic  nerve  simply  perforates  the  outer  wall, 
remaining  continuous  with  the  inner  one. 

The  choroid  fissure.  During  the  third  day  of  incu- 
bation there  passes  in  through  the  choroid  slit  a  vas- 
cular loop,  which  no  doubt  supplies  the  transuded 
material  for  the  growth  of  the  vitreous  humour.  Up  to 
the  fifth  day  this  vascular  loop  is  the  only  structure 
passing  through  the  choroid  slit.  On  this  day  however 
a  new  structure  appears,  which  remains  permanently 
through  life,  and  is  known  as  the  pecten.  It  consists 
of  a  lamellar  process  of  the  mesoblast  cells  round  the 
eye,  passing  through  the  choroid  slit  near  the  optic 
nerve,  and  enveloping  part  of  the  afferent  branch  of 
the  vascular  loop  above  mentioned.  The  proximal  part 
of  the  free  edge  of  the  pecten  is  somewhat  swollen,  and 
sections  through  this  part  have  a  club-shaped  form. 
On  the  sixth  day  the  choroid  slit  becomes  rapidly 
closed,  so  that  at  the  end  of  the  sixth  day  it  is  reduced 
to  a  mere  seam.  There  are  however  two  parts  of  this 
seam  where  the  edges  of  the  optic  cup  have  not 
coalesced.  The  proximal  of  these  adjoins  the  optic 
nerve,  and  permits  the  passage  of  the  pecten,  and  at  a 
later  period  of  the  optic  nerve ;  and  the  second  or  distal 

10—2 


148  THE  THIED   DAY.  [CHAP. 

one  is  placed  near  the  ciliary  edge  of  the  slit,  and  is 
traversed  by  the  efferent  branch  of  the  above-men- 
tioned vascular  loop.  This  vessel  soon  atrophies,  and 
with  it  the  distal  opening  in  the  choroid  slit  completely 
vanishes.  In  some  varieties  of  domestic  Fowl  (Lieber- 
kiihn)  the  opening  however  persists.  The  seam  which 
marks  the  original  site  of  the  choroid  slit  is  at  first  con- 
spicuous by  the  absence  of  pigment,  and  at  a  later 
period  by  the  deep  colour  of  its  pigment.  Finally,  a 
little  after  the  ninth  day,  no  trace  of  it  is  to  be 
seen. 

Up  to  the  eighth  day  the  pecten  remains  as  a  simple 
lamina;  by  the  tenth  or  twelfth  day  it  begins  to  be 
folded  or  rather  puckered,  and  by  the  seventeenth  or 
eighteenth  day  it  is  richly  pigmented,  and  the  pucker- 
ings  have  become  nearly  as  numerous  as  in  the  adult, 
there  being  in  all  seventeen  or  eighteen.  The  pecten 
is  now  almost  entirely  composed  of  vascular  coils,  which 
are  supported  by  a  sparse  pigmented  connective  tissue ; 
and  in  the  adult  the  pecten  is  still  extremely  vascular. 
The  original  artery  which  became  enveloped  at  the 
formation  of  the  pecten  continues,  when  the  latter  be- 
comes vascular,  to  supply  it  with  blood.  The  vein  is 
practically  a  fresh  development  after  the  atrophy  of 
the  distal  portion  of  the  primitive  vascular  loop  of  the 
vitreous  humour. 

There  are  no  true  retinal  blood-vessels. 

The  permanent  opening  in  the  choroid  fissure  for 
the  pecten  is  intimately  related  to  the  entrance  of  the 
optic  nerve  into  the  eyeball;  the  fibres  of  the  optic 
nerve  passing  in  at  the  inner  border  of  the  pecten, 
coursing  along  its  sides  to  its  outer  border,  and  radi- 


VI.]  THE   LENS.  149 

ating  from  it  as  from  a  centre  to  all  parts  of  the 
retina. 

The  lens.  This  when  first  formed  is  somewhat 
elliptical  in  section  with  a  small  central  cavity  of  a 
similar  shape,  the  front  and  hind  walls  being  of  nearly 
equal  thickness,  each  consisting  of  a  single  layer  of 
elongated  columnar  cells. 

In  the  subsequent  growth  of  the  lens,  the  develop- 
ment of  the  hind  wall  is  of  a  precisely  opposite  cha- 
racter to  that  of  the  front  wall.  The  hind  wall  becomes 
much  thicker,  and  tends  to  obliterate  the  central  cavit}' 
by  becoming  convex  on  its  front  surface.  At  the  same 
time  its  cells,  still  remaining  as  a  single  layer,  become 
elongated  and  fibre-like.  The  front  wall  on  the  con- 
trary becomes  thinner  and  thinner  and  its  cells  more 
and  more  flattened  and  pavement-like. 

These  modes  of  growth  continue  until  at  the  end  of 
the  fourth  day,  as  shewn  in  Fig.  51,  the  convex  hind 
wall  I  comes  into  absolute  contact  with  the  front  wall 
el  and  the  cavity  is  thus  entirely  obliterated.  The  cells 
of  the  hind  wall  have  by  this  time  become  veritable 
fibres,  which,  when  seen  in  section,  appear  to  be  arranged 
nearly  parallel  to  the  optic  axis,  their  nuclei  nl  being 
seen  in  a  row  along  their  middle.  The  front  wall,  some- 
what thickened  at  either  side  where  it  becomes  continu- 
ous with  the  hind  wall,  is  now  a  single  layer  of  flattened 
cells  separating  the  hind  wall  of  the  lens,  or  as  we  may 
now  say  the  lens  itself,  from  the  front  limb  of  the 
lens-capsule ;  of  this  it  becomes  the  epithelium. 

The  subsequent  changes  undergone  consist  chiefly  in 
the  continued  elongation  and  multiplication  of  the  lens- 
fibres,  with  the  partial  disappearance  of  their  nuclei. 


150  THE  THIRD   DAY.  [CHAP. 

During  their  multiplication  they  become  arranged 
in  the  manner  characteristic  of  the  adult  lens. 

The  lens  capsule  is  probably  formed  as  a  cuticular 
membrane  deposited  by  the  epithelial  cells  of  the  lens. 
But  it  should  be  stated  that  many  embryologists  regard 
it  as  a  product  of  the  mesoblast. 

The  vitreous  humour.  The  vitreous  humour  is  a 
mesoblastic  product,  entering  the  cavity  of  the  optic 
cup  by  the  choroid  slit  just  spoken  of.  It  is  nourished  by 
the  vascular  ingrowths  through  the  choroid  slit.  Its 
exact  nature  has  been  much  disputed.  It  arises  as  a 
kind  of  transudation,  but  frequently  however  contains 
blood-corpuscles  and  embryonic  mesoblastic  cells.  It 
is  therefore  intermediate  in  its  character  between  or- 
dinary intercellular  substance,  and  the  fluids  contained 
in  serous  cavities. 

The  integral  parts  of  the  eye  in  front  of  the  lens  are 
the  cornea,  the  aqueous  humour,  and  the  iris.  The 
development  of  the  latter  has  already  been  sufficiently 
described  in  connection  with  the  retina,  and  there  re- 
main to  be  dealt  with  the  cornea,  and  the  cavity  con- 
taining the  aqueous  humour. 

The  cornea.  The  cornea  is  formed  by  the  coales- 
cence of  two  structures,  viz.  the  epithelium  of  the 
cornea  and  the  cornea  proper.  The  former  is  directly 
derived  from  the  external  epiblast,  which  covers  the 
eye  after  the  invagination  of  the  lens.  The  latter  is 
formed  in  a  somewhat  remarkable  manner,  first  clearly 
made  out  by  Kessler. 

When  the  lens  is  completely  separated  from  the  epi- 
dermis the  central  part  of  its  outer  wall  remains  directly 


vl]  the  coenea.  151 

in  contact  with  the  epidermis  (future  corneal  epithelium). 
At  its  edge  there  is  a  small  ring-shaped  space  bounded 
by  the  outer  skin,  the  lens  and  the  edge  of  the  optic  cup. 
There  appears,  at  about  the  time  when  the  cavity  of 
the  lens  is  completely  obliterated,  a  structureless  layer 
external  to  the  above  ring-like  space  and  immediately 
adjoining  the  inner  face  of  the  epidermis.  This  layer, 
which  forms  the  commencement  of  the  cornea  proper, 
at  first  only  forms  a  ring  at  the  border  of  the  lens, 
thickest  at  its  outer  edge,  and  gradually  thinning 
away  towards  the  centre.  It  soon  however  becomes 
broader,  and  finally  forms  a  continuous  stratum  of  con- 
siderable thickness,  interposed  between  the  external 
skin  and  the  lens.  As  soon  as  this  stratum  has 
reached  a  certain  thickness,  a  layer  of  flattened  cells 
grows  in  along  its  inner  side  from  the  mesoblast  sur- 
rounding the  optic  cup  (Fig.  52,  dm).  This  layer  is 
the  epithelioid  layer  of  the  membrane  of  Descemet\ 
After  it  has  become  completely  established,  the  meso- 
blast around  the  edge  of  the  cornea  becomes  divided 
into  two  strata;  an  inner  one  (Fig.  52  cb)  destined  to 
form  the  mesoblastic  tissue  of  the  iris  already  described, 
and  an  outer  one  (Fig.  52  cc)  adjoining  the  epidermis. 
The  outer  stratum  gives  rise  to  the  corneal  corpuscles, 
which  are  the  only  constituents  of  the  cornea  not  yet 
developed.      The   corneal   corpuscles   make   their   way 

1  It  appears  possible  that  Lieberkiihn  may  be  right  in  stating 
that  the  epithelium  of  Descemet's  membrane  grows  in  between  the 
lens  and  the  epiblast  before  the  formation  of  the  cornea  proper,  and 
that  Kessler's  account,  given  above,  may  on  this  point  require  correc- 
tion. From  the  structure  of  the  eye  in  some  of  the  lower  forms  it 
seems  probable  that  Descemet's  membrane  is  continuous  with  the 
choroid. 


152  THE   THIRD   DAY.  [CHAP. 

Fig.  52. 


Section  through  the  eye  of  a  Fowl  on  the  eighth  dat 
of  development,  to  shew  the  iris  and  cornea  in  the 
PROCESS  OF  FORMATION.     (After  Kessler.) 

e-p.  epiblastic  epithelium  of  cornea  ;  cc.  corneal  corpuscles  growing 
into  the  structureless  matrix  of  the  cornea  ;  dm.  Descemet's 
membrane  ;  ir.  iris  ;  ch.  mesoblast  of  the  iris  (this  reference 
letter  points  a  little  too  high). 

The  space  between  the  layers  dm.  and  ep.  is  filled  with  the 
structureless  matrix  of  the  cornea. 


through  the  structureless  corneal  layer,  and  divide  it 
into  two  strata,  one  adjoining  the  epiblast,  and  the 
other  adjoining  the  inner  epithelium.  The  two  strata 
become  gradually  thinner  as  the  corpuscles  invade  a 
larger  and  larger  portion  of  their  substance,  and  finally 
the  outermost  portion  of  each  alone  remains  to  form 
above  and  below  the  membrana  elastica  anterior  and 
posterior  (Descemet's  membrane)  of  the  cornea.  The 
corneal  corpuscles,  which  have  grown  in  from  the  sides, 
thus  form  a  layer  which  becomes  continually  thicker, 
and  gives  rise  to  the  main  substance  of  the  cornea. 

Whether  the  increase  in  the  thickness  of  the  layer  is 
due  to  the  immigration  of  fresh  corpuscles,  or  to  the 
division  of  those  already  there,  is  not  clear.     After  the 


VI.]  THE  AQUEOUS  HUMOUE.  153 

cellular  elements  have  made  their  way  into  the  cornea, 
the  latter  becomes  continuous  at  its  edge  with  the  meso- 
blast  which  forms  the  sclerotic. 

The  derivation  of  the  original  structureless  layer  of  the  cornea 
is  still  uncertain.  Kessler  derives  it  from  the  epiblast,  but  it 
appears  more  probable  that  KoUiker^  is  right  in  regarding  it 
as  derived  from  the  mesoblast.  The  grounds  for  this  view  are, 
(1)  the  fact  of  its  growth  inwards  from  the  border  of  the  meso- 
blast round  the  edge  of  the  eye,  (2)  the  pecuhar  relations  between 
it  and  the  corneal  corpuscles  at  a  later  period.  This  view  would 
receive  still  further  support  if  a  layer  of  mesoblast  between  the 
lens  and  the  epiblast  were  really  present  as  believed  by  Lieber- 
kiihn.  It  must  however  be  admitted  that  the  objections  to 
Kessler's  view  of  its  epiblastic  nature  are  rather  a  priori  than 
founded  on  definite  observation. 

The  observations  of  Kessler,  which  have  been  mainly  followed 
in  the  above  account,  are  strongly  opposed  by  Lieberklihn  and 
other  observers,  and  are  not  entirely  accepted  by  KoUiker.  It 
is  however  especially  on  the  development  of  these  parts  in  Mam- 
malia (to  be  spoken  of  in  the  sequel)  that  the  above  authors 
found  their  objections. 

The  aqueous  humour.  The  cavity  for  the  aqueous 
humour  has  its  origin  in  the  ring-shaped  space  round 
the  front  of  the  lens,  which,  as  already  mentioned,  is 
bounded  by  the  external  skin,  the  edge  of  the  optic  cup, 
and  the  lens.  By  the  formation  of  the  cornea  this 
space  is  shut  off  from  the  external  skin,  and  on  the 
appearance  of  the  epithelioid  layer  of  Descemet's 
membrane  a  continuous  cavity  is  developed  between 
the    cornea   and  the   lens.     This  cavity   enlarges   and 

1  L.  Kessler,  Zur  EntwicJc.  d.  Auges  d.  Wirbelthiere.  Leipzig,  1874. 
N.  Lieberkiilm,  "  Beitrage  z.  Anat.  d.  embryonalen  Auges,"  Archiv 
f.  Anat.  u.  Phys.,  1879.  Kolliker,  Entwick.  d.  MenscJien,  etc.  Leipzig, 
1879. 


154  THE  THIRD  DAY.  [CHAP. 

receives  its  final  form  upon  the  full  development  of  the 
iris. 

Summary.  We  may  briefly  recapitulate  the  main 
facts  in  the  development  of  the  eye  as  follows. 

The  eye  commences  as  a  lateral  outgrowth  of  the 
fore-brain,  in  the  form  of  a  stalked  vesicle. 

The  stalk,  becoming  narrowed  and  subsequently 
solid,  is  converted  into  the  optic  nerve. 

An  involution  of  the  superficial  epiblast  over  the 
front  of  the  optic  vesicle,  in  the  form  first  of  a  pit,  then 
of  a  closed  sac  with  thick  walls,  and  lastly,  of  a  solid 
rounded  mass  (the  small  central  cavity  being  entirely 
obliterated  by  the  thickening  of  the  hind  wall),  gives 
rise  to  the  lens.  Coincidently  with  this  involution  of 
the  lens,  the  optic  vesicle  is  doubled  up  on  itself,  and 
its  cavity  obliterated ;  thus  a  secondary  optic  vesicle 
or  optic  cup  with  a  thick  anterior  and  a  thin  posterior 
wall  is  produced.  As  a  result  of  the  manner  in  which 
the  doubhng  up  takes  place,  or  of  the  mode  of  growth 
afterwards,  the  cup  of  the  secondary  optic  vesicle  is  at 
first  imperfect  along  its  under  surface,  where  a  gap,  the 
choroidal  fissure,  exists  for  some  little  time,  but  subse- 
quently closes  up. 

The  mesoblast  in  which  the  eye  is  imbedded  gathers 
itself  together  around  the  optic  cup  into  a  distinct  in- 
vestment, of  which  the  internal  layers  become  the 
choroid,  the  external  the  sclerotic.  An  ingrowth  of 
this  investment  between  the  front  surface  of  the  lens 
and  the  superficial  epiblast  furnishes  the  body  of  the 
cornea,  the  epiblast  itself  remaining  as  the  anterior 
corneal  epithelium. 

The  mesoblast  entering  on  the  under  side  through 


vl]  the  lacrymal  duct.  155 

the  choroidal  fissure  gives  rise  to  the  vitreous  humour, 
while  at  a  later  stage  a  definite  process  of  this  meso- 
blast  becomes  the  pecten. 

Of  the  walls  of  the  optic  cup,  the  thinner  outer 
(posterior)  wall  becomes,  behind  the  line  of  the  ora 
serrata,  the  pigment-epithelium  of  the  choroid,  while 
the  thicker  inner  (anterior)  wall  supplies  all  the  ele- 
ments of  the  retina,  including  the  rods  and  cones  which 
grow  out  from  it  into  the  pigment-epithelium. 

In  front  of  the  line  of  the  ora  serrata,  both  walls  of 
the  optic  cup,  quite  thin  and  wholly  fused  together,  give 
rise  to  the  pigment-epithelium  of  the  ciliary  processes 
and  iris,  the  bodies  of  both  these  organs  being  formed 
from  the  mesoblastic  investment. 

Accessory  Organs  connected  with  the  Eye. 

Eyelids.  The  most  important  accessory  structures  connected 
with  the  eye  are  the  eyelids.  Tliey  are  developed  as  simple  folds 
of  the  integument  with  a  mesoblastic  prolongation  between  their 
two  laminse.  They  are  three  in  number,  viz.  an  upper  and  lower, 
and  a  lateral  one — the  nictitating  membrane — springing  from 
the  inner  or  anterior  border  of  the  eye.  Their  inner  face  is  lined 
by  a  prolongation  of  conjunctiva,  which  is  the  modified  epiblast 
covering  the  cornea  and  part  of  the  sclerotic. 

The  Lacrymal  glands  and  Lacrymal  duct. 

The  lacrymal  glands  are  formed  as  solid  ingrowths  of  the 
conjunctival  epithelium.  They  appear  on  the  eighth  day  of 
incubation. 

The  lacrymal  duct  begins  as  a  soHd  ridge  of  the  epidermis, 
projecting  inwards  along  the  line  of  the  so-called  lacrymal  groove, 
from  the  eye  to  the  nasal  pit. 

At  the  end  of  the  sixth  day  this  ridge  begins  to  be  separated 
from  the  epidermis,  remaining  however  united  with  it  on  the 
inner  side  of  the  lower  eyelid. 


156  THE   THIRD   DAY.  [CHAP. 

After  it  has  become  free,  it  forms  a  solid  cord,  the  lower  end 
of  which  unites  with  the  wall  of  the  nasal  cavity.  The  cord 
so  formed  gives  rise  directly  to  the  whole  of  the  duct  proper  and 
to  the  lower  branch  of  the  collecting  tube.  The  upper  branch  of 
the  collecting  tube  is  formed  as  an  outgrowth  from  it.  A  lumen 
begins  to  be  formed  in  it  on  the  twelfth  day  of  incubation,  and  first 
appears  at  the  nasal  end.  It  arises  as  a  space  amongst  the  cells 
of  the  cord,  but  is  not  due  to  an  absorption  of  the  central  cells  i. 

Organ  of  hearing.  During  the  second  day  the  ear 
first  made  its  appearance  on  either  side  of  the  hind- 
brain  as  an  involution  of  the  external  epiblast,  thrust 
down  into  the  mass  of  mesoblast  rapidly  developing 
between  the  epiblast  of  the  skin  and  that  of  the  neural 
Fig.  53. 


zv.v 


It>C\ 


Th 


Section  through  the  Head  of  an  Elasmobranch  Embryo, 
AT  THE  Level  op  the  Auditory  Involution. 

au-p.  auditory  pit ;  aun.  ganglion  of  auditory  nerve  ;    iv.v.  roof 
of  fourth  ventricle  ;  a.c.v.  anterior  cardinal  vein  ;  aa.  aorta  ; 

^  G.  Born:  "Die  Nasenhohlen  u.  Thranennasengang  d.  amnioten 
Wirbelthiere,  i.  Lacertilia  ii.  Aves."  Morphologisches  Jahrbuch,  Vol. 
v.,  1879. 


YI.] 


THE   EAR. 


157 


1.  aa.  aortic  trunk  of  mandibular  arch  ;  pp.  head  cavity  of 
mandibular  arch ;  Ivc.  ahmentary  pouch  which  will  form  the 
first  visceral  cleft ;  Th.  rudiment  of  thyroid  body, 

canal  (Fig.  27,  au.  p.).  It  then  had  the  form  of  a 
shallow  pit  with  a  widely  open  mouth,  similar  in  form 
to  that  shewn  for  an  embryo  dog-fish  in  Fig.  53,  au.  p. 
Before  the  end  of  the  third  day,  its  mouth  closes  up  and 
all  signs  of  the  opening  are  obliterated.  The  pit  thus 
becomes  converted  into  a  closed  vesicle,  lined  with 
epiblast,  and  surrounded  by  mesoblast.  This  vesicle  is 
the  otic  vesicle,  whose  cavity  rapidly  enlarges  while  its 
walls  become  thickened  (Fig.  54,  CC). 


ct^. 


CC 


AOA 

Sectioi^  through  the  Hind-Brain  of  a  Chick  at  the  end 
OF  THE  Third  Day  of  Incubation. 

IV.  Fourth  ventricle.     The  section  shews  the  very  thin  roof  and 
thicker  sides  of  the  ventricle. 


158  THE  THIRD   DAY.  [CHAP. 

Ch.  Notocliord — (diagrammatic  shading). 

CV.  Anterior  cardinal  or  jugular  vein. 

CC.  Involuted  auditory  vesicle.  CG  points  to  the  end  which 
will  form  the  cochlear  canal.  RL.  Recessus  labyrinthi.  hy. 
hypoblast  lining  the  alimentary  canal,  hy  is  itself  placed  in 
the  cavity  of  the  alimentary  canal,  in  that  part  of  the  canal 
which  will  become  the  throat.  The  lower  (anterior)  wall  of 
the  canal  is  not  shewn  in  the  section,  but  on  each  side  are 
seen  portions  of  a  pair  of  visceral  arches.  In  each  arch 
is  seen  the  section  of  the  aortic  arch  AOA  belonging  to  the 
visceral  arch.  The  vessel  thus  cut  through  is  running 
upwards  towards  the  head,  being  about  to  join  the  dorsal 
aorta  AO.  Had  the  section  been  nearer  the  head,  and 
carried  through  the  plane  at  which  the  aortic  arch  curves 
round  the  alimentary  canal  to  reach  the  mesoblast  above  it, 
AOA  and  AO  would  have  formed  one  continuous  curved 
space.  In  sections  lower  down  in  the  back  the  two  aorta, 
AO,  one  on  either  side,  would  be  found  fused  into  one  median 
canal. 

The  changes  by  which  this  simple  otic  vesicle  is 
converted  into  the  complicated  system  of  parts  known 
as  the  internal  ear,  have  been  much  more  completely 
worked  out  for  Mammals  than  for  Birds.  We  shall 
therefore  reserve  a  full  account  of  them  for  a  later 
portion  of  this  work.  Meanwhile  a  brief  statement  of 
the  essential  nature  of  the  changes  may  be  useful ;  and 
will  be  most  conveniently  introduced  here. 

The  internal  ear  consists  essentially  of  an  inner 
membranous  labyrinth  lying  loosely  in  and  only  partially 
attached  to  an  outer  osseous  labyrinth. 

The  membranous  labyrinth  (Fig.  55)  consists  of  two 
parts :  (1)  the  vestibule,  with  which  are  connected  three 
pairs  of  semicircular  canals,  pag,  fr,  hor ,  and  a  long 
narrow  hollow  process,  the  aqueductus  or  recessus  vesti- 


VI.] 


THE   EAR. 
Fig.  55. 


-pasf' 


159 


13. 


loKf 


Two  Views  of  the    membranous    Labyrinth  of   Columba 

DoMESTiCA  (copied  from  Hasse). 

A,  from  the  exterior,  B,  from  the  interior. 

Ao/.  horizontal  semicircular  canal,  hor.  ampulla  of  ditto,  joa^'.  pos- 
terior vertical  semicircular  canal,  jpag.  ampulla  of  ditto, 
//.  anterior  vertical  semicircular  canal,  fr.  ampulla  of  ditto, 
u.  utriculus,  ru.  recessus  utriculi,  v.  the  connecting  tube 
between  the  ampulla  of  the  anterior  vertical  semicircular 
canal  and  the  utriculus,  de.  ductus  endolymphaticus  (recessus 
vestibuli),  s.  sacculus  hemisphericus,  cr,  canaUs  reunions,  lag. 
lagena,  mr.  membrane  of  Eeissner,  'ph.  Basilar  membrane. 

huli,  and  (2)  the  ductus  cochlearis,  which  in  birds  is  a 
flask-shaped  cavity  slightly  bent  on  itself,  the  dilated 
end  of  which  is  called  the  lagena.  The  several  parts  of 
each  of  these  cavities  freely  communicate,  and  the  two 
are  joined  together  by  a  narrow  canal,  the  canalis  re- 
uniens,  cr. 

The  osseous  labyrinth  has  a  corresponding  form, 
and  may  be  similarly  divided  into  parts :  into  a  bony 
vestibule,  with  its  bony  semicircular  canals  and  recessus 


160  THE   THIRD   DAY.  [CHAP. 

vestibuli,  and  into  a  bony  cochlea;  but  the  junction 
between  the  cochlea  and  the  bony  vestibule  is  much 
wider  than  the  membranous  canalis  reuniens. 

The  (cavity  of  the  osseous  cochlea  is  partially  divided 
lengthways  by  the  ductus  cochlearis  into  a  scala  tym- 
pani  and  a  scala  vestibuli,  which  do  not  however  extend 
to  the  lagena. 

The  auditory  nerve,  piercing  the  osseous  labyrinth 
in  various  points,  is  distributed  in  the  walls  of  the  mem- 
branous labyrinth. 

All  these  complicated  structures  are  derived  from 
the  simple  primary  otic  vesicle  and  the  surrounding 
mesoblast  by  changes  in  its  form  and  differentiation  of 
its  walls.  All  the  epiblast  of  the  vesicle  goes  to  form 
the  epithelium  of  the  membranous  labyrinth,  whose 
cavity,  filled  with  endolymph,  represents  the  original 
cavity  which  was  first  open  to  the  surface  but  subse- 
quently covered  in.  It  gradually  attains  its  curiously 
twisted  form  by  a  series  of  peculiar  processes  of  unequal 
growth  in  the,  at  first,  simple  walls  of  the  vesicle.  The 
corium  of  the  membranous  labyrinth,  and  all  the  tissues 
of  the  osseous  labyrinth,  are  developed  out  of  the  meso- 
blastic  investment  of  the  vesicle.  The  space  between 
the  osseous  and  membranous  labyrinths,  including  the 
scala  vestibuli  and  scala  tympani,  may  be  regarded  as 
essentially  a  series  of  lymphatic  cavities  hollowed  out 
in  the  mesoblast. 

It  will  be  seen  then  that  the  ear,  while  resembling 
the  eye  in  so  far  as  the  peculiar  structures  in  which  the 
sensory  nerve  in  each  case  terminates  are  formed  of 
involuted  epiblast,  differs' from  it  inasmuch  as  it  arises 
by  an  independent  involution  of  the  superficial  epiblast. 


vl]  the  olfactory  organ.  161 

whereas  tlie  eye  is  a  constricted  portion  of  the  general 
involution  which  gives  rise  to  the  central  nervous 
system. 

The  origin  of  the  auditory  nerve  has  already  been 
described.  It  is  shewn  in  close  contact  with  the  waUs 
of  the  auditory  pit  in  Fig.  53. 

Organ  of  Smell.  The  organ  of  smell  makes  its  ap- 
pearance during  the  third  day,  as  two  depressions  or 
pits,  on  the  under  surface  of  the  head,  a  little  in  front 
of  the  eye  (Fig.  56,  N). 

Fig.  56. 


Head   of  an    Embryo  Chick   of  the  Third   Day  viewed 

SIDEWAYS    AS    AN    OpAQUE    ObJECT. 

(Chromic  acid  preparation.) 

C.H.  Cerebral  hemispheres.  F.B.  Vesicle  of  third  ventricle. 
M.B.  Mid-brain.  Cb.  Cerebellum.  H.B.  Medulla  ob- 
longata. 

JV.  Nasal  pit.  ot.  otic  vesicle  in  the  stage  of  a  pit  with  the  open- 
ing not  yet  closed  up.  op.  Optic  vesicle,  with  I.  lens  and 
ch.f.  choroidal  fissure.  The  superficial  epiblast  moulds 
itself  to  the  form  of  the  optic  vesicle  and  the  lens  ;  hence 
the  choroidal  fissure,  though  formed  entirely  underneath  the 
superficial  epiblast,  is  distinctly  visible  from  the  outside. 

1  F.  The  first  visceral  fold;  above  it  is  seen  a  shght  indication  of 
the  superior  maxillary  process. 

2,  3,  4  F.     Second,  third  and  fourth  visceral  folds,  with  the  vis- 
ceral clefts  between  them. 
F.  &B.  11 


162  THE   THIRD   DAY.  [CHAP. 

Like  the  lens  and  the  labyrinth  of  the  ear,  they  are 
formed  from  the  external  epiblast;  unlike  them  they 
are  never  closed  up. 

The  olfactory  nerves  arise  as  outgrowths  of  the  front 
end  of  the  cerebral  hemispheres,  before  any  trace  of  a 
special  division  of  the  brain,  forming  an  olfactory  lobe, 
has  become  established.  Their  peripheral  extremities 
unite  with  the  walls  of  the  olfactory  pits  during  the 
third  day.  The  olfactory  lobes  arise  as  outgrowths  of 
the  cerebral  hemispheres  on  the  seventh  day  of  incuba- 
tion. 

Visceral  Arches  and  Visceral  Clefts,  It  must  be 
borne  in  mind  that,  especially  in  the  early  stages  of 
development,  owing  to  the  very  unequal  growth  of 
different  parts,  the  relative  position  of  the  various 
structures  is  continually  shifting.  This  is  very  well 
seen  in  the  instance  of  the  heart.  At  its  first  appear- 
ance, the  heart  is  lodged  immediately  beneath  the 
extreme  front  of  the  alimentary  canal,  so  far  forwards 
as  to  underlie  that  portion  of  the  medullary  canal  which 
will  form  the  brain.  It  is,  in  fact,  at  that  epoch  a  part 
of  the  head.  From  that  early  position  it  gradually 
recedes  farther  and  farther  backward,  until,  at  the  end 
of  the  third  day,  a  considerable  interval  is  observed 
between  it  and  the  actual  head.  In  other  words,  a 
distinct  neck  has  been  formed,  in  which  most  important 
changes  take  place. 

The  neck  is  distinguished  from  the  trunk  in  which 
the  heart  now  lies  by  the  important  feature  that  in  it 
there  is  no  cleavage  of  the  mesoblast  into  somatopleure 
and  splanchnopleure,  and  consequently  no  pleuroperito- 
neal  cavity.     In  passing  from  the  exterior  into  the  ali- 


VI.]  THE   VISCEEAL   CLEFTS.  163 

mentary  canal,  the  three  layers  of  the  blastoderm  are 
successively  traversed,  without  any  breach  of  continuity, 
save  such  as  is  caused  by  the  cavities  of  the  blood- 
vessels. In  this  neck,  so  constituted,  there  appear  on 
the  third  day  certain  fissures  or  clefts,  the  visceral  or 
branchial  clefts.  These  are  real  clefts  or  slits  passing 
right  through  the  walls  of  the  throat,  and  are  placed  in 
series  on  either  side  across  the  axis  of  the  alimentary 
canal,  lying  not  quite  at  right  angles  to  that  axis  and 
parallel  to  each  other,  but  converging  somewhat  to  the 
middle  of  the  throat  in  front  (Fig.  56).  Viewed  from 
the  outside  in  either  fresh  or  preserved  embryos  they 
are  not  very  distinctly  seen  to  be  clefts ;  but  when  they 
are  seen  from  within,  after  laying  open  the  throat,  their 
characters  as  elongated  oval  slits  can  easily  be  recog- 
nised. 

Four  in  number  on  either  side,  the  most  anterior  is 
the  first  to  be  formed,  the  other  three  following  in  suc- 
cession. Their  formation  takes  place  from  within  out- 
wards. The  hypoblast  is  pushed  outwards  as  a  pouch, 
which  grows  till  it  meets  the  epiblast,  which  is  then 
broken  through,  while  the  hypoblast  forms  a  junction 
with  the  epiblast  at  the  outside  of  the  throat. 

No  sooner  has  a  cleft  been  formed  than  its  anterior 
border  {i.e.  the  border  nearer  the  head)  becomes  raised 
into  a  thick  lip  or  fold,  the  visceral  or  branchial  fold. 
Each  cleft  has  its  own  fold  on  its  anterior  border,  and  in 
addition  the  posterior  border  of  the  fourth  or  last  visceral 
cleft  is  raised  into  a  similar  fold.  There  are  thus  five 
visceral  folds  to  four  visceral  clefts  (Fig.  56).  iThe  last 
tw^o  folds  however,  and  especially  the  last,  are  not  nearly 
so  thick  and  prominent  as  the  other  three,  the  second 

11—2 


164  THE   THIRD   DAY.  [CHAP. 

being  the  broadest  and  most  conspicuous  of  all.  The 
first  fold  meets,  or  nearly  meets,  its  fellow  in  the  middle 
line  in  front,  but  the  second  falls  short  of  reaching  the 
middle  line,  and  the  third,  fourth  and  fifth  do  so  in  an 
increasing  degree.  Thus  in  front  views  of  the  neck  a 
triangular  space  with  its  apex  directed  towards  the 
head  is  observed  between  the  ends  of  the  several  folds. 

Into  this  space  the  pleuroperitoneal  cavity  extends, 
the  somatopleure  separating  from  the  splanchnopleure 
along  the  ends  of  the  folds;  and  it  is  here  that  the 
aorta  plunges  into  the  mesoblast  of  the  body. 

The  visceral  clefts  and  arches  to  a  large  extent  dis- 
appear in  the  adult,  and  constitute  examples  of  an  inte- 
resting class  of  embryonic  organs,  whose  presence  is 
only  to  be  explained  by  the  fact  that,  in  the  ancestors  of 
the  types  in  which  they  are  now  developed  in  the 
embryo,  they  performed  an  important  function  in  the 
adult.  The  visceral  arches  and  clefts  are  in  fact  the 
homologues  of  the  branchial  arches  and  branchial  clefts 
of  Fishes,  which  continue  to  be  formed  in  the  embryos 
of  the  higher  vertebrate  types,  although  they  have 
"ceased  to  serve  as  organs  of  respiration.  The  skeletal 
structures  developed  in  the  visceral  arches  persist  as 
the  jaw-bones  and  hyoid  bone,  but  the  clefts,  with  the 
exception  of  the  first,  become  obliterated. 

Of  the  history  of  the  skeletal  elements  we  shall 
speak  in  detail  hereafter;  meanwhile  we  may  briefly 
deal  with  the  general  history  of  these  parts. 

The  first  fold  on  either  side,  increasing  rapidly  in 
size  and  prominence,  does  not,  like  the  others,  remain 
single,  but  sends  off  in  the  course  of  the  third  day  a 
branch  or  bud-like  process  from  its  anterior  edge.    This 


vl]  the  visceeal  arches.  165 

branch,  starting  from  near  the  dorsal  beginning  of  the 
fold,  runs  ventralwards  and  forwards,  tending  to  meet  the 
corresponding  branch  from  the  fold  on  the  other  side,  at 
a  point  in  the  middle  line  nearer  the  front  of  the  head 
than  the  junction  of  the  main  folds.  The  two  branches 
do  not  quite  meet,  being  separated  by  a  median  process, 
which  at  the  same  time  grows  down  from  the  extreme 
front  of  the  head,  and  against  which  they  abut.  Between 
the  main  folds,  which  are  directed  somewhat  backwards 
and  the  branches  which  slant  forwards,  a  somewhat 
lozenge-shaped  space  is  developed  which,  as  the  folds 
become  more  and  more  prominent,  grows  deeper  and 
deeper.  In  the  main  folds  are  developed  the  man- 
dibles, and  in  the  branches  the  superior  maxilloe :  the 
lozenge-shaped  cavity  between  them  is  the  cavity  of  the 
mouth,  and  the  descending  process  which  helps  to 
complete  the  upper  margin  of  this  cavity  is  called,  from 
the  parts  which  will  be  formed  out  of  it,  the  fronto- 
nasal process. 

Part  of  the  mesoblast  of  the  two  succeeding  pairs  of 
visceral  folds  is  transformed  into  the  hyoid  bone,  which 
will  be  best  considered  in  connection  with  the  develop- 
ment of  the  skull.  The  two  last  arches  disappear  with- 
out giving  rise  to  any  permanent  structures. 

With  the  exception  of  the  first  the  visceral  clefts 
become  obliterated  at  an  early  stage  of  embryonic  life ; 
but  the  first  persists,  although  it  loses  all  trace  of  its 
original  branchial  function  and  becomes  intimately  con- 
nected with  the  organ  of  hearing,  of  which  in  fact  it 
forms  a  most  essential  part,  becoming  converted  into 
the  Eustachian  tube  and  tympanic  cavity.  The  outer 
opening  and   the  outer  part  also  of  the  cleft  become 


166  THE   THIRD   DAY.  [CHAP. 

obliterated  at  an  early  date,  but  from  the  inner  part  of 
the  cleft  a  diverticulum  is  given  off  towards  the  ex- 
terior, which  becomes  the  tympanic  cavity.  The  inner 
part  of  the  cleft  itself  forms  the  Eustachian  tube,  while 
its  mouth  forms  the  oral  aperture  of  this  tube. 

The  meatus  auditorius  externus  first  appears  as  a 
shallow  depression  at  the  region  where  the  closure  of 
the  first  visceral  cleft  takes  place.  It  is  in  part  formed 
by  the  tissue  surrounding  this  depression  growing  up  in 
the  form  of  a  wall,  but  the  blind  end  of  the  meatus  also 
becomes  actually  pushed  in  towards  the  tympanic 
cavity. 

The  tympanic  membrane  is  derived  from  the  tissue 
which  separates  the  meatus  auditorius  externus  from 
the  tympanic  cavity.  This  tissue  is  obviously  consti- 
tuted of  an  hypoblastic  epithelium  on  its  inner  aspect, 
an  epiblastic  epithelium  on  its  outer  aspect,  and  a  layer 
of  mesoblast  between  them,  and  these  three  layers  give 
rise  to  the  three  layers  of  which  this  membrane  is 
formed  in  the  adult.  During  the  greater  part  of  foetal 
life  it  is  relatively  very  thick,  and  presents  a  structure 
bearing  but  little  resemblance  to  that  in  the  adult. 

The  tympanic  cavity  is  bounded  on  its  inner  aspect 
by  the  osseous  investment  of  the  internal  ear,  but  at 
two  points,  known  as  the  fenestra  ovalis  and  fenestra 
rotunda,  the  bone  is  deficient  and  its  place  is  taken  by 
a  membrane. 

These  two  fenestrse  appear  early,  and  are  probably 
formed  by  the  nonchrondrification  of  a  small  area  of 
the  embryonic  cartilage.  The  upper  of  the  two,  or 
fenestra  ovalis,  contains  the  base  of  a  bone,  known  as 
the  columella.      The   main   part   of  the   columella  is 


VI.]  THE  AOKTIC   ARCHES.  167 

formed  of  a  stalk  wliicli  is  held  by  Parker  to  be  derived 
from  part  of  the  skeleton  of  the  visceral  arches,  while 
the  base,  forming  the  stapes,  appears  to  be  an  inde- 
pendent formation. 

The  stalk  of  the  columella  extends  to  the  tympanic 
membrane;  its  outer  end  becoming  imbedded  in  this 
membrane,  and  serving  to  transmit  the  vibrations  of 
the  membrane  to  the  fluid  in  the  internal  ear. 

Vascular  system.  By  the  end  of  the  second  day 
three  pairs  of  aortic  arches  had  been  established  in 
connection  with  the  heart.  When  the  visceral  folds 
and  clefts  are  formed,  a  definite  arrangement  between 
them  and  the  aortic  arches  is  always  observed.  The 
first  visceral  cleft  runs  between  the  first  and  second 
aortic  arches.  Consequently  the  first  aortic  arch  runs 
in  the  first  visceral  fold,  and  the  second  in  the  second. 
In  the  same  way,  the  second  visceral  cleft  lies  between 
the  second  and  third  aortic  arches,  the  third  aortic  arch 
running  in  the  third  visceral  fold.  Each  aortic  arch  runs 
in  the  thickened  mesoblast  of  the  corresponding  fold. 

Arrived  at  the  dorsal  surface  of  the  alimentary  canal, 
these  arches  unite  at  acute  angles  to  form  a  common 
trunk,  the  dorsal  aorta  (Fig.  57,  A.  0),  which  runs  along 
the  back  immediately  under  the  notochord.  The  length 
of  this  common  single  trunk  is  not  great,  as  it  soon 
divides  into  two  main  branches,  each  of  which,  after 
giving  off  the  large  vitelline  artery,  Of. A.,  pursues  its 
course  with  diminished  calibre  to  the  tail,  where  it  is 
finally  lost  in  the  capillaries  of  that  part. 

The  heart  is  now  completely  doubled  up  on  itself" 
Its  mode  of  curvature  is  apparently  somewhat  compli- 
cated.    Starting  from  the  point  of  junction  of  the  vitel- 


168 


THE  THIRD  DAY. 

Fig  57. 
I.CA  KCA. 


[chap. 


Diagram  of  the  Arterial  Circulation  on  the 
Third  Day. 

1,  2,  3.  The  first  three  pairs  of  aortic  arches.  A.  The  vessel 
formed  by  the  junction  of  the  three  pairs  of  arches.  A.O. 
Dorsal  aorta  formed,  by  the  junction  of  the  two  branches  A 
and  A  ;  it  quickly  divides  again  into  two  branches  which 
pass  down  one  on  each  side  of  the  notochord.  From  each  of 
these  is  given  off  a  large  branch  Of.  A.,  the  vitelline  artery. 
KG  A,  I.CA,  external  and  internal  carotid  arteries. 

line  veins  (Fig.  37,  Ht),  there  is  first  a  slight  curvature 
towards  the  left ;  this  is  followed  by  a  turn  to  the  right, 
and  then  the  heart  is  completely  bent  on  itself,  so  that 
afterwards  it  pursues  a  course  directed  from  behind 
quite  straight  forwards  (except  perhaps  for  a  little  incli- 
nation to  the  left)  to  the  point  where  the  aortic  arches 
branch  off.  In  this  way,  as  shewn  in  section  in  Fig.  59,  A, 
the  end  of  the  bulbus  arteriosus  (y)  comes  to  lie  just 
underneath  (or  in  front  of  according  to  the  position  of 


YI.]  THE   HEART.  169 

the  embryo)  that  part  which  has  already  been  marked 
off  by  the  lateral  bulgings  as  the  auricular  portion  (au). 

That  part  of  the  heart  which  is  turned  to  the  right, 
including  the  point  of  doubling  up,  is  the  ventricular 
portion,  and  is  even  at  this  stage  separated  from  the 
auricular  portion  by  a  slight  neck.  This  external  con- 
striction corresponds  to  an  internal  narrowing  of  the 
lumen  of  the  heart,  and  marks  the  position  of  the  future 
canalis  auricular  is. 

The  ventricular  portion  is,  on  the  other  hand,  like- 
wise separated  by  a  fainter  constriction  from  the  ante- 
rior continuation  of  the  heart  which  forms  the  bulbus 
arteriosus.  The  projecting  part  where  the  doubling 
takes  place  is  at  this  stage  still  quite  round ;  we  shall 
see  that  later  on  it  becomes  pointed  and  forms  the  apex 
of  the  heart. 

The  whole  venous  portion  of  the  heart  (if  we  may  so 
speak  of  it,  though  of  course  at  this  stage  blood  of  the 
same  quality  passes  right  along  the  whole  cardiac  canal) 
lies  in  a  plane  which  is  more  dorsal  than  the  arterial  por- 
tion. The  point  at  which  the  venous  roots  of  the  heart, 
i.e.  the  two  vitelline  trunks,  unite  into  a  single  canal,  is 
on  this  day  carried  farther  and  farther  away  from  the 
heart  itself  By  the  end  of  the  day  there  is  a  consider- 
able distance  between  the  auricular  portion  of  the  actual 
heart  and  the  point  where  the  venous  roots  separate, 
each  to  pursue  its  course  along  the  splanchnopleure-fold 
of  its  own  side.  This  distance  is  traversed  by  a  single 
venous  trunk,  of  which  the  portion  close  to  the  auricles 
is  called  the  sinus  venosus,  and  the  more  distant  the 
ductus  venosus.  We  shall  give  to  the  whole  trunk  the 
name  used  by  the  older  observers,  the  meatus  venosus. 


170  THE   THIRD   DAY.  [CHAP- 

Small  arteries  to  various  parts  of  the  body  are  now 
being  given  off  by  tbe  aorta  and  its  branches.  The 
capillaries  in  which  these  end  are  gathered  into  veins 
which  unite  to  form  two  main  trunks  on  either  side,  the 
cardinal  veins,  anterior  and  posterior  (Fig.  36,  Fig.  58 

Fig.  58. 


Diagram  of  the  Venous  Circulation  on  the 
Third  Day. 
B.  Heart.     J.  Jugular  or  anterior  cardinal  vein.      G.  Inferior 
or  posterior  cardinal  vein.     Of.  Vitelline  vein.     cfc.  Ductus 
Cuvieri. 

J  and  (7),  which  run  parallel  to  the  long  axis  of  the  body 
in  the  upper  part  of  the  mesoblast,  a  little  external  to 
the  mesoblastic  somites.  These  veins,  which  do  not 
attain  to  any  great  importance  till  well  on  in  the  third 
day,  unite  opposite  to  the  heart,  on  each  side,  into  a 
short  common  trunk  at  right  angles  to  themselves. 
The  two  short  trunks  thus  formed,  which  bear  the 
name  of  ductus  Cuvieri  (Fig.  86,  Fig.  58,  dc),  running 
ventralwards  and  then  transversely  straight  inwards 
towards  the  middle  line  fall  into  the  sinus  venosus. 

The  two  ductus  Cuvieri  pass  from  the  heart  to  the 
body  walls  in  a  special  horizontal  mesentery,  whose  for- 
mation and  function  we  shall  return  to  in  speaking  of 
the  formation  of  the  pericardial  cavity.  The  position  of 
one  of  them  is  shewn  in  section  in  Fig.  59  B,  dc. 


VI.] 


THE  TAIL-FOLD. 

Fig.  59. 


171 


B. 


Transverse  Sections  through  a  Chick  Embryo  with 
Twenty-one  Mesoblastic  Somites  to  shew  the  For- 
mation   OF    THE    Pericardial    Cavity,   A.    being    the 

ANTERIOR   section. 

pp.  body  cavity  ;  pc.  pericardial  cavity  ;  al.  alimentary  cavity  • 
au.  auricle ;  v.  ventricle ;  sv.  sinus  venosus ;  dc.  ductus 
Cuvieri ;  ao.  aorta  ;  mp.  muscle-plate  ;  mc.  medullary  cord. 

The  alimentary  canal.  As  we  stated  above,  the 
folding  in  of  the  splanchnoplenre  to  form  the  ahmentary 
canal  is  proceeding  with  great  rapidity,  the  tail-fold  as 
well  as  the  head-fold  contributing  largely  to  this  result. 

The  formation  of  the  tail-fold  is  very  similar  to  that 
of  the  head-fold.  The  tail  is  a  solid,  somewhat  curved, 
blunt  cone  of  mesoblast,  immediately  coated  with  the 


172  THE   THIRD   DAY.  [CHAP. 

superficial  epiblast  except  at  the  npper  surface  (corre- 
sponding to  the  back  of  the  embryo),  where  lies  the 
pointed  termination  of  the  neural  tube. 

So  rapid  is  the  closure  of  the  splanchnopleure  both 
in  front  and  behind,  that  two  of  the  three  parts  into 
which  the  digestive  tract  may  be  divided,  are  brought, 
on  this  day,  to  the  condition  of  complete  tubes. 

The  first  division,  including  the  region  fi["om  the 
mouth  to  the  duodenum,  is  completely  folded  in  by  the 
end  of  the  day;  so  likewise  is  the  third  division  com- 
prising the  large  intestine  and  the  cloaca.  The  middle 
division,  corresponding  to  the  future  small  intestine, 
still  remains  quite  open  to  the  yolk-sac  below. 

The  attachment  of  the  newly  formed  alimentary 
canal  to  the  body  above  is  at  first  very  broad,  and  only 
a  thin  stratum  of  mesoblast  separates  the  hypoblast  of 
the  canal  from  the  notochord  and  mesoblastic  somites; 
even  that  maybe  absent  under  the  notochord.  During  the 
third  day,  however,  along  such  portions  of  the  canal  as 
have  become  regularly  enclosed,  i.e.  the  hinder  division 
and  the  posterior  moiety  of  the  anterior  division,  the 
mesoblastic  attachment  becomes  narrower  and  (in  a  ver- 
tical direction)  longer,  the  canal  appearing  to  be  drawn 
more  ventralwards  (or  according  to  the  position  of  the 
embryo  forwards),  away  from  the  vertebral  column. 

In  what  may  be  regarded  as  the  pleural  division  of 
the  general  pleuroperitoneal  space,  along  that  part  of 
the  alimentary  canal  which  will  form  the  oesophagus, 
this  withdrawal  is  very  slight  (Fig.  59),  but  it  is  very 
marked  in  the  peritoneal  space.  Here  such  parts  of  the 
digestive  canal  as  are  formed  come  to  be  suspended  from 
the  body  above  by  a  narrow  flattened  band  of  mesoblas- 


VI.]  THE   (ESOPHAGUS.  173 

tic  tissue  which  reaches  from  the  neighbourhood  of  the 
notochord,  and  becomes  continuous  with  the  mesoblas- 
tic  coating  which  wraps  round  the  hypoblast  of  the 
canal.  This  flattened  band  is  the  mesentery,  shewn 
commencing  in  Fig.  65,  and  much  more  advanced  in 
Fig.  68,  M.  It  is  covered  on  either  side  by  a  layer  of 
flat  cells  forming  the  epithelioid  lining  of  the  peritoneal 
membrane,  while  its  interior  is  composed  of  indifferent 
tissue. 

The  front  division  of  the  digestive  tract  consists  of 
three  parts.  The  most  anterior  part,  the  oesophagus, 
still  ending  blindly  in  front  reaches  back  as  far  as  the 
level  of  the  hind  end  of  the  heart ;  and  is  divided  into 
two  regions,  viz.  an  anterior  region,  characterized  by  the 
presence  of  the  visceral  clefts,  whose  development  has 
already  been  dealt  with,  and  a  posterior  region  without 
such  clefts. 

Its  transverse  section,  which  up  to  the  end  of  the 
second  day  was  somewhat  crescent-shaped,  with  the 
convexity  downwards,  becomes  on  this  day  more  nearly 
circular.  Close  to  its  hinder  limit,  the  lungs  (Fig.  60, 
Ig),  of  whose  formation  we  shall  speak  directly,  take 
their  origin. 

The  portion  of  the  digestive  canal  which  succeeds 
the  oesophagus,  becomes  towards  the  close  of  the  third 
day  somewhat  dilated  (Fig.  60,  8t)',  the  region  of  the 
stomach  is  thus  indicated. 

The  hinder  or  pyloric  end  of  the  stomach  is  separated 
by  a  very  small  interval  from  the  point  where  the  com- 
plete closing  in  of  the  alimentary  canal  ceases,  and  where 
the  splanchnopleure-folds  spread  out  over  the  yolk, 
This  short  tract  is  nevertheless  clearly  marked  out  as 


174 


THE  THIRD   DAY. 

Fig.  60. 


[chap. 


Diagram  of  a  portion  of  the  Digestive  Tract  of  a 

Chick  upon  the  Fourth  Day. 

(Copied  from  Gotte.) 

The  black  inner  line  represents  the  hypoblast,  the  outer  shading 
the  mesoblast.  Ig.  lung-diverticulum  with  expanded  termi- 
nation, forming  the  primary  lung-vesicle.  St.  stomach. 
I.  two  hepatic  diverticula  with  their  terminations  united  by 
cords  of  hypoblast  cells,  p.  diverticulum  of  the  pancreas 
with  the  vesicular  diverticula  coming  from  it. 

the  duodenum  by  the  fact  that  from  it,  as  we  shall 
presently  point  out,  the  rudiments  of  the  ducts  of  the 
liver  and  pancreas  are  beginning  to  be  formed. 

The  posterior  division  of  the  digestive  tract,  cor- 
responding to  the  great  intestine  and  cloaca,  is  from 
its  very  first  formation  nearly  circular  in  section  and 
of  a  larger  bore  than  the  oesophagus. 

During  part  of  the  third  day  the  hinder  end  of  this 
section  of  the  gut  is  in  communication  with  the  neural 
tube  by  the  neurenteric  canal  already  spoken  of  (Fig. 
61,  ne).     The  communication  between  the  two  tubes 


VI.]  THE  PROCTODEUM  175 

Fig.  61. 


Diagrammatic  longitudinal  section  through  the  pos- 
terior END  or  AN  Embryo  Bird,  at  the  time  of  the 
Formation  on  the  Allantois. 

ep.  epiblast;  Sp.c.  spinal  canal  ;  ch.  notochord ;  n.e.  neurenteric 
canal ;  hy.  hypoblast ;  'p.a.g.  postanal  gut ;  pr.  remains  of 
primitive  streak  folded  in  on  the  ventral  side  ;  al.  allantois  ; 
■ine.  mesoblast ;  an.  point  where  anus  will  be  formed ;  p.c. 
perivisceral  cavity;  am.  amnion;  so.  somatopleure ;  sp. 
splanchnopleure. 

does  not  last  long,  but  even  after  its  rupture  there  re- 
mains a  portion  of  the  canal  continuous  with  the  gut ; 
this,  however,  constitutes  a  purely  embryonic  and  tran- 
sient section  of  the  alimentary  canal,  and  is  known 
as  the  postanal  gut.  Immediately  in  front  of  it  is  a 
deep  infolding  of  the  epiblast,  which  nearly  meets  the 
hypoblast  (Fig.  61,  an)  and  forms  the  rudiment  of  the 
anus  and  of  the  outer  section  of  the  cloaca  into  which 
the  bursa  Fabricu  opens  in  the  adult.  It  is  known  to 
embryologists  as  the  proctodceum,  but  does  not  open 
into  the  alimentary  tract  till  considerably  later.     The 


176  THE   THIED   DAT.  [CHAP. 

section  of  the  alimentary  tract  immediately  in  front  of 
the  postanal  gut  is  somewhat  enlarged,  and  becomes  the 
inner  section  of  the  adult  cloaca  receiving  the  urinary 
and  genital  ducts.  The  allantois,  to  whose  develop- 
ment we  shall  return  directly,  opens  into  it  ventrally. 

It  is  to  be  noted  that  the  two  sections  of  the  cloaca 
of  adult  birds  have  a  different  origin.  The  inner  section 
being  part  of  the  primitive  alimentary  tract  and  lined  by 
hypoblast;  the  outer  being  part  of  an  involution  of  the 
outer  skin  and  lined  by  epiblast. 

The  lungs  are  in  their  origin  essentially  buds  or 
processes  from  the  primitive  oesophagus. 

At  a  point  immediately  behind  the  region  of  the 
visceral  clefts  the  cavity  of  the  alimentary  canal  be- 
comes compressed  laterally,  and  at  the  same  time  con- 
stricted in  the  middle  so  that  its  transverse  section  (Fig. 
62, 1)  is  somewhat  hourglass-shaped,  and  shews  an  upper 
or  dorsal  chamber  d,  joining  on  to  a  lower  or  ventral 
chamber  I  by  a  short  narrow  neck. 

The  hinder  end  of  the  lower  tube  enlarges  (Fig.  62, 
2),  and  then  becomes  partially  divided  into  two  lobes 
(Fig.  62,  3).  All  these  parts  at  first  freely  communicate, 
but  the  two  lobes  behind,  partly  by  their  own  growth, 
and  partly  by  a  process  of  constriction,  soon  become 
isolated  posteriorly  (Fig.  60,  Ig);  while  in  front  they 
open  into  the  lower  chamber  of  the  oesophagus. 

By  a  continuation  forwards  of  the  process  of  con- 
striction the  lower  chamber  of  the  oesophagus,  carrying 
with  it  the  two  lobes  above  mentioned,  becomes  gradu- 
ally transformed  into  an  independent  tube,  opening  in 
front  by  a  narrow  slit-like  aperture  into  the  oesophagus. 
The  single  tube  in  front  is  the  mdiment  of  the  trachea 


VI.] 


THE   LUNGS. 


177 


and  larynx,  while  the  two  diverticula  behind  (Fig.  60, 
Ig)  become  the  bronchial  tubes  and  lungs. 

While  the  above  changes  are  taking  place  in  the 
hypoblastic  walls  of  the  alimentary  tract,  the  splanchnic 


Fig.  62. 


Four  Diagrams  illustrating  the  Formation  of  the 
Lungs.    (After  Gotte.) 

a.   mesoblast ;   h.  hypoblast ;    d.   cavity  of  digestive  canal ;   I. 
cavity  of  the  pulmonary  diverticuliun. 

In  (1)  the  digestive  canal  has  commenced  to  be  constricted 
into  a  dorsal  and  ventral  canal ;  the  former  the  true  alimentary 
canal,  the  latter  the  pulmonary  tube  ;  the  two  tubes  communi- 
cate with  each  other  in  the  centre. 

In  (2)  the  ventral  (pulmonary)  tube  has  become  expanded. 

In  (3)  the  expanded  portion  of  the  tube  has  become  con- 
stricted into  two  tubes,  stiU  communicating  with  each  other  and 
with  the  digestive  canal. 

In  (4)  these  are  completely  separated  from  each  other  and 
from  the  digestive  canal,  and  the  mesoblast  has  also  begun  to 
exhibit  externally  changes  corresponding  to  the  internal  changes 
which  have  been  going  on. 

F.  &B.  12 


178  THE  THIED  DAY.  [CHAP. 

mesoblast  surrounding  these  structures  becomes  very 
much  thickened;  but  otherwise  bears  no  marks  of  the 
internal  changes  which  are  going  on,  so  that  the  above 
formation  of  the  lungs  and  trachea  cannot  be  seen  from 
the  surface.  As  the  paired  diverticula  of  the  lungs  grow 
backwards,  the  mesoblast  around  them  takes  however 
the  form  of  two  lobes,  into  which  they  gradually  bore 
their  way. 

The  further  development  of  the  lungs  is,  at  first, 
essentially  similar  to  that  of  a  racemose  gland.  From 
each  primitive  diverticulum  numerous  branches  are 
given  off.  These  branches,  which  are  mainly  confined 
to  the  dorsal  and  lateral  parts,  penetrate  into  the  sur- 
rounding mesoblast  and  continue  to  give  rise  to  second- 
ary and  tertiary  branches.  At  right  angles  to  the 
finest  of  these  the  arborescent  branches  so  charac- 
teristic of  the  avian  lung  are  given  off.  In  the  meso- 
blast around  them  numerous  capillaries  make  their 
appearance. 

The  air  sacs,  which  form  such  important  adjuncts 
of  the  avian  lungs,  are  the  dilated  extremities  of 
the  primary  pulmonary  diverticula  and  of  their  main 
branches. 

The  whole  pulmonary  structure  is  therefore  the 
result  of  the  growth  by  budding  of  a  system  of  branched 
hypoblastic  tubes  in  the  midst  of  a  mass  of  mesoblastic 
tissue,  the  hypoblastic  elements  giving  rise  to  the  epi- 
thelium of  the  tubes  and  the  mesoblast  providing  the 
elastic,  muscular,  cartilaginous,  connective  and  other 
tissues  of  the  tracheal  and  bronchial  walls. 

The  liver  is  the  first  formed  chylopoietic  appendage 
of  the  digestive  canal,  and  arises  between  the  55th  and 


VI.]  THE   LIVER.  179 

60tli  hour  as  a  couple  of  diverticula  one  from  either 
side  of  the  duodenum  immediately  behind  the  stomach 
(Fig.  60,  I).  These  diverticula  are  of  course  lined  by 
hypoblast.  The  right  one  is,  in  all  cases,  from  the  first 
longer,  but  of  smaller  diameter  than  the  left.  Situated 
a  little  behind  the  heart,  they  embrace  between  them 
the  two  vitelline  veins  forming  the  roots  of  the  meatus 
venosus. 

The  diverticula  soon  give  rise  to  numerous  hollow 
branches  or  processes,  which  extend  into  the  surround- 
ing mesoblast. 

Towards  the  end  of  the  third  day  there  may  further 
be  observed  in  the  greatly  thickened  mesoblastic  invest- 
ment of  either  diverticulum  a  number  of  cylindrical 
solid  cords  of  hypoblast  which  are  apparently  out- 
growths from  the  hypoblast  of  the  branches  of  the  di- 
verticula. These  cylinders  rapidly  increase  in  number, 
apparently  by  a  process  of  sprouting,  and  their  some- 
what swollen  peripheral  extremities  come  into  contact 
and  unite.  And  thus,  about  the  ninetieth  hour,  a  sort 
of  network  of  solid  thick  strings  of  hypoblastic  cells  is 
formed,  the  mesoblast  in  the  meshes  of  the  network 
becoming  at  the  same  time  largely  converted  into 
blood-vessels.  Each  diverticulum  becomes  in  this  way 
surrounded  by  a  thick  mass  composed  partly  of  solid 
cyUnders,  and  to  a  less  extent  of  hollow  processes,  con- 
tinuous with  the  cylinders  on  the  one  hand,  and  the 
main  diverticulum  on  the  other,  all  knit  together  with 
commencing  blood-vessels  and  unchanged  mesoblastic 
tissue.  Between  the  two  masses  runs  the  now  fused 
roots  of  the  meatus  venosus  with  which  the  blood- 
vessels in  each  mass  are  connected. 

12—2 


180  THE   THIRD   DAY.  [CHAP. 

Early  on  the  fourth  day  each  niass  sends  out  ventral 
to  the  meatus  venosus  a  solid  projection  of  hypoblas- 
tic  cylinders  towards  its  fellow,  that  from  the  left  side 
being  much  the  longest.  The  two  projections  unite 
and  form  a  long  solid  wedge,  which  passes  obliquely 
down  from  the  right  (or  from  the  embryo  lying  on  its 
left  side,  the  upper)  mass  to  the  left  (or  lower)  one.  In 
this  new  wedge  may  be  seen  the  same  arrangement  of  a 
network  of  h3rpoblastic  cylinders  filled  in  with  vascular 
mesoblast  as  in  the  rest  of  the  liver.  The  two  original 
diverticula  with  their  investing  masses  represent  respec- 
tively the  right  and  left  lobes  of  the  liver,  and  the  wedge- 
like bridge  connecting  them  is  the  middle  lobe. 

During  the  fourth  and  fifth  days  the  growth  of  the 
solid,  lobed  liver  thus  formed  is  very  considerable;  the 
hypoblastic  cylinders  multiply  rapidly,  and  the  network 
formed  by  them  becomes  very  close,  the  meshes  contain- 
ing little  more  than  blood-vessels.  The  hollow  processes 
of  the  diverticula  also  ramify  widely,  each  branch  being 
composed  of  a  lining  of  hypoblast  enveloped  in  a  coating 
of  spindle-shaped  mesoblastic  cells.  The  blood-vessels 
are  in  direct  connection  with  the  meatus  venosus — have 
become,  in  fact,  branches  of  it.  It  may  soon  be  observed, 
that  in  those  vessels  which  are  connected  with  the  pos- 
terior part  of  the  liver  (Fig.  74),  the  stream  of  blood  is 
directed  from  the  meatus  venosus  into  the  network  of 
the  liver.  In  those  connected  with  the  anterior  part  the 
reverse  is  the  case ;  here  the  blood  flows  from  the  liver 
into  the  meatus  venosus.  The  thick  network  of  solid 
cylinders  represents  the  hepatic  parenchyma  of  the  adult 
liver,  while  the  hollow  processes  of  the  diverticula  are 
the  rudiments  of  the  biliary  ducts;  and  we  may  suppose 


yi.]  THE   PANCREAS.  181 

each  solid  cylinder  to  represent  a  duct  with  its  lumen 
almost,  but  perhaps  not  quite,  completely  obliterated. 

During  the  fifth  day,  a  special  sac  or  pouch  is  deve- 
loped from  the  right  primary  diverticulum.  This  pouch, 
consisting  of  an  inner  coat  of  hypoblast,  and  an  outer  of 
mesoblast,  is  the  rudiment  of  the  gall-bladder. 

The  Pancreas  arises  nearly  at  the  same  time  as  the 
liver  in  the  form  of  an  almost  solid  outgrowth  from  the 
dorsal  side  of  the  intestine  nearly  opposite  but  slightly 
behind  the  hepatic  outgrowths  (Fig.  60,  p).  Its  blind 
end  becomes  somewhat  enlarged  and  from  it  numerous 
diverticula  grow  out  into  the  passive  splanchnic  meso- 
blast. 

As  the  ductules  grow  longer  and  become  branched, 
vascular  processes  grow  in  between  them,  and  the  whole 
forms  a  compact  glandular  body  in  the  mesentery  on 
the  dorsal  side  of  the  alimentary  tract.  The  primitive 
outgrowth  elongates  and  assumes  the  character  of  a  duct. 

On  the  sixth  day  a  new  similar  outgrowth  from 
the  duodenum  takes  place  between  the  primary  diver- 
ticulum and  the  stomach.  This,  which  ultimately 
coalesces  with  its  predecessor,  gives  rise  to  the  second 
duct,  and  forms  a  considerable  part  of  the  adult  pan- 
creas.    A  third  duct  is  formed  at  a  much  later  period. 

The  Thyroid  body.  The  thyroid  body  arises  at  the  end  of 
the  second  or  beginning  of  the  third  day  as  an  outgrowth  from 
the  hypoblast  of  the  ventral  wall  of  the  throat  opposite  the 
point  of  origin  of  the  anterior  aortic  arch.  It  has  at  first  the 
form  of  a  groove  extending  forwards  up  to  the  future  mouth,  and 
in  its  front  part  extending  ventrally  to  the  epiblast.  It  has  not 
been  made  out  whether  the  whole  groove  becomes  converted  into 
the  permanent  thyroid.  By  the  fourth  day  it  becomes  a 
solid  mass  of  cells,  and  by  the  fifth  ceases  to  be  connected 


182  THE  THIKD  DAY.  [CHAP. 

with  the  epithelium  of  the  throat,  becoming  at  the  same  time 
bUobed.  By  the  seventh  day  it  has  travelled  somewhat  back- 
wards, and  the  two  lobes  have  completely  separated  from  each 
other.  By  the  ninth  day  the  whole  is  invested  by  a  capsule  of 
connective  tissue,  which  sends  in  septa  dividing  it  into  a  number 
of  lobes  or  solid  masses  of  cells,  and  by  the  sixteenth  day  its  two 
lobes  are  composed  of  a  number  of  foUicles,  each  with  a  'mem- 
brana  propria,'  and  separated  from  each  other  by  septa  of  con- 
nective tissue,  much  as  in  the  adult  \ 

The  spleen.  Although  the  spleen  cannot  be  reckoned 
amongst  the  glands  of  the  alimentary  tract  its  development  may 
conveniently  be  dealt  with  here.  It  is  formed  shortly  after  the 
first  appearance  of  the  pancreas,  as  a  thickening  of  the  me- 
sentery of  the  stomach  (mesogastrium)  and  is  therefore  entirely 
a  mesoblastic  structure.  The  mass  of  mesoblast  which  forms 
the  spleen  becomes  early  separated  by  a  groove  on  the  one  side 
from  the  pancreas  and  on  the  other  from  the  mesentery.  Some 
of  its  cells  become  elongated,  and  send  out  processes  which, 
uniting  with  like  processes  from  other  cells,  form  the  trabecular 
system.  From  the  remainder  of  the  tissue  are  derived  the  cells 
of  the  spleen  pulp,  which  frequently  contain  more  than  one 
nucleus.  Especial  accumulations  of  these  take  place  at  a  later 
period  to  form  the  so-called  Malpighian  corpuscles  of  the  spleen. 

The  AUantois.  We  have  already  had  occasion  to 
point  out  that  the  allantois  is  essentially  a  diverticulum 
of  the  alimentary  tract  into  which  it  opens  immediately 
in  front  of  the  anus.  Its  walls  are  formed  of  vascular 
splanchnic  mesoblast,  within  which  is  a  lining  of  hypo- 
blast. It  becomes  a  conspicuous  object  on  the  third 
day  of  incubation,  but  its  first  development  takes  place 
at  an  earlier  period,  and  is  intimately  connected  with 
the  formation  of  the  posterior  section  of  the  gut. 

At  the  time  of  the  folding  in  of  the  hinder  end  of 

1  Miiller  Ueber  die  Entwichelung  der  Schilddriise.  Jenaische 
Zeitschrift,  1871. 


VI.]  THE   ALLANTOIS.  183 

the  gut  the  splitting  of  the  mesoblast  into  somatopleure 
and  splanchnopleure  has  extended  up  to  the  border  of 
the  hinder  division  of  the  primitive  streak.  The  ventral 
wall  of  what  we  have  already  termed  the  postanal 
section  of  the  alimentary  tract  is  formed  by  the  primi- 
tive streak.  Immediately  in  front  of  this  is  the  involu- 
tion which  forms  the  proctodseum;  while  the  wall  of 
the  hindgut  in  front  of  the  proctodseum  owes  its  origin 
to  a  folding  in  of  the  splanchnopleure. 

The  allantois  first  appears  as  a  narrow  diverticulum 
formed  by  a  special  fold  of  the  splanchnopleure  just  in 
front  of  the  proctodaeum.  This  protuberance  arises,  how- 
ever, before  the  splanchnopleure  has  begun  to  be  tucked 
in  so  as  to  form  the  ventral  wall  of  the  hindgut ;  and  it 
then  forms  a  diverticulum  (Fig.  63  A,  All)  the  open 
end  of  which  is  directed  forward,  while  its  blind  end 
points  somewhat  dorsalwards  and  towards  the  peritoneal 
space  behind  the  embryo. 

As  the  hindgut  becomes  folded  in  the  allantois  shifts 
its  position,  and  forms  (Figs.  63  B  and  61)  a  rather  wide 
vesicle  lying  immediately  ventral  to  the  hind  end  of  the 
digestive  canal,  with  which  it  communicates  freely  by  a 
still  considerable  opening;  its  blind  end  projects  into 
the  pleuroperitoneal  cavity  below. 

Still  later  the  allantois  grows  forward,  and  becomes 
a  large  spherical  vesicle,  still  however  remaining  con- 
nected with  the  cloaca  by  a  narrow  canal  which  forms 
its  neck  or  stalk  (Fig.  9  G,  al).  From  the  first  the 
allantois  lies  in  the  pleuroperitoneal  cavity.  In  this 
cavity  it  grows  forwards  till  it  reaches  the  front  limit  of 
the  hindgut,  where  the  splanchnopleure  turns  back  to 
enclose  the  yolk-sac.     It   does   not   during  the   third 


184 


THE  THIED  DAY. 
Fig.  63. 


[chap. 


A. 


B. 


Two  Longitudinal  Sections  of  the  Tail-end  of  an  Em- 
bryo   Chick   to  shew  the  Oeigin  of   the   Allantois. 

A    AT    THE    BEGINNING    OF    THE    ThIRD    DaY  ;     B    AT    THE 

MIDDLE  OF  THE  Third  Day.     (After  Dobrynin.) 

t.  the  tail ;  m.  the  mesoblast ;  a/,  the  epiblast ;  x".  the  neural 
canal ;  Dd.  the  dorsal  wall  of  the  hindgut ;  SO.  somato- 
pleure ;  Spl.  splanchnopleure ;  u.  the  mesoblast  of  the 
splanchnopleure  carrying  the  vessels  of  the  yolk-sac  ;  pp. 
pleuroperitoneal  cavity ;  Df.  the  epithelium  lining  the 
pleuroperitoneal  cavity ;  All.  the  commencing  allantois ; 
w.  projection  formed  by  anterior  and  posterior  divisions  of 
the  primitive  streak;  y.  hypoblast  which  will  form  the 
ventral  wall  of  the  hindgut ;  v.  anal  invagination  (procto- 
dseum) ;  G.  cloaca. 

day  project  beyond  this  point;  but  on  the  fourth  day 
begins  to  pass  out  beyond  the  body  of  the  chick,  along 
the  as  yet  wide  space  between  the  splanchnic  and  soma- 
tic stalks  of  the  embryo,  on  its  way  to  the  space  between 
the  external  and  internal  folds  of  the  amnion,  which  it 
will  be  remembered,  is  directly  continuous  with  the 
pleuroperitoneal  cavity  (Fig.  9  K).     In  this  space  it 


VI.]  THE  MESOBLASTIC   SOMITES.  185 

eventually  spreads  out  over  the  whole  body  of  the 
chick.  On  the  first  half  of  the  fourth  day  the  vesicle  is 
still  very  small,  and  its  growth  is  not  very  rapid.  Its 
mesoblast  wall  still  remains  very  thick.  In  the  latter 
half  of  the  day  its  growth  becomes  very  rapid,  and  it 
forms  a  very  conspicuous  object  in  a  chick  of  that  date 
(Fig.  67,  Al).  At  the  same  time  its  blood-vessels  be- 
come important.  It  receives  its  supply  of  blood  from 
two  branches  of  the  aorta  known  as  the  allantoic  arte- 
ries, and  the  blood  is  brought  back  from  it  by  two  allan- 
toic veins  which  run  along  in  the  body  walls,  and  after 
uniting  into  a  single  trunk  fall  into  the  vitelline  vein 
close  behind  the  liver. 

Mesoblast  of  the  trunk,  Coincidently  with  the 
appearance  of  these  several  rudiments  of  important 
organs  in  the  more  or  less  modified  splanchnopleure- 
folds,  the  solid  trunk  of  the  embryo  is  undergoing 
marked  changes. 

When  we  compare  a  transverse  section  taken  through 
say  the  middle  of  the  trunk  at  the  end  of  the  third  day 
(Fig.  65),  with  a  similar  one  of  the  second  day  (Fig.  34), 
or  even  the  commencement  of  the  third  day  (Fig.  64), 
we  are  struck  with  the  great  increase  of  depth  (from 
dorsal  to  ventral  surface)  in  proportion  to  breadth.  This 
is  partly  due  to  the  slope  of  the  side  walls  of  the  body 
having  become  much  steeper,  as  a  direct  result  of  the 
rapidly  progressing  folding  off  of  the  embryo  from  the 
yolk-sac.  But  it  is  also  brought  about  by  the  great 
changes  both  of  shape  and  structure  which  are  taking 
place  in  the  mesoblastic  somites,  as  well  as  by  the 
development  of  a  mass  of  tissue  between  the  notochord 
and  the  hypoblast  of  the  alimentary  canal. 


186 


THE  THIRD   DAY. 


[chap. 

It  will  be  remembered  that  the  horizontal  splitting 

of  the  mesoblast  into  somatic  and   splanchnic   layers 

extends  at  first  to  the  dorsal  summit  of  the  vertebral 

plates,  but  after  the  formation  of  the  somites  the  split 

Fig.  64. 

^F9 


ca.v. 


Transverse  Section  through  the  Trunk  of  a  Duck 
Embryo  with  about  twenty-four  Mesoblastic  So- 
mites. 
am.  amniou  ;  so.  somatopleure ;  sp.  splanchnopleure  ;  wd.  Wolf- 
fian duct ;   St.   segmental  tube  ;   ca.v.   cardinal  vein  ;    ms. 
muscle -plate  ;  sp.g.  spinal  ganglion  ;    sp.c.  spinal  cord  ;  ch. 
notochord  ;  ao.  aorta  ;  hy.  hypoblast. 

between  the  somatic  and  splanchnic  layers  becomes  to 
a  large  extent  obliterated,  though  in  the  anterior  somites 


VI.]  THE   MUSCLE-PLATES.  187 

it  appears  in  part  to  persist.  The  somites  on  the  second 
day,  as  seen  in  a  transverse  section  (Fig.  34,  P.v),  are 
somewhat  quadrilateral  in  form  but  broader  than  they 
are  deep. 

Each  at  that  time  consists  of  a  somewhat  thick 
cortex  of  radiating  rather  granular  columnar  cells, 
enclosing  a  small  kernel  of  spherical  cells.  They  are 
not,  as  may  be  seen  in  the  above  figure,  completely 
separated  from  the  ventral  (or  rather  at  this  period 
lateral)  parts  of  the  mesoblastic  plate,  and  the  dorsal 
and  outer  layer  of  the  cortex  of  the  somites  is  continuous 
with  the  somatic  layer  of  mesoblast,  the  remainder  of 
the  cortex,  with  the  central  kernel,  being  continuous 
with  the  splanchnic  layer.  Towards  the  end  of  the 
second  and  beginning  of  the  third  day  the  dorsal  and 
outer  layer  of  the  cortex,  together  probably  with  some 
of  the  central  cells  of  the  kernel,  becomes  separated 
off  as  a  special  plate.  From  this  plate,  which  is 
shewn  in  the  act  of  being  formed  in  Fig.  64,  ms,  the 
greater  part  of  the  voluntary  muscular  system  of  the 
trunk  is  developed.  When  once  formed  the  muscle- 
plates  have  in  surface  views  a  somewhat  oblong  form, 
and  consist  of  two  layers,  an  inner  and  an  outer,  which 
enclose  between  them  an  almost  obliterated  central 
cavity  (Fig.  Q^,  mp).  No  sooner  is  the  muscle-plate 
formed  than  the  middle  portion  of  the  inner  layer  be- 
comes converted  into  longitudinal  muscles.  The  central 
space  in  the  muscle-plates  is  clearly  a  remnant  of  the 
vertebral  portion  of  the  body  cavity,  which,  though  it 
wholly  or  partially  disappears  in  a  previous  stage,  re- 
appears again  on  the  formation  of  the  muscle-plate. 

It   is  especially  interesting  to  note  that  the  first 


188 


THE   THIRD   DAY. 


[chap. 


Section  through  the  Dorsal  Eegion  of  an  Embryo  Chick 

AT   THE    END    OP   THE    ThIRD    DaY. 

Am.  amnion,  m.p.  muscle-plate.  C.  V.  cardinal  vein.  Ao.  dorsal 
aorta.  The  section  passes  through  the  point  where  the 
dorsal  aorta  is  just  commencing  to  divide  into  two  branches. 
Ch.  notochord.  W.  d.  Wolffian  duct.  W.  h.  commencing 
differentiation  of  the  mesoblast  cells  to  form  the  Wolffian 
body.  ep.  epiblast.  SO.  somatopleure.  Sp.  splanchno- 
pleure.  hy.  hypoblast.  The  section  passes  through  the 
point  where  the  digestive  canal  communicates  with  the  yolk- 
sac,  and  is  consequently  still  open  below. 

This  section  should  be  compared  with  the  section  through 
the  dorsal  region  of  an  embryo  at  the  commencement  of  the  third 


VI.]  THE   INTERMEDIATE   CELL-MASS.  189 

day  (Fig.  64).  The  cMef  differences  between  them  arise  from 
the  great  increase  in  the  space  (now  filled  with  mesoblast-cells) 
between  the  notochord  and  the  hypoblast.  In  addition  to  this 
we  have  in  the  later  section  the  completely  formed  amnion,  the 
separation  of  the  muscle-plate  from  the  mesoblastic  somites,  the 
formation  of  the  Wolffian  body,  etc. 

The  mesoblast  including  the  Wolffian  body  and  the  muscle- 
plate  {m.p.)  is  represented  in  a  purely  diagrammatic  manner. 
The  amnion,  of  which  only  the  inner  limb  or  true  amnion  is 
represented  in  the  figure,  is  seen  to  be  composed  of  epiblast  and  a 
layer  of  mesoblast ;  though  in  contact  with  the  body  above  the 
top  of  the  medullary  canal,  it  does  not  in  any  way  coalesce  with 
it,  as  might  be  concluded  from  the  figure. 

formed  muscles  in  embryo  birds  have  an  arrangement 
like  that  which  is  permanent  in  fishes;  being  longi- 
tudinal in  direction,  and  divided  into  segments. 

The  remainder  of  the  somites,  after  the  formation  of 
the  muscle-plates,  is  of  very  considerable  bulk  ;  the  cells 
of  the  cortex  belonging  to  them  lose  their  distinctive 
characters,  and  their  major  part  becomes  converted,  in  a 
manner  which  will  be  more  particularly  described  in  a 
future  chapter,  into  the  bodies  of  the  permanent  ver- 
tebrae. 

We  may  merely  add  here  that  each  of  these  bodies 
sends  a  process  inwards  ventral  to  the  medullary  cord, 
and  that  the  processes  from  each  pair  of  these  bodies 
envelope  between  them  the  notochord. 

The  intermediate  cell-mass  and  the  Wolffian  body. 
In  a  transverse  section  of  a  45  hours'  embryo  a  consider- 
able mass  of  cells  may  be  seen  collected  between  the  meso- 
blastic somites  and  the  point  where  the  divergence  into 
somatopleure  and  splanchnopleure  begins  (Fig.  34,  just 
l)elow  W.d).     This  mass  of  cells,  which  we  have  already 


190  THE  THIED  DAY.  [CHAP. 

spoken  of  as  the  intermediate  cell-mass,  is  at  first  indis- 
tinguisliable  from  the  cells  lining  the  inner  end  of  the 
body  cavity ;  but  on  the  third  day,  a  special  peritoneal 
lining  of  epithelioid  cells  is  developed  which  is  more  or 
less  sharply  marked  off  from  the  adjoining  part  of  the 
intermediate  cell-mass.  This  latter  now  also  passes 
without  any  very  sharp  line  of  demarcation  into  the 
mesoblastic  somite  itself;  and  as  the  folding  in  of  the 
side  wall  progresses,  the  mass  of  cells  in  this  position 
increases  in  size  and  grows  in  between  the  notochord 
and  the  hypoblast,  but  does  not  accumulate  to  a  suffi- 
cient extent  to  separate  them  widely  until  the  end  of 
the  third  or  beginning  of  the  fourth  day. 

The  fusion  between  the  intermediate  cell-mass  and  the  inner 
portions  of  the  somites  becomes  so  complete  on  the  third  day 
that  it  is  almost  impossible  to  say  which  of  the  cells  in  the 
neighbourhood  of  the  notochord  are  derived  from  the  somites 
and  which  form  the  intermediate  cell-mass.  It  seems  almost 
certain  however  that  the  cells  which  form  the  immediate  invest- 
ment of  the  notochord  really  belong  to  the  somites. 

The  intermediate  cell-mass  is  of  special  importance 
to  the  embryologist,  in  that  the  excretory  and  generative 
systems  are  developed  from  it. 

We  have  already  described  (p.  106)  the  development 
of  the  Wolffian  duct,  and  we  have  now  to  deal  with  the 
Wolffian  body  which  is,  as  the  reader  has  no  doubt 
gathered,  the  embryonic  excretory  organ. 

The  structure  of  the  fully  developed  Wolffian  body 
is  fundamentally  similar  to  that  of  the  permanent  kid- 
neys, and  consists  essentially  of  convoluted  tubules, 
commencing  in  Malpighian  bodies  with  vascular  glome- 
rali,  and  opening  into  the  duct. 


VI.]  THE  WOLFFIAN  BODY.  191 

The  tubules  of  the  Wolffian  body  are  developed 
independently  of  the  Wolffian  duct,  and  are  derived 
from  the  intermediate  cell-mass,  shewn  in  Fig.  34, 
between  the  upper  end  of  the  body-cavity  and  the  meso- 
blastic  somite.  In  the  chick  the  mode  of  development 
of  this  mass  into  the  segmental  tubules  is  different  in 
the  regions  in  front  of  and  behind  about  the  sixteenth 
segment.  In  front  of  about  the  sixteenth  segment 
special  parts  of  the  intermediate  cell-mass  remain 
attached  to  the  peritoneal  epithelium,  on  this  layer 
becoming  differentiated ;  there  being  several  such  parts 
to  each  segment.  The  parts  of  the  intermediate  ceU- 
mass  attached  to  the  peritoneal  epithelium  become 
converted  into  S-shaped  cords  (Fig.  64  st)  which  soon 
unite  with  the  Wolffian  duct  {wd),  and  constitute  the 
primitive  Wolffian  tubules.  Into  the  commencement 
of  each  of  these  cords  the  lumen  of  the  body-cavity  is 
for  a  short  distance  prolonged,  so  that  this  part  con- 
stitutes a  rudimentary  peritoneal  funnel  leading  from 
the  body-cavity  into  the  lumen  of  the  Wolffian  tubule. 

In  the  foremost  Wolffian  tubules,  which  never  reach 
a  very  complete  development,  the  peritoneal  funnels 
widen  considerably.  The  section  of  the  tube  adjoining 
the  wide  peritoneal  funnel  becomes  partially  invaginated 
by  the  formation  of  a  vascular  ingrowth  known  as  a 
glomerulus,  and  this  glomerulus  soon  grows  to  such  an 
extent  as  to  project  through  the  peritoneal  funnel,  the 
neck  of  which  it  completely  fills,  into  the  body-cavity 
(Fig.  6Q,  gl).  There  is  thus  formed  a  series  of  glomeruli 
belonging  to  the  anterior  Wolffian  tubuli  projecting 
freely  into  the  body-cavity.  These  glomeruli  with 
their  tubuli  become  however  early  aborted. 


192 


THE  THIED  DAY. 
Fig.  66. 


[chap. 


Wd' 


"I^^St' 


Section  through   the  External   Glomerulus  of   one    of 

THE  Anterior  Segmental  Tubes  of  an  Embryo  Chick 

of  about  100  hours. 

gl.  glomerulus  ;  ge.  peritoneal  epithelium ;    Wd.  Wolffian  duct  ; 

ao.  aorta ;  rne.  mesentery. 

The  Wolffian  tubule,  and  the  connection  between  the  external 

and  internal  parts  of  the  glomerulus  are  not  shewn  in  this  figure. 

In  the  case  of  the  remaining  tubules  developed  from 
the  S-shaped  cords,  the  attachment  to  the  peritoneal 
epithelium  is  very  soon  lost.  The  cords  acquire  a 
lumen,  and  open  into  the  Wolffian  duct.  Their  blind 
extremities  constitute  the  commencements  of  Malpi- 
ghian  bodies. 

In  the  posterior  part  of  the  Wolffian  body  of  the 
chick  the  intermediate  cell-mass  becomes  very  early 
detached  from  the  peritoneal  epithelium,  and  at  a  con- 
siderably later  period  breaks  up  into  oval  vesicles,  which 
elongate  into  Wolffian  tubules.  In  addition  to  the 
primary  tubules,  whose  development  has  just  been 
described,  secondary  and  tertiary  tubules  are  formed 
on  the  dorsal  side  of  the  primary  tubules.     They  are 


VI.]  THE  WOLFFIAN  BODY.  193 

differentiated  out  of  the  mesoblast  of  the  intermediate 
cell-mass  and  open  independently  into  the  Wolffian 
duct. 

A  tubule  of  the  Wolffian  body  typically  consists  of  the  follow- 
ing parts,  (1)  a  section  carrying  the  peritoneal  opening,  and 
known  as  the  peritoneal  funnel,  (2)  a  dilated  vesicle  into  which 
this  opens,  (3)  a  coiled  tubulus  proceeding  from  (2),  and  termi- 
nating in  (4)  a  wider  portion  opening  into  the  Wolffian  duct. 

In  the  chick,  the  peritoneal  funnel  is  only  found  in  the  most 
anterior  tubules  and  soon  atrophies;  it  is  not  developed  in  the 
tubules  of  the  posterior  part  of  the  Wolffian  body.  Kegion  No. 
4  also  is  not  clearly  marked  off  from  region  No.  3.  One  part  of 
the  wall  of  the  dilated  vesicle  (2)  is  invaginated  by  a  bunch  of 
capillaries  and  gives  rise  to  the  Malpighian  body. 

In  consequence  of  the  continual  folding  in  of  the 
somatopleure  and  especially  of  the  splanchnopleure,  as 
well  as  owing  to  the  changes  taking  place  in  the  meso- 
blastic  somites,  the  Wolffian  duct  undergoes  on  the 
third  day  a  remarkable  change  of  position.  Instead  of 
lying,  as  on  the  second  day,  immediately  under  the 
epiblast  (Fig.  34,  W.d),  it  is  soon  found  to  have  appa- 
rently descended  into  the  middle  of  the  intermediate 
cell-mass  (Fig.  64,  w.d)  and  at  the  end  of  the  third  day 
occupies  a  still  lower  position  and  even  projects  some- 
what towards  the  pleuroperitoneal  cavity.  (Fig.  65, 
W.d.) 

The  chief  events  then  which  take  place  on  the  third 
day  are  as  follows : 

1.  The  turning  over  of  the  embryo  so  that  it  now 
lies  on  its  left  side. 

2.  The  cranial  flexure  round  the  anterior  extremity 
of  the  notochord. 

F.  &B.  13 


194  THE   THIED   DAY.  [CHAP.  VI. 

3.  The  completion  of  the  circulation  of  the  yolk- 
sac;  the  increased  curvature  of  the  heart,  and  the 
demarcation  of  its  several  parts ;  the  appearance  of  new 
aortic  arches,  and  of  the  cardinal  veins. 

4.  The  formation  of  four  visceral  clefts  and  five 
visceral  arches. 

5.  The  involution  to  form  the  lens,  and  the  forma- 
tion of  the  secondary  optic  vesicle. 

6.  The  closing  in  of  the  otic  vesicle. 

7.  The  formation  of  the  nasal  pits. 

8.  The  appearance  of  the  vesicles  of  the  cerebral 
hemispheres ;  the  separation  of  the  hind-brain  into  cere- 
bellum and  medulla  oblongata, 

9.  The  definite  establishment  of  the  cranial  and 
spinal  nerves  as  outgrowths  of  the  central  nervous 
system. 

10.  The  completion  of  the  fore-gut  and  of  the 
hind-gut;  the  division  of  the  former  into  oesophagus, 
stomach  and  duodenum,  of  the  latter  into  large  intestine 
and  cloaca. 

11.  The  formation  of  the  lungs  from  a  diverticulum 
of  the  alimentary  canal  immediately  in  front  of  the 
stomach. 

12.  The  formation  of  the  liver  and  pancreas :  the 
former  as  two  diverticula  from  the  duodenum,  which 
subsequently  become  united  by  nearly  solid  outgrowths  ; 
the  latter  as  a  single  diverticulum  also  from  the  duo- 
denum. 

13.  The  changes  in  the  mesoblastic  somites  and 
the  appearance  of  the  muscle-plates. 

14.  The  definite  formation  of  the  Wolffian  bodies 
and  the  change  in  position  of  the  Wolffian  duct. 


CHAPTER  VII. 

THE     CHANGES     WHICH      TAKE      PLACE      DURING      THE 
FOURTH    DAY. 

On  opening  an  egg  in  the  middle  or  towards  the  end 
of  the  fourth  day,  a  number  of  points  in  which  progress 
has  been  made  since  the  third  day  are  at  once  apparent. 
In  the  first  place,  the  general  growth  of  the  embryo  has 
been  very  rapid,  so  that  its  size  is  very  much  greater 
than  on  the  previous  day.  In  the  second  place,  the 
white  of  the  egg  has  stiU  further  diminished,  the  em- 
bryo lying  almost  in  immediate  contact  with  the  shell 
membrane. 

The  germinal  membrane  embraces  more  than  half 
the  yolk,  and  the  vascular  area  is  about  as  large  as  a 
halfpenny. 

Corresponding  to  the  increased  size  of  the  embryo, 
there  is  a  great  increase  in  the  quantity  of  blood  circu- 
lating in  the  vascular  area  as  a  whole,  though  the  sinus 
terminalis  is  already  less  distinct  than  it  was. 

The  amnion  becomes  increasingly  conspicuous.  It 
is  now  seen  as  a  distinct  covering  obscuring  to  a  certain 
extent  the  view  of  the  body  of  the  chick  beneath,  and 

13—2 


196  THE  FOURTH  DAY.  [CHAP. 

all  traces  of  the  junction  of  its  folds  are  by  this  time 
lost.  As  yet  there  is  very  little  fluid  in  the  amniotic 
sac  proper,  so  that  the  true  amnion  lies  close  upon  the 
embryo. 

The  folding  off  of  the  embryo  from  the  yolk  sac  has 
made  great  progress.  The  splanchnic  stalk,  which  on 
the  third  day  was  still  tolerably  wide,  inasmuch  as  about 
one  third  of  the  total  length  of  the  alimentary  canal 
was  as  yet  quite  open  to  the  yolk  sac  below,  now  be- 
comes so  much  constricted  by  the  progressive  closing  in 
of  the  splanchnopleure  folds,  that  the  alimentary  canal 
may  be  said  to  be  connected  with  the  yolk  sac  by  a  very 
narrow  neck  only.  This  remnant  of  the  splanchnic 
stalk  we  may  now  call  the  vitelline  duct;  though  narrow, 
it  is  as  yet  quite  open,  affording  still  free  communica- 
tion between  the  inside  of  the  yolk  sac  and  the  interior 
of  the  alimentary  canal. 

The  somatic  stalk,  though  narrowing  somewhat,  is 
much  wider  than  the  splanchnic  stalk,  so  that  a  con- 
siderable ring-shaped  space  exists  between  the  two. 

Another  very  prominent  feature  is  the  increase  in 
the  cranial  flexure.  During  the  third  day,  the  axis  of 
the  front  part  of  the  head  was  about  at  right  angles  to 
the  long  axis  of  the  body;  the  whole  embryo  being  still 
somewhat  retort-shaped.  On  this  day,  however,  the 
flexure  has  so  much  increased  that  the  angle  between 
the  long  axis  of  the  body  and  that  of  the  front  segment 
of  the  head  is  an  acute  one. 

The  tail-fold,  which  commenced  to  be  noticeable 
during  the  third  day,  has  during  this  day  increased  very 
much,  and  the  somewhat  curved  tail  (Fig.  67)  forms 
quite  a  conspicuous  feature  of  the  embryo.     The  general 


VII.] 


THE   TAIL   FOLD, 

Fig.  67. 


JKP' 


197 


M.P 


Embryo  at  the  End  of  the  Fourth  Day  seen  as 
a  transparent  object. 

The  amnion  has  been  completely  removed,  the  cut  end  of  the 
somatic  stalk  is  shewn  at  8.8.  with  the  allantois  {M^j  protruding 
from  it. 

CH.  cerebral  hemisphere.  F.B.  fore-brain  or  vesicle  of  the  third 
ventricle  (thalamencephalon)  with  the  pineal  gland  {Pn.) 
projecting  from  its  summit.  Jf. 5.  mid-brain.  (75.  cerebellum. 
IV.  y.  fourth  ventricle.  L.  lens.  ch.s.  choroid  slit.  Owing  to 
the  growth  of  the  optic  cup  the  two  layers  of  which  it  is  com- 
posed cannot  any  longer  be  seen  from  the  surface ;  the  pos- 
terior surface  of  the  choroid  layer  alone  is  visible.  Cen.  V. 
auditory  vesicle,  s.m.  superior  maxillary  process,  li^,  21^,  etc. 
first,  second,  third  and  fourth  visceral  folds.  V.  fifth  nerve 
sending  one  branch  to  the  eye,  the  ophthalmic  branch,  and 


198  THE  FOURTH   DAY,  [CHAP. 

another  to  the  first  visceral  arch.  VII,  seventh  nerve  passing 
to  the  second  visceral  arch.  G.Ph.  glossopharyngeal  nerve 
passing  towards  the  third  visceral  arch.  Pg.  pneumogastric 
nerve  passing  towards  the  fourth  visceral  arch.  iv.  investing 
mass  (basilar  plate).  No  attempt  has  been  made  in  the  figm-e 
to  indicate  the  position  of  the  dorsal  wall  of  the  throat,  which 
cannot  be  easily  made  out  in  the  living  embryo,  ch.  noto- 
chord.  The  front  end  of  this  cannot  be  seen  in  the  living 
embryo.  It  does  not  end  however  as  shewn  in  the  figure, 
but  takes  a  sudden  bend  downwards  and  then  terminates  in 
a  point.  Ht.  heart  seen  through  the  walls  of  the  chest.  M.P. 
muscle-plates.  W.  wing.  H.L.  hind  limb.  Beneath  the 
hind  limb  is  seen  the  curved  tail. 


curvature  of  the  body  has  also  gone  on  increasing,  and 
as  the  result  of  these  various  flexures,  the  embryo  has 
become  somev^hat  spirally  curled  up  on  itself  (Fig.  67). 

The  distinct  appearance  of  the  limbs  must  be 
reckoned  as  one  of  the  most  important  events  of  the 
fourth  day. 

Owing  to  the  continued  greater  increase  of  depth 
than  of  breadth,  the  body  of  the  embryo  appears  in 
section  (Fig.  68)  higher  and  relatively  narrov^er  than 
even  on  the  third  day,  and  the  muscle-plates,  instead  of 
simply  slanting  downwards,  come  to  be  nearly  vertical 
in  position.  Not  far  from  the  line  which  marks  their 
lower  ends,  the  somatopleure,  almost  immediately  after 
it  diverges  from  the  splanchnopleure,  is  raised  up  (Fig. 
68,  W.R)  into  a  low  rounded  ridge  which  runs  along 
nearly  the  whole  length  of  the  embryo  from  the  neck 
to  the  tail. 

It  is  on  this  ridge,  which  is  known  as  the  "Wolffian 
ridge,  that  the  limbs  first  appear  as  flattened  conical 
buds  projecting  outwards.     They  seem  to  be  local  de- 


VII.] 


THE   LIMBS. 
Fig.  68. 


199 


Section  through  the  Lumbar  Eegion  op  an  Embryo  at 

THE   end   of   the   FoURTH   DaY. 

•c,  neural  canal,  p.r.  posterior  root  of  spinal  nerve  with  gan- 
glion, as.  anterior  root  of  spinal  nerve.  A.Q.C.  anterior 
grey  column  of  spinal  cord.  A.  W.C.  anterior  white  column 
of  spinal  cord  just  commencing  to  be  formed,  and  not  very 
distinctly  marked  in  the  figure,  m.p.  muscle-plate,  ch. 
notochord.  W.R.  Wolffian  ridge.  A.O.  dorsal  aorta.  V.c.a. 
posterior  cardinal  vein.  W.d.  Wolffian  duct.  W.b.  Wolffian 
body,  consisting  of  tubules  and  Malpighian  corpuscles.  One 
of  the  latter  is  represented   on  each  side.      ff.e.  germinal 


200  THE  FOURTH  DAY.  [CHAP. 

epithelium,  d.  alimentary  canal.  M.  commencing  me- 
sentery. 8.0.  somatoplenre.  S.P.  splanchnoplem:'e.  F. 
blood-vessels,    pp.  pleuroperitoneal  cavity. 

velopments  of  the  ridge,  the  rest  of  which  becomes  less 
and  less  prominent  as  they  increase  in  size.  Each  bud, 
roughly  triangular  in  section,  consists  of  somewhat 
dense  mesoblast  covered  by  epiblast  which  on  the  sum- 
mit is  thickened  into  a  sort  of  cap.  The  front  limbs  or 
wings  (Fig.  67)  arise  just  behind  the  level  of  the  heart, 
and  the  hind  limbs  in  the  immediate  vicinity  of  the 
tail.  The  first  traces  of  them  can  be  seen  towards  the 
end  of  the  third,  but  they  do  not  become  conspicuous 
till  the  fourth  day,  by  the  end  of  which  the  two  pairs 
may  be  already  distinguished  by  their  different  shapes. 
The  front  limbs  are  the  narrowest  and  longest,  the  hind 
limbs  being  comparatively  short  and  broad.  Both  are 
flattened  from  above  downwards  and  become  more  so  as 
their  growth  continues. 

In  the  head,  the  vesicles  of  the  cerebral  hemispheres 
are  rapidly  increasing  in  size,  their  growth  being  enor- 
mous as  compared  with  that  of  the  thalamencephalon  or 
vesicle  of  the  third  ventricle.  The  mid-brain  is  now,  as 
compared  to  the  other  parts  of  the  brain,  larger  than  at 
any  other  epoch,  and  an  indistinct  median  furrow  on  its 
upper  surface  indicates  its  division  into  two  lateral 
halves.  The  great  increase  of  the  mesoblastic  contents 
of  the  secondary  optic  vesicle  or  involuted  retinal  cup 
causes  the  two  eyeballs  to  project  largely  from  the  sides 
of  the  head  (Fig.  69,  Op).  The  mass  of  mesoblast  which 
invests  all  the  various  parts  of  the  brain,  is  not  only 
growing  rapidly  below  and  at  the  sides,  but  is  also 
undergoing  developments  which  result  in  the  formation 


VII.] 


THE   HEAD. 

Fm.  69. 


201 


JfA 


A.  Head   of   an    Embryo    Chick    of    the    Fourth    Day 

VIEWED    FROM    BELOW    AS    AN    OPAQUE    OBJECT.       (Chromic 

acid  preparation.) 
C.H.  cerebral  hemispheres.  F.B.  vesicle  of  the  third  ventricle 
or  thalamencephalon.  Op.  eyeball,  nf.  naso-frontal  process. 
M.  cavity  of  mouth.  S.M.  superior  maxillary  process  of  F,  1, 
the  first  visceral  fold  (mandibular  arch).  F.  2,  F.  3  second 
and  third  visceral  arches.     N.  nasal  pit. 

In  order  to  gain  the  view  here  given  the  neck  was  cut  across 
between  the  third  and  fourth  visceral  folds.  In  the  section  e 
thus  made  are  seen  the  alimentary  canal  al,  the  neural  canal  n.c, 
the  notochord  eh.,  the  dorsal  aorta  AO.,  and  the  jugular  veins  V. 
Ao.  bulbus  arteriosus. 

In  the  drawing  the  nasal  groove  has  been  rather  exaggerated 
in  its  upper  part.  On  the  other  hand  the  lower  and  shallower 
part  of  the  groove  where  it  runs  between  the  superior  maxillary 
process  S.M.  and  the  broad  naso-frontal  process  has  not  been 
satisfactorily  rendered.  Hence  the  end  of  the  superior  maxillary 
process  seems  to  join  the  inner  and  not,  as  described  in  the  text, 
the  outer  margin  of  the  nasal  groove.  A  few  hours  later  the 
separation  of  the  two  would  have  been  very  visible. 

B.  The  same  seen  sideways,  to  shew  the  visceral  folds,     ot.  otic 

vesicle.     Remaining  letters  as  before. 


202  THE   FOURTH   DAY.  [CHAP. 

of  the  primitive  skull.  All  these  events,  added  to  the 
cranial  flexure  spoken  of  above,  give  to  the  anterior 
extremity  of  the  embryo  a  shape  which  it  becomes  more 
and  more  easy  to  recognize  as  that  of  a  head. 

Meanwhile  the  face  is  also  being  changed.  The  two 
nasal  pits  were  on  the  third  day  shallow  depressions  com- 
plete all  round.  As  the  pits  deepen  on  the  fourth  day 
by  the  growth  upwards  of  a  rim  round  them,  a  deficiency 
or  break  in  the  ridge  may  be  observed  on  that  side  of  it 
turned  towards  the  mouth;  which  constitutes  a  kind  of 
shallow  groove  (Fig.  69  N)  directed  obliquely  downwards 
towards  the  cavity  of  the  mouth.  The  fronto-nasal 
process  or  median  ridge  (Fig.  69,  nf),  which  on  the  third 
day  rose  up  between  the  superficial  projections  caused  by 
the  bulging  anterior  extremities  of  the  vesicles  of  the 
cerebral  hemispheres,  and  on  the  fourth  day  becomes 
increasingly  prominent,  separates  the  two  grooves  from 
each  other,  and  helps  to  form  the  inner  wall  of  each  of 
them,  while  the  depth  of  the  groove  also  becomes  in- 
creased by  the  prolongation  along  its  inner  side  of  the 
rim  surrounding  the  nasal  pit.  Abutting  on  the  outer 
side  of  each  groove  near  the  mouth  and  so  helping  to 
form  the  outer  wall  of  each,  lie  the  ends  of  the  superior 
maxillary  processes  of  the  first  visceral  arch  (Fig.  69  B, 
SM),  which  like  the  fronto-nasal  process  are  increasing 
in  size.  By  their  continued  growth,  the  groove  is  more 
and  more  deepened,  and  leading  as  it  does  from  the 
nasal  pit  to  the  cavity  of  the  mouth,  may  already  be 
recognized  as  the  rudiment  of  the  passage  of  the  pos- 
terior nares. 

During  the  latter  half  of  the  fourth  day  there  ap- 
pears at  the  bottom  of  the  deep  lozenge-shaped  cavity 


VII.]  THE   CKANIAL   NEEVES.  203 

of  the  stomodseum  or  primitive  buccal  cavity,  in  the  now 
thin  wall  dividing  it  from  the  alimentary  canal,  a  longi- 
tudinal, or  according  to  Gotte  a  vertical  slit  which,  soon 
becoming  a  wide  opening,  places  the  two  cavities  in 
complete  communication. 

The  cavity  of  the  mouth,  being,  it  will  be  remember- 
ed, formed  partly  by  depression,  partly  by  the  growth 
of  the  surrounding  folds,  is  lined  entirely  with  epiblast, 
from  which  the  epithelium  of  its  surface  and  of  its 
various  glands  is  derived.  In  this  respect,  as  Remak 
pointed  out,  it  differs  from  all  the  rest  of  the  alimentary 
canal,  whose  whole  epithelium  is  formed  out  of  hypoblast. 

By  the  side  of  the  hind-brain  the  cerebellum,  through 
the  increased  thickening  of  its  upper  walls,  is  becoming 
more  and  more  distinct  from  the  medulla  oblongata; 
while  both  in  front  and  behind  the  auditory  vesicle, 
in  which  the  rudiments  of  the  cochlea  and  recessus  ves- 
tibuli  are  already  visible,  the  cranial  ganglia  and  nerves 
are  acquiring  increased  distinctness  and  size.  They  may 
be  very  plainly  seen  when  the  head  of  the  fresh  embryo 
is  subjected  to  pressure. 

The  foremost  is  the  fifth  cranial  nerve  (Fig.  67,  V.) 
with  its  Gasserian  ganglion;  it  lies  a  little  way  behind 
the  anterior  extremity  of  the  notochord  immediately 
below  the  cerebellum.  Next  to  this  comes  the  seventh 
nerve  (Fig.  67,  VII.),  starting  just  in  front  of  the  ear- 
vesicle,  and  extending  far  downwards  towards  the  second 
visceral  arch.  The  two  nerves  which  lie  behind  the  ear- 
vesicle  are  now  obviously  separate  from  each  other;  the 
front  one  is  the  glossopharyngeal  (Fig.  67,  G.Pk),  and 
the  hinder  one  already  shews  itself  to  be  the  pneumo- 
gastric  (Fig.  67,  Pg.). 


204  THE   FOURTH   DAY.  [CHAP. 

The  mesoblastic  somites,  which  by  the  continued 
differentiation  of  the  axial  mesoblast  at  the  tail  end  of 
the  embryo  have  increased  in  number  from  thirty  to 
forty,  undergo  during  this  day  changes  of  great  import- 
ance. Since  these  changes  are  intimately  connected 
with  the  subsequent  development  of  the  vertebral 
column,  it  will  perhaps  be  more  convenient  to  describe 
briefly  here  the  whole  series  of  events  through  which 
the  somites  become  converted  into  the  permanent 
structures  to  which  they  give  rise,  though  many  of  the 
changes  do  not  take  place  till  a  much  later  date  than 
the  fourth  day. 

The  separation  of  the  muscle-plates  (p.  187)  left  the 
remainder  of  each  somite  as  a  somewhat  triangular 
mass  lying  between  the  neural  canal  and  notochord  on 
the  inside,  and  the  muscle-plate  and  intermediate  cell- 
mass  on  the  outside  (Fig.  64).  Already  on  the  third  day 
(Fig.  65)  the  upper  angle  of  this  triangle  grows  upwards, 
between  its  muscle-plate  and  the  neural  canal,  and 
meeting  its  fellow  in  the  middle  line  above,  forms  a 
roof  of  mesoblast  over  the  neural  canal,  between  it  and 
the  superficial  epiblast.  At  about  the  same  time,  the 
inner  and  lower  angle  of  the  triangle  grows  inwards  to- 
wards the  notochord,  and  passing  both  below  it  (between 
it  and  the  aorta)  and  above  it  (between  it  and  the 
neural  canal),  meets  a  similar  growth  from  its  fellow 
somite  of  the  other  side,  and  thus  completely  invests 
the  notochord  with  a  coat  of  mesoblast,  which,  as  seen  in 
Fig.  68,  is  at  first  much  thicker  on  the  under  than  on 
the  upper  side. 

Both  neural  canal  and  notochord  are  thus  furnished 
from  neck  to  tail  with  a  complete  investment  of  meso- 


VII.]  THE   PERMANENT   VERTEBRA.  205 

blast,  still  marked,  however,  by  the  transparent  lines 
indicating  the  fore  and  aft  limits  of  the  several  somites. 
This  mesoblastic  investment  is  sometimes  spoken  of  as 
the  "membranous"  vertebral  column. 

The  portions  of  the  somites  thus  forming  the  primary 
vertebrae  or  membranous  vertebral  column  are  converted 
into  the  permanent  vertebrae;  but  their  conversion  is 
complicated  by  a  remarkable  new  or  secondary  segmen- 
tation of  the  whole  vertebral  column. 

On  the  fourth  day,  the  transparent  lines  marking 
the  fore  and  aft  limits  of  the  somites  are  still  distinctly 
visible.  On  the  fifth  day,  however,  they  disappear,  so 
that  the  whole  vertebral  column  becomes  fused  into  a 
homogeneous  mass  whose  division  into  vertebrae  is  only 
indicated  by  the  series  of  ganglia.  This  fusion,  which 
does  not  extend  to  the  muscle-plates  in  which  the 
primary  lines  of  division  still  remain  visible,  is  quickly 
followed  by  a  fresh  segmentation,  the  resulting  segments 
being  the  rudiments  of  the  permanent  vertebrae.  The 
new  segmentation,  however,  does  not  follow  the  lines  of 
the  segmentation  of  the  muscle-plates,  but  is  so  effected 
that  the  centres  of  the  vertebral  bodies  are  opposite  the 
septa  between  the  muscle-plates. 

The  explanation  of  this  character  in  the  segmentation  is  not 
difficult  to  find.  The  primary  segmentation  of  the  body  is  that 
of  the  muscle-plates,  which  were  present  in  the  primitive  forms 
in  which  vertebrae  had  not  appeared.  As  soon  however  as  the 
notochordal  sheath  was  required  to  be  strong  as  well  as  flexible, 
it  necessarily  became  divided  into  a  series  of  segments. 

The  condition  under  which  the  lateral  muscles  can  best  cause 
the  flexure  of  the  vertebral  column  is  clearly  that  each  muscle- 
plate  shall  be  capable  of  acting  on  two  vertebrse  ;  and  this  con- 
dition can  only  be  fulfilled  when  the  muscle-segments  are  oppo- 


20 G  THE  FOURTH  DAY.  [CHAP. 

site  the  intervals  between  the  vertebrae.  For  this  reason,  when 
the  vertebrae  became  formed,  their  centres  were  opposite  not  the 
middle  of  the  muscle- plates  but  the  inter-muscular  septa. 

These  considerations  fully  explain  the  characters  of  the 
secondary  segmentation  of  the  vertebral  column.  On  the  other 
hand  the  primary  segmentation  of  the  vertebral  rudiments  is 
clearly  a  remnant  of  a  condition  when  no  vertebral  bodies  were 
present ;  and  has  no  greater  morphological  significance  than  the 
fact  that  the  cells  of  the  vertebrae  were  derived  from  the  seg- 
mented muscle-plates,  and  then  became  fused  into  a  continuous 
sheath  around  the  notochord  and  nervous  axis  ;  till  finally  they 
became  in  still  higher  forms  differentiated  into  vertebrae  and 
their  arches. 

By  these  changes  this  remarkable  result  is  brought 
about,  that  each  permanent  vertebra  is  formed  out  of 
portions  of  tv^o  consecutive  mesoblastic  somites.  Thus, 
for  instance,  the  tenth  permanent  vertebra  is  formed 
out  of  the  hind  portion  of  the  tenth  somite,  and  the 
front  portion  of  the  eleventh  somite. 

The  new  segmentation  is  associated  with  or  rather  is 
caused  by  histological  changes.  At  the  time  when 
the  fusion  takes  place,  the  mesoblast,  which  in  the  form 
of  processes  from  the  somites  surrounds  and  invests 
the  notochord,  has  not  only  increased  in  mass  but  also 
has  become  cartilaginous,  so  that,  as  Gegenbaur  ^  points 
out,  there  is  present  for  a  short  period  on  the  fifth  day 
a  continuous  and  unsegmented  cartilaginous  investment 
of  the  notochord. 

This  cartilaginous  tube  does  not  however  long  re- 
main uniform.  At  a  series  of  points  corresponding  in 
number  to  the  original   somites  it  becomes  connected 

^  Untersuchung  zur  vergleichenden  Anatomie  der  Wirhelsdule  hei 
Amphibien  und  Reptilien,  Leipzig,  1862. 


VII.]  THE   PERMANENT   VERTEBRA.  207 

with  a  number  of  cartilaginous  arches  which  appear  in 
the  mesoblastic  investment  of  the  neural  canal.  These 
arches,  which  thus  roof  in  the  neural  canal,  are  the 
cartilaginous  precursors  of  the  osseous  vertebral  arches. 
We  further  find  that  the  portions  of  the  cartilaginous 
tube  from  which  the  arches  spring  come  to  differ  histo- 
logically from  the  portions  between  them  not  connected 
with  arches :  they  are  clearer  and  their  cells  are  less 
closely  packed.  There  is  however  at  this  period  no 
distinct  segmentation  of  the  cartilaginous  tube,  but 
merely  a  want  of  uniformity  in  its  composition. 

The  clearer  portions,  from  which  the  arches  spring, 
form  the  bodies  of  the  vertebrce,  the  segments  between 
them  the  intervertebral  regions  of  the  column. 

On  the  fifth  day  a  division  takes  place  of  each  of  the 
intervertebral  segments  into  two  parts,  which  respec- 
tively attach  themselves  to  the  contiguous  vertebral 
regions.  A  part  of  each  intervertebral  region,  immedi- 
ately adjoining  the  notochord,  does  not  however  undergo 
this  division,  and  afterwards  gives  rise  to  the  ligamen- 
tum  suspensorium. 

This  fresh  segmentation  is  not  well  marked,  if  in- 
deed it  takes  place  at  all  in  the  sacral  region. 

To  recapitulate: — the  original  somites  lying  side  by 
side  along  the  notochord,  after  giving  off  the  muscle - 
plates,  grow  around,  and  by  fusing  together  completely 
invest,  with  mesoblast,  both  neural  canal  and  notochord. 

This  investment,  of  which  by  reason  of  its  greater 
growth  the  original  bodies  of  the  somites  now  seem  to  be 
only  an  outlying  part,  becomes  cartilaginous  in  such  a 
way  that  while  the  notochord  becomes  surrounded  with 
a  thick  tube  of  cartilage  bearing  no  signs  of  segmenta- 


208  THE   FOURTH   DAY.  [CHAP. 

tion,  but  having  the  ganglia  lodged  on  its  exterior  at 
intervals,  the  neural  canal  is  covered  in  with  a  series  of 
cartilaginous  arches,  connected  to  each  other  by  ordinary 
mesoblastic  tissue  only,  but  passing  at  their  bases  di- 
rectly into  the  cartilaginous  tube  around  the  notochord. 

By  a  process  of  histological  differentiation  the  carti- 
laginous tube  is  divided  into  vertebral  and  interverte- 
bral portions,  the  vertebral  portions  corresponding  to 
the  arches  over  the  neural  canal.  Fresh  lines  of  seg- 
mentation then  appear  in  the  intervertebral  portions, 
dividing  each  of  them  into  two  parts,  of  which  one  at- 
taches itself  to  the  vertebra  in  front  and  the  other  to 
the  vertebra  behind. 

The  notochord.  Meanwhile  from  the  fourth  to  the 
sixth  day  important  changes  take  place  in  the  notochord 
itself 

On  its  first  appearance  the  notochord  was,  as  we 
have  seen,  composed  of  somewhat  radiately  arranged 
but  otherwise  perfectly  typical  mesoblast-cells. 

On  the  third  day  some  of  the  central  cells  become 
vacuolated,  while  the  peripheral  cells  are  still  normal. 
The  vacuolated  cells  exhibit  around  the  vacuole  a  peri- 
pheral layer  of  granular  protoplasm  in  which  the  nucleus 
lies  embedded,  whilst  the  vacuoles  themselves  are  filled 
with  a  perfectly  clear  and  transparent  material,  which 
in  an  unaltered  condition  is  probably  fluid.  Towards 
the  end  of  the  day  the  notochord  acquires  a  delicate 
structureless  sheath  which  is  no  doubt  a  product  of  its 
peripheral  cells. 

On  the  fourth  day  all  the  cells  become  vacuolated 
with  the  exception  of  a  single  layer  of  flattened  cells  at 
the   periphery.      The   vacuoles  go  on  enlarging  until 


VII.]  THE  NOTOCHORD.  209 

on  the  sixth  day  the  vacuoles  in  each  cell  have  so  much 
increased  at  the  expense  of  the  protoplasm  that  only  a 
very  thin  layer  of  the  latter  is  left  at  the  circumference 
of  the  cell,  at  one  part  of  which,  where  there  is  gene- 
rally more  protoplasm  than  elsewhere,  the  starved  re- 
mains of  a  nucleus  may  generally  be  detected.  Thus 
the  whole  notochord  becomes  transformed  into  a  spongy 
reticulum,  the  meshes  of  which  correspond  to  the  vacu- 
oles of  the  cells  and  the  septa  to  thq  remains  of  their 
cell-walls. 

The  notochord  is  on  the  sixth  day  at  the  maximum 
of  its  development,  the  change  which  it  henceforward 
undergoes  being  of  a  retrograde  character. 

From  the  seventh  day  onward,  it  is  at  various  points 
encroached  upon  by  its  investment.  Constrictions  are 
thus  produced  which  first  make  their  appearance  in  the 
intervertebral  portions  of  the  sacral  region.  In  the  cer- 
vical region,  according  to  Gegenbaur,  the  intervertebral 
portions  are  not  constricted  till  the  ninth  day,  though  in 
the  vertebral  portions  of  the  lower  cervical  vertebrae  con- 
strictions are  visible  as  early  as  the  seventh  day.  By 
the  ninth  and  tenth  days,  however,  all  the  interverte- 
bral portions  have  become  distinctly  constricted,  and  at 
the  same  time  in  each  vertebral  portion  there  have  also 
appeared  two  constrictions  giving  rise  to  a  central  and 
to  two  terminal  enlargements.  In  the  space  therefore 
corresponding  to  each  vertebra  and  its  appropriate  in- 
tervertebral portion,  there  are  in  all  three  constrictions 
and  three  enlargements. 

On  the  twelfth  day  the  ossification  of  the  bodies 
of  the  vertebrae  commences.  The  first  vertebra  to  ossify 
is  the  second  or  third  cervical,  and  the  ossification  gradu- 
F.  &  B.  14 


210  THE  FOURTH   DAY.  [CHAP. 

ally  extends  backwards.  It  does  not  commence  in  the 
arches  till  somewhat  later.  For  each  arch  there  are 
two  centres  of  ossification,  one  on  each  side. 

The  notochord  persists  for  the  greater  part  of  foetal 
life  and  even  into  post-foetal  life.  The  larger  vertebral 
portions  are  often  the  first  completely  to  vanish.  They 
would  seem  in  many  cases  at  any  rate  (Gegenbaur)  to 
be  converted  into  cartilage  and  so  form  an  integral  part 
of  the  permanent  vertebrae.  Rudiments  of  the  inter- 
vertebral portions  of  the  notochord  may  long  be  detected 
in  the  ligamenta  suspensoria. 

We  may  remind  the  reader  that  in  bhe  adult  bird  we  find 
between  each  of  the  vertebrae  of  a  neck  and  back  a  cartilaginous 
disc — ^the  meniscus — which  is  pierced  in  the  centre.  These  discs 
are  thick  at  the  circumference  but  thin  off  to  a  fine  edge  round 
the  central  hole.  Owing  to  the  shape  of  these  discs  there  are  left 
between  each  pair  of  vertebrae  two  cavities,  which  only  commu- 
nicate through  the  central  aperture  of  the  meniscus.  Through 
this  central  aperture  there  passes  a  band  called  the  'ligamen- 
tum  suspensorium,'  connecting  the  two  vertebrae. 

In  the  tail  the  menisci  are  replaced  by  bodies  known  as  the 
'annuli  fibrosi,'  which  precisely  resemble  the  similarly  named 
bodies  in  mammals.  They  differ  from  the  menisci  in  being 
attached  over  their  whole  surface  to  the  ends  of  the  vertebral 
bodies,  so  that  the  cavities  between  the  menisci  and  the  vertebrae 
do  not  exist.  They  are  pierced  however  by  a  body  corre- 
sponding with  the  ligamentum  suspensorium  and  known  as  the 
*  nucleus  pulposus.' 

In  the  intervertebral  regions  the  chorda,  soon  after  the  com- 
mencement of  ossification,  entirely  disappears.  The  cartilage 
around  it  however  becomes  converted  (in  the  region  of  the  neck) 
into  the  ligamentum  suspensorium,  which  unites  the  two  ver- 
tebrae between  which  it  is  placed. 

In  the  tail  the  cartilage  becomes  the  nucleus  pulposus,  which 
corresponds  exactly  to  the  'hgamentum  suspensorium'  of  the 
neck  and  back. 


VII.]  THE   MUSCLE-PLATES.  211 

Shortly  after  the  formation  of  the  ligamentimi  suspensorium 
the  remaining  cartilage  of  the  intervertebral  segments  is  con- 
verted into  the  meniscus  between  each  two  vertebrae,  and  in  the 
tail  into  the  annulus  fibrosus.    Both  are  absent  in  the  sacrum. 

Muscle-plates.  We  stall  conclude  our  account  of 
the  mesoblastic  somites  by  describing  the  changes  which 
take  place  in  the  muscle-plates. 

In  the  chick  these  are  somewhat  complicated,  and 
have  not  been  fully  worked  out. 

On  the  third  day  the  muscle-plates  end  opposite  the 
point  where  the  mesoblast  becomes  split  into  somato- 
pleure  and  splanchnopleure.  On  the  fourth  day  how- 
ever (Fig.  68  mp.)  they  extend  a  certain  distance  into 
the  side  walls  of  the  body  beyond  the  point  of  the 
division  into  somatopleure  and  splanchnopleure. 

Into  what  muscles  of  the  trunk  they  become  con- 
verted has  been  somewhat  disputed.  Some  embryolo- 
gists  have  stated  that  they  only  form  the  muscles  of 
the  back.  We  have,  however,  little  doubt  that  all  the 
episkeletal  muscles,  to  use  Professor  Huxley's  term 
{Vertebrates,  p.  46),  are  their  products;  a  view  also 
adopted  by  Professors  Huxley  and  Kolliker. 

The  development  of  the  subvertebral  system  of  muscles 
(hyposkeletal  of  Huxley)  has  not  been  worked  out,  but  on  the 
whole  there  is  reason  to  believe  that  it  is  derived  from  the 
muscle-plates.  Kolliker,  Huxley  and  other  embryologists  believe 
however  that  these  muscles  are  independent  of  the  muscle-plates 
in  their  origin. 

Whether  the  muscle  of  the  diaphragm  is  to  be  placed  in  the 
same  category  as  the  hyposkeletal  muscles  has  not  been  made  out. 

It  is  probable  that  the  cutaneous  muscles  of  the  trunk  are 
derived  from  the  cells  given  off  from  the  muscle-plates.  Kolliker 
however  believes  that  they  have  an  independent  origin. 

14—2 


212  THE   FOURTH   DAY.  [CHAP. 

The  limb-muscles,  both  extrinsic  and  intrinsic,  are  in  certain 
fishes  (Elasmobranchii),  derived  from  the  muscle-plates,  and  a 
similar  origin  has  been  observed  in  Lacertilia  and  Amphibia. 

In  the  Chick  and  other  higher  Yertebrata  on  the  other  hand 
the  entrance  of  the  muscle-plates  into  the  limbs  has  not  been 
made  out  (KoUiker).  It  seems  therefore  probable  that  by  an 
embryological  modification,  of  which  instances  are  so  frequent^ 
the  cells  which  give  rise  to  the  muscles  of  the  hmbs  in  the  higher 
Vertebrata  can  no  longer  be  traced  into  a  direct  connection  with 
the  muscle-plates. 

At  first,  as  is  clear  from  their  mode  of  origin,  the 
muscle-plates  correspond  in  number  with  the  protover- 
tebrse,  and  this  condition  is  permanent  in  the  lower 
vertebrates,  such  as  fishes,  where  we  find  that  the 
lateral  muscle  is  divided  by  septa  into  a  series  of 
segments  corresponding  in  number  with  the  vertebrae. 

Wolffian  body  or  mesonephros.  Of  all  the  events 
of  the  fourth  day,  none  perhaps  are  more  important  than 
those  by  which  the  rudiments  of  the  complex  urinary 
and  generative  systems  are  added  to  the  simple  Wolffian 
duct  and  body,  which  up  to  that  time  are  the  sole  repre- 
sentatives of  both  systems. 

We  saw  that  the  duct  arose  on  the  second  day  (pp. 
94,  106)  as  a  solid  ridge  which  subsequently  became  a 
tube,  lying  immediately  underneath  the  epiblast  above 
the  intermediate  cell-mass,  close  against  the  upper  and 
outer  angles  of  the  somites,  and  reaching  from  about 
opposite  to  the  seventh  somite  away  to  the  hinder  end 
of  the  embryo. 

At  first  the  duct  occupies  a  position  immediately 
underneath  the  superficial  epiblast,  but  very  soon  after 
its  formation  the  growth  of  the  somites  and  the  changes 
which  take  place  in  the  intermediate  cell-mass,  together 


Til.]  THE  WOLFFIAN   BODY.  218 

with  the  general  folding  in  of  the  body,  cause  it  to 
appear  to  change  its  place  and  travel  downwards  (p. 
193).  While  the  shifting  is  going  on,  the  cells  lining 
the  upper  end  of  the  pleuroperitoneal  cavity  (the  kind 
of  bay  which,  as  seen  in  sections,  is  formed  by  the  diver- 
gence of  the  somatopleure  and  splanchnopleure)  become 
columnar,  and  constitute  a  distinct  epithelium.  This 
epithelium,  which  is  clearly  shewn  in  Fig.  64,  and  is 
also  indicated  in  Fig.  65,  is  often  called  the  germinal 
epithelium,  because  some  of  its  cells  subsequently  take 
part  in  the  formation  of  the  ovary.  Soon  after  the  ap- 
pearance of  the  germinal  epithelium,  the  intermediate 
€ell-mass  increases  in  size  and  begins  to  grow  outwards 
into  the  pleuroperitoneal  cavity,  as  a  rounded  projection 
which  lies  with  its  dorsal  surface  towards  the  somato- 
pleure, and  its  ventral  surface  towards  the  splanchno- 
pleure, but  is  in  either  case  separated  from  these  layers 
by  a  narrow  chink.  The  Wolffian  duct  (Figs.  Qb,  68, 
Wd)  travels  down,  and  finally  before  the  end  of  the  third 
day  is  found  in  the  upper  part  of  this  projection,  near 
that  face  of  it  which  is  turned  towards  the  somatopleure. 

The  tubules  of  the  anterior  part  of  the  Wolffian 
body  have  by  the  end  of  the  fourth  day  almost  entirely 
disappeared;  but  the  tubules  of  that  part  of  the  Wolf- 
fian body  which  is  found  behind  the  16th  segment 
undergo  a  further  development. 

Each  increases  in  size  especially  that  portion  which 
proceeds  from  the  Malpighian  body  and  is  known  as  the 
coiled  tubulus  (region  No.  3,  see  p.  193).  This  becomes 
much  elongated  and  twisted.  As  a  consequence  of  this 
increase  in  size  the  intermediate  cell-mass  comes  to 
project  more  and  more  into  the  pleuroperitoneal  cavity. 


214  THE  FOURTH  DAY.  [CHAP. 

The  large  size  of  the  hinder  part  of  the  Wolffian  body  as 
compared  with  that  of  the  anterior  part  is  due  to  the  presence  of 
the  dorsally  placed  secondary  tubules,  whose  development  was 
mentioned  on  p.  192.  These  are  more  numerous  in  the  posterior 
than  in  the  anterior  part  of  the  Wolffian  body.  At  the  hind  end 
of  the  Wolffian  body  there  are  as  many  as  four  to  each  primary 
tubule. 

The  tubules,  which  from  their  contorted  course  are 
in  sections  (Figs.  68,  71)  seen  cut  at  various  angles, 
possess  an  epithelium  which  is  thicker  than  that  of  the 
Wolffian  duct.  From  this  difference  it  is  generally  easy 
to  distinguish  the  sections  of  the  tubules  from  those  of 
the  duct.  The  glomeruli  of  the  Malpighian  bodies  are 
in  sections  of  hardened  embryos  usually  filled  with 
blood-corpuscles. 

Towards  the  hind  end  of  the  embryo,  the  projection 
of  the  intermediate  cell-mass  spoken  of  above  becomes 
smaller  and  smaller,  and  the  Wolffian  duct  is  thus 
brought  nearer  to  the  splanchnopleure,  and  in  the 
region  of  the  hind-gut  comes  to  lie  close  to  the  walls  of 
the  alimentary  canal.  On  the  fourth  day,  the  two  ducts 
meet  and  open  into  two  horns,  into  which  the  side-walls 
of  the  recently  formed  cloaca  are  at  that  time  produced, 
one  on  either  side. 

As  we  shall  afterwards  see,  the  ducts  of  the  perma- 
nent kidneys  and  Miiller's  duct  also  fall  into  these  two 
horns  of  the  cloaca. 

The  Wolffian  bodies  thus  constituted  perform  the 
offices  of  kidneys  for  the  greater  part  of  embryonic  life. 
In  the  chick  they  disappear  before  birth;  but  in  most 
of  the  Ichthyopsida  they  remain  for  life  as  the  perma- 
nent kidneys. 

Mtillerian  duct.     After  the  establishment  of  the 


VII.]  THE   MULLERIAN   DUCT.  215 

Wolffian  body  there  is  formed  in  both  sexes  a  duct, 
which  in  the  female  becomes  the  oviduct,  but  which  in 
the  male  is  functionless  and  usually  disappears.  This 
duct,  in  spite  of  certain  peculiarities  in  its  development, 
is  without  doubt  homologous  with  the  Miillerian  duct 
of  the  lohthyopsida. 

The  first  rudiment  of  the  Miillerian  duct  appears  at 
the  end  of  the  fourth  day,  as  three  successive  open  involu- 
tions of  the  peritoneal  epithelium,  connected  together 
by  more  or  less  well-defined  ridge-like  thickenings  of 
the  epithelium.  It  takes  its  origin  from  the  layer  of 
thickened  peritoneal  epithelium  situated  near  the  dorsal 
angle  of  the  body-cavity,  close  to  the  Wolffian  duct,  and 
some  considerable  distance  behind  the  front  end  of  the 
Wolffian  duct. 

In  a  slightly  later  stage  the  ridges  connecting  the 
grooves  become  partially  constricted  off  from  the  peri- 
toneal epithelium,  and  develop  a  lumen.  The  condition 
of  the  structure  at  this  stage  is  illustrated  by  Fig.  70, 
representing  three  transverse  sections  through  two 
grooves,  and  through  the  ridge  connecting  them. 

The  Miillerian  duct  may  in  fact  now  be  described  as 
a  short  but  slightly  convoluted  duct,  opening  into  the 
body-cavity  by  three  groove-like  apertures,  and  con- 
tinued for  a  short  distance  behind  the  last  of  these. 

In  an  embryo  not  very  much  older  than  the  one  last 
described  the  two  posterior  apertures  vanish  and  the 
anterior  opening  alone  remains  as  the  permanent  open- 
ing of  the  Miillerian  duct. 

The  position  of  these  openings  in  relation  to  the 
Wolffian  body  is  shewn  in  Fig.  71,  which  probably  passes 
through  a  region  between  two  of  the  peritoneal  openings. 


216 


THE   FOURTH   DAY. 

Fig.  70. 


[chap. 


Sections  shewing  two  of  the   Peritoneal  Invaginations 

WHICH   GIVE   RISE    TO    THE    ANTERIOR    PaRT   OF    THE    MUL- 

lerian  Duct  (Pronephros). 

A  is  the  llth  section  of  the  series. 
B       „       15th        „  „ 

C       ,,       18th        ,,  „ 


gr  2  second  groove,     gr  3  third  groove. 
Wolffian  duct. 


2  second  ridge.      \vd. 


As  long  as  the  openings  persist,  the  Mlillerian  duct 
consists  merely  of  a  very  small  rudiment,  continuous 
with  the  hindermost  of  them,  and  its  solid  extremity 
appears  to  unite  with  the  walls  of  the  Wolffian  duct. 

After  the  closure  of  the  two  hinder  openings  the 
Mlillerian  duct  commences  to  grow  rapidly  backwards, 
and  for  the  first  part  of  its  subsequent  course  it 
appears  to  be  split  off  as  a  solid  rod  from  the  outer  or 
ventral  wall  of  the  Wolffian  duct  (Fig.  72).  Into  this 
rod  the  lumen,  present  in  its  front  part,  subsequently 
extends.  Its  mode  of  development  in  front  is  thus  pre- 
cisely similar  to  that  of  the  Miillerian  duct  in  Elasrno- 
branchii  and  Amphibia. 

This  mode  of  development  only  occurs  however  in 
the  anterior  part  of  the  duct.     In  the  posterior  part  of 


VII.'J 


THE   MULLERIAN  DUCT. 


217 


Fm.  71. 

y 


4fMfl^ 


% 


Section  of  the   Intermediate   Cell-mass   on   the  Fourth 
Day.     (From  Waldeyer.)     Magnified  160  times. 

m.  mesentery.  L.  somatopleure.  a',  portion  of  the  germinal 
epithelium  from  which  the  involution  to  form  the  duct  of 
Miiller  {z)  takes  place,  a.  thickened  portion  of  the  germinal 
epithelium  in  which  the  primitive  ova  G  and  o  are  lying. 
E.  modified  mesoblast  which  will  form  the  stroma  of  the 
ovary.     WK.  Wolffian  body.    y.  Wolffian  duct. 

its  course  its  growing  point  lies  in  a  bay  formed  by  the 
outer  wall  of  the  Wolffian  duct,  but  does  not  become 
definitely  attached  to  that  duct.  It  seems  however 
possible  that,  although  not  actually  split  off  from  the 


218  THE  FOURTH  DAY.  [CHAP. 

Fig.  72. 


Two  Sections  shewing  the  Junction  of  the  Terminal 
Solid  Portion  of  the  Mullerian  Duct  with  the 
Wolffian  Duct. 

In  A  the  terminal  portion  of  the  duct  is  quite  distinct ;  in  B 
it  has  united  with  the  walls  of  the  Wolffian  duct. 

md.  Miillerian  duct.      Wd.  Wolffian  duct. 

walls  of  the  Wolfi&an  duct,  it  may  grow  backwards  from 
cells  derived  from  that  duct. 

The  Mullerian  duct  finally  reaches  the  cloaca  though 
it  does  not  in  the  female  for  a  long  time  open  into  it, 
and  in  the  male  never  does  so. 

The  anterior  part  of  the  commencing  Mullerian  duct  with  its 
three  openings  into  the  body-cavity  is  probably  homologous  with 
the  head  kidney  or  pronephros  of  the  Ichthyopsida. 

Permanent  kidney  or  metanephros.  Between  the 
80th  and  100th  hour  of  incubation,  the  permanent  kid- 
neys begin  to  make  their  appearance,  and  as  is  the  case 
with  the  Wolffian  bodies,  the  first  portion  of  them  to 
appear  is  their  duct.  Near  its  posterior  extremity  the 
Wolffian  duct  becomes  expanded,  and  from  the  expand- 
ed portion  a  diverticulum  is  constricted  off  which  in  a 


VII.J  THE  PERMANENT  KIDNEY.  219 

transverse  section  lies  dorsal  to  the  original  duct,  and 
the  blind  end  of  which  points  forwards,  that  is,  towards 
the  head  of  the  chick.  This  is  the  duct  of  the  perma- 
nent kidney  or  ureter.  At  first  the  ureter  and  the 
Wolffian  duct  open  by  a  common  trunk  into  the  cloaca, 
but  this  state  of  things  lasts  for  a  short  time  only,  and 
by  the  sixth  day  the  two  ducts  have  independent  open- 
ings. 

••  The  ureter  thus  beginning  as  an  outgrowth  from 
the  Wolffian  duct  grows  forwards,  and  extends  along 
the  outer  side  of  a  mass  of  mesoblastic  tissue  which 
lies  mainly  behind,  but  somewhat  overlaps  the  dorsal 
aspect  of,  the  Wolffian  body. 

This  mass  of  mesoblastic  cells  may  be  called  the 
metanephric  blastema.  It  is  derived  from  the  interme- 
diate cell-mass  of  the  region  reaching  from  about  the 
thirty-first  to  the  thirty-fourth  somite.  It  is  at  first 
continuous  with,  and  indistinguishable  in  structure 
from,  the  portion  of  the  intermediate  cell-mass  of  the 
region  immediately  in  front  of  it,  which  breaks  up  into 
Wolffian  tubules.  The  metanephric  blastema  remains 
however  quite  passive  during  the  formation  of  the 
Wolffian  tubules  in  the  adjoining  blastema;  and  on  the 
formation  of  the  ureter  breaks  off  from  the  Wolffian 
body  in  front,  and,  growing  forwards  and  dorsalwards, 
becomes  connected  with  the  inner  side  of  the  ureter 
in  the  position  just  described. 

In  the  subsequent  development  of  the  kidney  col- 
lecting tubes  grow  out  from  the  ureter,  and  become 
continuous  with  masses  of  cells  of  the  metanephric 
blastema,  which  then  differentiate  themselves  into  the 
kidney  tubules. 


220  THE   FOURTH   DAY.  [CHAP. 

The  formation  of  the  kidneys  takes  place  before  the 
end  of  the  seventh  day,  but  they  do  not  become  of  func- 
tional importance  till  considerably  later. 

From  their  mode  of  development  it  clearly  follows 
that  the  permanent  kidneys  are  merely  parts  of  the 
same  system  as  the  Wolffian  bodies,  and  that,  their  se- 
paration from  these  is  an  occurrence  of  a  purely  second- 
ary importance. 

The  generative  ridge.  Before  describing  the  sub- 
sequent fate  of  the  Wolffian  and  MuUerian  ducts,  it  will 
be  necessary  to  give  an  account  of  the  formation  of  the 
true  sexual  glands,  the  ovaries  and  testes. 

At  the  first  appearance  of  the  projection  from  the  in- 
termediate cell-mass,  which  we  may  now  call  the  genital 
ridge,  a  columnar  character  is  not  only  visible  in  the 
layer  of  cells  covering  the  nascent  ridge  itself  along  its 
whole  length,  but  may  also  be  traced  for  some  little  dis- 
tance outwards  on  either  side  of  the  ridge  in  the  cells 
lining  the  most  median  portions  of  both  somatopleure  and 
splanchnopleure.  Passing  outwards  along  these  layers, 
the  columnar  cells  gradually  give  place  to  a  flat  tesse- 
lated  epithelium.  As  the  ridge  continues  to  increase 
and  project,  the  columnar  character  becomes  more  and 
more  restricted  to  cells  covering  the  ridge  itself,  over 
which  at  the  same  time  it  becomes  more  distinct.  On 
the  outer  side  of  the  ridge,  that  is  on  the  side  which 
looks  towards  the  somatopleure,  the  epithelium  under- 
goes, as  we  have  seen,  an  involution  to  form  the  com- 
mencement of  the  duct  of  Miiller,  and  for  some  little 
time  retains  in  the  immediate  neighbourhood  of  that 
duct  its  columnar  character  (Fig.  71,  a),  though  even- 
tually losing  it. 


VII.]  THE   SEX.UAL   EMINENCE.  221 

The  median  portion  of  the  ridge  is  occupied  by  the 
projection  of  the  Wolffian  body,  and  here  the  epithelium 
rapidly  becomes  flattened. 

On  the  inside  of  the  ridge  however,  that  is  on  the  side 
looking  towards  the  splanchnopleure,  the  epithelium  not 
only  retains  its  columnar  character,  but  grows  several 
cells  deep  (Fig.  71,  a),  while  at  the  same  time  the  meso- 
blast  (E)  underlying  it  becomes  thickened.  In  this 
way,  owing  partly  to  the  increasing  thickness  of  the 
epithelium,  and  partly  to  the  accumulation  of  mesoblast 
•beneath  it,  a  slight  eminence  is  formed,  which  when 
viewed  from  below,  after  opening  the  abdominal  cavity, 
appears  in  direct  light  as  a  fusiform  white  patch  or 
streak,  in  its  early  stages  extending  along  the  whole 
length  of  the  Wolffian  body  and  genital  ridge,  but  sub- 
sequently restricted  to  its  anterior  portion.  Its  appear- 
ance under  these  circumstances  has  been  well  described 
by  Yon  Baer. 

This  'sexual  eminence'  is  present  in  the  early  stages 
of  both  sexes.  In  both  the  epithelium  consists  of  several 
layers  of  short  cylindrical  cells,  a  few  of  which  are  con- 
spicuous on  account  of  their  size  and  their  possessing  a 
highly  refractive  oval  nucleus  of  considerable  bulk;  in 
both,  the  underlying  thickened  mesoblast  consists — as 
indeed  at  this  epoch  it  does  generally  in  all  parts  of  the 
body — of  spindle-shaped  cells. 

The  larger  conspicuous  cells  of  the  epithelium, 
which  appear  to  have  quite  a  common  origin  with  their 
fellow  cells  and  to  arise  from  them  by  direct  differen- 
tiation, and  which  are  seen  at  the  first  in  male  as 
well  as  female  embryos,  are  the  primordial  ova  or  pri- 
mitive germinal  cells  (Fig.  71,  o).     Thus  in  quite  early 


222  THE  FOURTH  DAY.  [CHAP. 

stages  it  is  impossible  to  detect  the  one  sex  from  the 
other. 

The  ovary.  In  the  female  the  primordial  ova  en- 
large and  become  more  numerous,  the  whole  epithelium 
growing  thicker  and  more  prominent,  and  the  spindle- 
shaped  cells  of  the  underlying  mesoblast  also  increase 
rapidly  and  thus  form  the  stroma  of  the  ovary.  The 
primordial  ova  after  undergoing  some  further  changes^ 
into  which  it  is  not  within  the  scope  of  this  work  to 
enter,  become  surrounded  by  a  number  of  the  ordinary 
epithelium  cells.  These  form  a  distinct  layer,  the  folli- 
cular epithelium,  round  the  ovum.  After  a  time  there 
appear  numerous  vascular  ingrowths  from  the  stroma, 
which  penetrate  through  all  parts  of  the  germinal  epi- 
thelium and  break  it  up  into  a  sponge-like  structure 
formed  of  trabeculse  of  germinal  epithelium  interpene- 
trated by  vascular  strands  of  stroma.  The  trabeculse 
of  the  germinal  epithelium  form  the  egg-tubes  of 
Pfluger. 

In  this  way  each  ovum  becomes  invested  by  a  cap- 
sule of  vascular  connective  tissue  lined  internally  by 
a  layer  of  epithelium;  the  whole  constituting  a  Graafian 
follicle. 

The  large  nucleus  of  the  primordial  ovum  becomes 
the  germinal  vesicle,  while  the  ovum  itself  remains  as 
the  true  ovum ;  this  subsequently  becomes  enlarged  by 
the  addition  of  a  quantity  of  yolk  derived  from  a  differ- 
entiation of  its  protoplasm. 

The  testis.  The  first  traces  of  the  testes  are  found 
in  the  dorsal  and  inner  side  of  the  intermediate  cell- 
mass,  and  appear  about  the  sixth  day.  From  the  first 
they  differ  from  the  rudimentary  ovaries,  by  coming  into 


VII.]  THE  TESTIS.  223 

somewhat  close  connection  with  the  Wolffian  bodies; 
but  occupy  about  the  same  limits  from  before  back- 
wards. The  mesoblast  in  the  position  we  have  men- 
tioned begins  to  become  somewhat  modified,  and  by 
the  eighth  day  the  testis  is  divided  by  septa  of  connec- 
tive tissue  into  a  number  of  groups  of  cells;  which  are 
the  commencing  tubuli  seminiferi.  By  the  sixteenth 
day  the  cells  of  the  tubuli  have  become  larger  and 
acquired  a  distinctly  epithelial  character. 

The  history  of  the  primordial  cells  in  the  male  has 
not  been  so  thoroughly  worked  out  as  in  the  female. 
The  spermatozoa  appear  to  arise  by  the  division  of 
the  primitive  ova  (present,  as  we  have  stated,  in  the 
early  stages  of  both  sexes),  which  probably  migrate 
into  the  adjacent  stroma,  accompanied  by  some  of  the 
indifferent  epithelial  cells.  Here  the  primitive  germi- 
nal cells  increase  in  number  and  give  rise  to  the  cells 
lining  the  secretory  tubules  of  the  testes. 

Outgrowths  from  the  Malpighian  bodies  of  the 
Wolffian  body  appear  to  be  developed,  which  extend 
into  the  testis  and  come  into  connection  with  the  true 
seminiferous  stroma. 

It  is  evident  from  the  above  account  that  the  male 
and  female  generative  products  are  homodynamous, 
but  the  consideration  of  the  development  of  the  pro- 
ducts in  the  two  sexes  shows  that  a  single  spermatozoon 
is  not  equivalent  to  an  ovum,  but  rather  that  the  whole 
of  the  spermatozoa  dei^ived  from  a  primordial  ovum  are 
together  equivalent  to  one  ovum. 

We  have  now  described  the  origin  of  all  the  parts 
which  form  the  urinary  and  sexual  systems,  both  of  the 
embryo  and  adult.     It  merely  remains  to  speak  briefly 


224  THE  FOURTH  DAY.  [CHAP. 

of  the  changes,  which  on  the  attainment  of  the  adult 
condition  take  place  in  the  parts  described. 

The  Wolffian  body,  according  to  Waldeyer,  may  be 
said  to  consist  of  a  sexual  and  urinary  part,  which  can, 
he  states,  be  easily  distinguished  in  the  just-hatched 
chick.  The  sexual  part  becomes  in  the  cock  the  after- 
testes  or  coni  vasculosi,  and  consists  of  tubules  which 
lose  themselves  in  the  seminiferous  tubules.  In  the 
hen  it  forms  part  of  the  epoophoron^  of  Waldeyer,  and 
is  composed  of  well-developed  tubes  without  pigment. 
The  urinary  part  forms  in  both  sexes  a  small  rudiment, 
consisting  of  blindly  ending  tubes  with  yellow  pigment ; 
it  is  most  conspicuous  in  the  hen.  This  rudiment 
has  been  called  by  Waldeyer  parepididymis  in  the  male 
and  paroophoron  in  the  female. 

The  Wolffian  duct  remains  as  the  vas  deferens  in 
the  male.  In  the  female  it  becomes  atrophied  and 
nearly  disappears. 

The  duct  of  Miiller  on  the  right  side  (that  on  the 
left  side  with  the  corresponding  ovary  generally  dis- 
appearing) remains  in  the  female  as  the  oviduct.  In 
the  male  it  is  almost  entirely  obliterated  on  both 
sides. 

Vascular  system.  We  may  return  to  the  changes 
which  are  taking  place  in  the  circulation. 

On  the  fourth  day,  the  point  at  which  the  dorsal 
aorta  divides  into  two  branches  is  carried  much  further 
back  towards  the  tail. 

A  short  way  beyond  the  point  of  bifurcation,  each 
vessel  gives  off  a  branch  to  the  newly-formed  allantois. 

1  This  is  also  called  parovarium  (His),  and  Eosenmiiller's  organ. 


VII.]  THE  ARTERIAL   ARCHES.  225 

It  is  not,  however,  till  the  second  half  of  the  fourth  day, 
when  the  allantois  grows  rapidly,  that  these  allantoic, 
or,  as  they  are  sometimes  called,  umbilical,  arteries 
acquire  any  importance,  if  indeed  they  are  present 
before. 

The  vitelline  arteries  are  before  the  end  of  the  day 
given  off  from  the  undivided  aortic  trunk  as  a  single 
but  quickly  bifurcating  vessel,  the  left  of  the  two 
branches  into  which  it  divides  being  much  larger  than 
the  right. 

During  this  day,  the  arterial  arch  running  in  the 
first  visceral  fold  becomes  obliterated,  the  obliteration 
being  accompanied  by  the  appearance  of  a  new  (fourth) 
arch  running  in  the  fourth  visceral  fold  on  either 
side. 

The  second  pair  of  arterial  arches  also  becomes 
nearly  (if  not  entirely)  obliterated;  but  a  new  pair  of 
arches  is  developed  in  the  last  (fifth)  visceral  fold, 
behind  the  last  visceral  cleft;  so  that  there  are  still 
three  pairs  of  arterial  arches,  which  however  now  run 
in  the  third,  fourth  and  fifth  visceral  folds,  the  last  of 
these  being  as  yet  small.  If  we  reckon  in  the  slight 
remains  of  the  second  pair  of  arches  we  may  consider 
that  there  are  in  all  four  pairs  of  arches.  When  the 
first  and  second  arches  are  obliterated,  it  is  only  the 
central  portion  of  each  arch  on  either  side  which  abso- 
lutely disappears.  The  ventral  portion  connected  with 
the  bulbus  arteriosus,  and  the  dorsal  portion  which 
joins  the  dorsal  aorta,  both  remain,  and  are  both  carried 
straight  forward  towards  the  head.  The  ventral  por- 
tions of  both  first  and  second  arches  unite  on  each  side 
to  form  a  branch,  the  external  carotid  (Fig.  73,  E.G. A.), 
F.  &  B.  15 


22G  THE  FOURTH  DAY.  [CHAP. 

wliich  runs  straight  up  from  the  bulbus  arteriosus  to 

the  head. 

Fig.  73. 

£.C.A 

-±.C.A. 


State  op  Arterial  Circulation  on   the   Fifth  or  Sixth 

Day. 

E.G. A.  external  carotid.     I.C.A.  internal  carotid.     D.A.  dorsal 
aorta.     Of. A.  vitelline  artery.     U.A.  allantoic  arteries. 

In  the  same  way  the  dorsal  portions  form  a  branch, 
the  internal  carotid,  which  takes  its  origin  from  the 
dorsal  or  far  end  of  the  third  arch. 

In  the  venous  system  important  changes  also  occur. 

As  the  liver  in  the  course  of  its  formation  wraps 
round  the  common  trunk  of  the  vitelline  veins,  or 
meatus  venosus,  it  may  be  said  to  divide  that  vessel 
into  two  parts :  into  a  part  nearer  the  heart  which  is 
called  the  sinus  venosus  (Fig.  74,  >S^.  V),  and  into  a  part 
surrounded  by  the  liver  which  is  called  the  ductus 
venosus.  Beyond,  i.  e.  behind  the  liver,  the  ductus  veno- 
sus is  directly  continuous  with  the  vitelline  veins,  or,  as 
we  may  now  say,  vein,  for  the  right  trunk  has  become 
so  small  as  to  appear  a  mere  branch  of  the  left  (Fig, 
74,  Of.). 


VII.]  THE   VEINS   OF   THE   LIVER.  227 


Diagram  of  the  Venous  Circulation  at  the   Commence- 
ment OF  the  Fifth  Day. 

E.  heart,  d.c.  ductus  Cuvieri.  Into  the  ductus  Cuvieri  of  each 
side  fall  J.  the  jugular  vein  or  superior  cardinal  vein, 
W.  the  vein  from  the  wing,  and  c  the  inferior  cardinal  vein. 
S.  V.  sinus  venosus.  Of.  vitelline  vein.  U.  allantoic  vein, 
which  at  this  stage  gives  off  branches  to  the  body-walls. 
V.C.I.  vena  cava  inferior.     L  liver. 

The  hepatic  circulation,  which  was  commenced  on 
the  third  day,  becomes  completely  established.  Those 
branches  which  come  off  from  the  ductus  venosus  soon 
after  its  entrance  between  the  liver  lobes  carry  blood 
into  the  substance  of  the  liver  and  are  called  vence 
advehentes,  while  those  which  join  the  ductus  venosus 
shortly  before  it  leaves  the  liver  (i.  e.  nearer  the  heart) 
carry  blood  away  from  the  hepatic  substance  into  the 
ductus  and  are  called  vence  revehentes.  As  a  result  of 
this  arrangement  there  is  a  choice  of  paths  for  the 
blood  in  passing  from  the  vitelline  vein  to  the  sinus 
venosus;  it  may  pass  through  the  capillary  net-work 
of  the   liver,   going   in   by  the  venae  advehentes  and 

15—2 


228  THE   FOURTH  DAY.  [CHAP. 

coming  back  again  by  the  ven^  revehentes,  or  it  may 
go  straight  through  the  ductus  venosus  without  passing 
at  all  into  the  substance  of  the  liver. 

As  the  alimentary  canal  by  its  continued  closing  in 
becomes  on  the  fourth  day  more  and  more  distinct  from 
the  yolk-sac,  it  gradually  acquires  veins  of  its  own,  the 
mesenteric  veins,  which  first  appear  as  small  branches 
of  the  vitelline  vein,  though  eventually,  owing  to  the 
change  in  the  relative  size  and  importance  of  the  yolk- 
sac  and  intestine,  the  latter  seems  to  be  a  branch  of 
one  of  the  former. 

Corresponding  to  the  increase  in  the  size  of  the 
head,  the  superior  cardinal  veins  (Fig,  74,  J.)  become 
larger  and  more  important  and  are  joined  by  the  wing 
veins  (Tf.).  As  before,  they  form  the  ductus  Cuvieri 
{d.c)  by  joining  with  the  inferior  cardinal  veins  (c). 

The  latter  are  now  largely  developed,  they  seem  to 
take  origin  from  the  Wolffian  bodies,  and  their  size  and 
importance  is  in  direct  proportion  to  the  prominence  of 
these  bodies.  They  might  be  called  the  veins  of  the 
Wolffian  bodies. 

As  the  kidneys  begin  to  be  formed  a  new  single 
median  vein  makes  its  appearance,  running  from  them 
forwards,  beneath  the  vertebral  column,  to  fall  into  the 
sinus  venosus  (Fig.  74,  V.C.L).  This  is  the  vena  cava 
inferior. 

As  the  lungs  are  being  formed  the  pulmonary  veins 
also  make  their  appearance  and  become  connected  with 
the  left  side  of  the  auricular  division  of  the  heart. 

The  blood  carried  to  the  allantois  by  the  allantoic 
arteries  is  brought  back  by  two  veins,  which  very  soon 
after  their  appearance  unite,  close  to  the  allantois,  into 


YII.] 


THE  HEART. 


229 


a  single  trunk,  the  allantoic  vein,  which,  running  along 
the  splanchnopleure,  falls  into  the  vitelline  vein  (Fig. 
74,  K). 

Meanwhile  the  heart  is  undergoing  considerable 
changes.  Though  the  whole  organ  still  exhibits  a 
marked  curvature  to  the  right,  the  ventricular  portion 
becomes  directed  more  distinctly  ventralwards,  forming 
a  blunted  cone  whose  apex  will  eventually  become  the 
apex  of  the  adult  heart. 

The  concave  (or  dorsal)  walls  of  the  ventricles  be- 
come much  thicker,  as  did  the  convex  or  ventral  walls 
on  the  third  day. 

Well-marked  constrictions  now  separate  the  ven- 
tricles from  the  bulbus  arteriosus  on  the  one  hand,  and 
from  the  auricles  on  the  other.  The  latter  constriction 
is  very  distinct,  and  receives  the  name  of  canalis  auri- 
cularis  (Fig.  75,  C.A)\  the  former,  sometimes  called 
the  fretum  Halleri,  is  far  less  conspicuous. 

Fig.  75. 


Heart   of  a   Chick  on   the   Fourth   Day  of   Incubation 

VIEWED   PROM  the  YeNTRAL   SURFACE. 


l.a,  left  auricular  appendage.      C.A.  canalis  auricularis. 
tricle.    h.  bulbus  arteriosus. 


230  THE   FOURTH   DAY.  [CHAP. 

The  most  important  event  is  perhaps  the  fonnation 
of  the  ventricular  septum.  This,  which  commenced  on 
the  third  day  as  a  crescentric  ridge  or  fold  springing 
from  the  convex  or  ventral  side  of  the  rounded  ven- 
tricular portion  of  the  heart,  now  grows  rapidly  across 
the  ventricular  cavity  towards  the  concave  or  dorsal 
side.  It  thus  forms  an  incomplete  longitudinal  par- 
tition, extending  from  the  canalis  auricularis  to  the 
commencement  of  the  bulbus  arteriosus,  and  dividing 
the  twisted  ventricular  tube  into  two  somewhat  curved 
canals,  one  more  to  the  left  and  above,  the  other  to  the 
right  and  below.  These  communicate  freely  with  each 
other,  above  the  free  edge  of  the  partition,  along  its 
whole  length. 

Externally  the  ventricular  portion  as  yet  shews  no 
sign  of  the  division  into  two  parts. 

The  bulbus  arteriosus  (Fig.  75,  &.)  has  increased  in 
size,  and  is  now  very  conspicuous. 

The  venous  end  of  the  heart  is  placed  still  more 
dorsal,  and  to  the  left  of  the  arterial  end ;  its  walls  are 
beginning  to  become  thicker. 

The  auricles  are  nearly  if  not  quite  as  far  forward 
as  the  ventricles,  and  the  auricular  appendages  (Fig. 
75,  I. a),  which  were  visible  even  on  the  third  day,  are 
exceedingly  prominent,  giving  a  strongly  marked  ex- 
ternal appearance  of  a  division  of  the  auricular  portion 
of  the  heart  into  two  chambers;  but  Yon  Baer  was 
unable  to  detect  at  this  date  any  internal  auricular 
septum. 

The  chief  events  then  of  the  fourth  day  are : — 
(1)     The  increase  of  the  cranial  and  body  flexure. 


VII.]  SUMMARY.  231 

(2)  The  increase  in  the  tail-fold. 

(3)  The  formation  of  the  limbs  as  local  thickenings 
of  the  Wolffian  ridge. 

(4)  The  formation  of  the  olfactory  grooves. 

(5)  The  absorption  of  the  partition  between  the 
mouth  and  the  throat. 

(6)  The  vacuolation  of  the  cells  of  the  notochord. 

(7)  The  formation  of  the  ureter. 

(8)  The  formation  of  the  duct  of  Muller. 

(9)  The  appearance  of  the  primitive  ova  in  the 
germinal  epithelium. 

(10)  The  development  of  a  fifth  pair  of  arterial 
arches,  and  the  obliteration  of  the  first,  and  partial 
obliteration  of  the  second  pair. 

(11)  The  development  of  the  'canalis  auricularis/ 
the  growth  of  the  septum  of  the  ventricles  and  of  the 
auricular  appendages. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

THE     CHANGES    WHICH     TAKE    PLACE     ON     THE    FIFTH 

DAY. 

On  opening  an  egg  about  the  middle  of  the  fifth 
day,  the  observer's  attention  is  not  arrested  by  any  new 
features ;  but  he  notices  that  the  progress  of  develop- 
ment, which  was  so  rapid  during  the  later  half  of 
the  fourth  day,  is  being  continued  with  undiminished 
vigour. 

The  allantois,  which  on  the  fourth  day  began  to 
project  from  the  pleuroperitoneal  cavity,  has  grown  very 
rapidly,  and  now  stretches  away  from  the  somatic  stalk 
far  over  the  right  side  of  the  embryo  (which  it  will  be 
remembered  is  lying  on  its  left  side)  in  the  cavity 
between  the  two  amniotic  folds  (Fig.  9,  K.).  It  is 
very  vascular,  and  already  serves  as  the  chief  organ  of 
respiration. 

The  blastoderm  has  spread  over  the  whole  of  the 
yolk-sac,  and  the  yolk  is  thus  completely  enclosed  in 
a  bag  whose  walls  however  are  excessively  delicate  and 
easily  torn.  The  vascular  area  extends  over  about  two- 
thirds  of  the  yolk. 

The  splanchnic  stalk  or  vitelline  duct  has  now 
reached  its  greatest  narrowness ;  it  has  become  a  solid 


CHAP.  VIII.]  THE   LIMBS.  233 

cord,  and  will  undergo  no  further  change  till  near  the 
time  of  hatching.  The  space  between  it  and  the  so- 
matic stalk  is  still  considerable,  though  the  latter  is 
narrower  than  it  was  on  the  fourth  day. 

The  embryo  remains  excessively  curved,  so  much 
so  indeed  that  the  head  and  the  tail  are  nearly  in 
contact. 

The  limbs  have  increased,  especially  in  length ;  in 
each  a  distinction  is  now  apparent  between  the  more 
cylindrical  stalk  and  the  flattened  terminal  expansion ; 
and  the  cartilaginous  precursors  of  the  several  bones 
have  already  become  visible. 

The  fore  and  hind  limbs  are  still  exceedingly  alike, 
and  in  both  the  stalk  is  already  beginning  to  be  bent 
about  its  middle  to  form  the  elbow  and  knee  respec- 
tively. 

The  angles  of  both  knee  and  elbow  are  in  the  first 
instance  alike  directed  outwards  and  somewhat  back- 
wards. By  the  eighth  day,  however,  the  elbow  has 
come  to  look  directly  backwards  and  the  knee  forwards. 
In  consequence  of  this  change,  the  digits  of  the  fore 
limb  point  directly  forwards,  those  of  the  hind  limb 
directly  backwards.  This  state  of  things  is  altered  by 
a  subsequent  rotation  of  the  hand  and  foot  on  the  arm 
and  leg,  so  that  by  the  tenth  day  the  toes  are  directed 
straight  forwards,  and  the  digits  of  the  wing  backwards 
and  somewhat  ventralwards,  the  elbow  and  knee  almost 
touching  each  other. 

While  these  changes  are  taking  place  the  differences 
between  wing  and  foot  become  more  and  more  distinct. 
The  cartilages  of  the  digits  appear  on  the  fifth  day  as 
streaks  in  the  broad  flat  terminal  expansions,  from  the 


284  THE  FIFTH  DAY.  [CHAP. 

even  curved  edge  of  which  they  do  not  project.  On  the 
sixth  or  seventh  day  the  three  digits  of  the  wing  (the 
median  being  the  longest)  and  the  four  (or  in  some 
fowls  five)  digits  of  the  foot  may  be  distinguished,  and 
on  the  eighth  or  ninth  day  these  begin  to  project  from 
the  edge  of  the  expanded  foot  and  wing,  the  substance 
of  which,  thin  and  more  or  less  transparent,  remains  for 
some  time  as  a  kind  of  web  between  them.  By  the 
tenth  day  the  fore  and  hind  extremities,  save  for  the 
absence  of  feathers  and  nails,  are  already  veritable 
wings  and  feet. 

Within  the  mesoblast  of  the  limbs  a  continuous 
blastema  becomes  formed,  which  constitutes  the  first 
trace  of  the  skeleton  of  the  limb.  The  corresponding 
elements  of  the  two  limbs,  viz.  the  humerus  and  femur, 
radius  and  tibia,  ulna  and  fibula,  carpal  and  tarsal 
bones,  metacarpals  and  metatarsals,  and  phalanges,  be- 
come differentiated  within  this,  by  the  conversion  of  defi- 
nite regions  into  cartilage,  which  probably  are  at  first 
united.  These  cartilaginous  elements  subsequently  ossify. 

The  pectoral  girdle.  The  scapulo-coracoid  elements  of  the 
shoulder  girdle  are  formed  as  a  pair  of  cartilaginous  plates, 
one  on  each  side  of  the  body.  The  dorsal  half  of  each  plate 
ossifies  as  the  scapula,  the  ventral  as  the  coracoid.  The  clavicles 
are  probably  membrane  bones. 

The  pelvic  girdle  is  derived  from  a  pair  of  cartilaginous 
plates,  one  on  each  side.  Each  of  them  is  developed  in  con- 
tinuity with  the  femur  of  its  side.  The  dorsal  half  of  each  plate 
ossifies  as  the  ilium ;  the  ventral  half  becomes  prolonged  into 
two  processes,  the  anterior  of  which  ossifies  as  the  pubis,  the 
posterior  at  the  ischium. 

Ribs  and  sternum.  The  ribs  appear  to  arise  as 
cartilaginous  bars  in  the  connective  tissue  of  the  body 


VIII.]  THE   CRANIUM.  235 

walls.  They  are  placed  opposite  the  intervals  between 
the  muscle-plates,  and  are  developed  independently  of 
the  vertebrae,  with  the  transverse  processes  of  which 
they  subsequently  become  closely  united  by  fibrous 
tissue. 

The  sternum  appears  to  be  formed  from  the  fusion 
of  the  ventral  extremities  of  a  certain  number  of  the 
ribs.  The  extremities  of  the  ribs  unite  with  each  other 
from  before  backwards,  and  thus  give  rise  to  two  car- 
tilaginous bands.  These  bands  become  segmented  off 
from  the  ribs  with  which  they  are  at  first  continuous, 
and  subsequently  fuse  in  the  median  ventral  line  to 
form  the  unpaired  sternum. 

The  skull.  Two  distinct  sets  of  elements  enter  into 
the  composition  of  the  avian  skull.  These  are  (1)  the 
cranium  proper,  (2)  the  skeleton  of  the  visceral  arches. 

The  cranium.  As  we  mentioned  in  the  last  chap- 
ter, the  formation  of  the  primitive  cranium  commenced 
upon  the  fourth  day.  This  primitive  cranium,  in  its 
earliest  stage,  inasmuch  as  it  is  composed  of  condensed 
but  otherwise  only  slightly  differentiated  mesoblast,  may 
be  spoken  of  as  the  membranous  cranium.  On  the  sixth 
day  true  hyaline  cartilage  makes  its  appearance  as  a 
differentiation  within  the  membranous  cranium.  The 
cartilaginous  cranium  is  composed  of  the  following  parts. 

(1)  A  pair  of  cartilaginous  plates  placed  on  each 
side  of  the  cephalic  section  of  the  notochord,  and  known 
as  the  parachordals  (Fig.  76,  iv?).  These  plates,  together 
with  the  notochord  (nc.)  enclosed  between  them,  form  a 
floor  for  the  hind-  and  mid-brain.  The  continuous  plate, 
formed  by  them  and  the  notochord,  is  known  as  the 
basilar  plate. 


236  THE   FIFTH   DAY.  [CHAP 


View  from  above  of  the  Parachordals  and  of  the  Trabe- 
cule ON  THE  Fifth  Day  of  Incubation.    (From  Parker.) 

In  order  to  shew  this  the  whole  of  the  upper  portion  of  the 
head  has  been  sHced  away.  The  cartilaginous  portions  of  the 
skull  are  marked  with  the  darh  horizontal  shading. 

c.v.  1.  cerebral  vesicles  (sliced  off),  e.  eye.  nc,  notochord. 
iv.  parachordal.  9.  foramen  for  the  exit  of  the  ninth  nerve. 
d.  cochlea,  h.s.c.  horizontal  semi-circular  canal,  q.  quad- 
rate. 5.  notch  for  the  passage  of  the  fifth  nerve.  Ig.  ex- 
panded anterior  end  of  the  parachordals,  ft.s.  pituitary 
space,  tr.  trabeculse.  The  reference  line  tr  has  accidentally 
been  made  to  end  a  little  short  of  the  cartilage. 

(2)  A  pair  of  bars  forming  the  floor  for  the  fore- 
brain,  and  known  as  tlie  traheculoe  (tr.).  These  bars  are 
continued  forward  from  the  parachordals,  with  which,  in 
the  chick,  they  are  from  the  first  continuous.     United 


VIII.]  THE   PARACHORDALS.  237 

behind  where  they  embrace  the  front  end  of  the  noto- 
chord,  they  diverge  anteriorly  for  some  little  distance  and 
then  bend  in  again  in  such  a  way  as  to  enclose  a  space 
— the  pituitary  space.  In  front  of  this  space  they  again 
unite  and  extend  forwards  into  the  nasal  region. 

(3)  The  cartilaginous  capsules  of  the  sense  organs. 
Of  these  the  auditory  and  olfactory  capsules  unite  more 
or  less  intimately  with  the  cranial  walls,  while  the  optic 
capsules,  forming  the  sclerotics,  remain  distinct. 

The  parachordals  and  notochord.  The  first  of 
these  sets  of  elements,  viz.  the  parachordals  and  noto- 
chord,  forming  together  the  basilar  plate,  is  an  unseg- 
mented  continuation  of  the  axial  tissue  of  the  vertebral 
column.  It  forms  the  floor  for  that  section  of  the  brain 
which  belongs  to  the  primitive  postoral  part  of  the 
head,  and  its  extension  is  roughly  that  of  the  basiocci- 
pital  of  the  adult  skull. 

Laterally  it  encloses  the  auditory  sacs  (Fig.  76),  the 
tissue  surrounding  these  (forming  the  so-called  '  periotic 
capsules ')  is  in  the  chick  never  separate  from  the  basi- 
lar plate.  In  front  it  becomes  narrowed,  and  at  the 
same  time  excavated  so  as  to  form  a  notch  on  each  side 
(Fig.  76,  5)  through  which  the  fifth  nerve  passes ;  and 
in  front  of  this  it  again  becomes  expanded. 

In  order  to  render  our  subsequent  account  more 
intelligible,  we  may  briefly  anticipate  the  fate  of  the 
basilar  plate.  Behind  it  grows  upwards  on  both  sides,  and 
the  two  outgrowths  meet  above  so  as  completely  to  enclose 
the  medulla  oblongata,  and  to  circumscribe  a  hole  known 
as  the  '  occipital  foramen!  And  it  is  at  this  point  only 
that  the  roof  of  the  skull  is  at  any  period  formed  of 
cartilage. 


238  THE  FIFTH   DAY.  [CHAP. 

It  will  be  convenient  to  say  a  few  words  here  with  reference 
to  the  notochord  in  the  head.  It  always  extends  along  the  floor 
of  the  mid-  and  hind-brains,  but  ends  immediately  behind  the 
infundibulum.  The  front  end  of  the  notochord  becomes  more  or 
less  ventrally  flexed  in  correspondence  with  the  cranial  flexure  ; 
its  anterior  end  being  in  some  animals  (Elasmobranchii)  almost 
bent  backwards  (Fig.  77). 

Fig.  77. 


Longitudinal  Section  through  the  Head  of  a  young 
Pristiurus  Embryo. 

cer.  commencement  of  the  cerebral  hemisphere,  pn.  pineal  gland. 
In.  infundibulum.    pt.  ingrowth  from  mouth  to  form  the 
pituitary  body.     mb.  mid-brain,     cb.  cerebellum,     ch.  noto- 
chord.    al.   alimentary  tract.     laa.  artery  of  mandibular 
arch. 
KoUiker  has  shewn  that  in  the  Rabbit,  and  a  more  or  less 
similar  phenomenon  may  also  be  observed  in  Birds,  the  anterior 
end  of  the  notochord  is  united  to  the  hypoblast  of  the  throat  in 
immediate  contiguity  with  the  opening  of  the  pituitary  body ; 
but  it  is  not  clear  whether  this  is  to  be  looked  upon  as  the 
remnant  of  a  primitive  attachment  of  the  notochord  to  the  hypo- 
blast, or  as  a  secondary  attachment. 

Within  the  basilar  plate  the  notochord  often  exhibits  two  or 
more  dilatations,  which  have  been  regarded  by  Parker  and 
KoUiker  as  indicative  of  a  segmentation  of  this  plate  ;  but  they 
hardly  appear  to  be  capable  of  this  interpretation. 


VIII.]  THE  TEABECUL^.  239 

The  trabeculse.  The  trabeculse,  so  far  as  their 
mere  anatomical  relations  are  concerned,  play  the  same 
part  in  forming  the  floor  for  the  front  cerebral  vesicle 
as  the  parachordals  for  the  mid-  and  hind-brains.  They 
differ  however  from  the  parachordals  in  one  important 
feature,  viz.  that,  except  at  their  hinder  end,  they  do 
not  embrace  between  them  the  notochord. 

The  notochord  constitutes,  as  we  have  seen,  the 
primitive  axial  skeleton  of  the  body,  and  its  absence  in 
the  greater  part  of  the  region  of  the  trabeculse  would 
probably  seem  to  indicate,  as  pointed  out  by  Gegen- 
baur,  that  these  parts,  in  spite  of  their  similarity  to 
the  parachordals,  have  not  the  same  morphological 
significance. 

While  this  distinction  between  the  parachordals  and  the 
trabeculae  must  be  admitted,  there  seems  to  be  no  reason  against 
supposing  that  the  trabeculse  may  be  plates  developed  to  support 
the  floor  of  the  fore-brain,  for  the  same  physiological  reasons 
that  the  parachordals  have  become  formed  at  the  sides  of  the 
notochord  to  support  the  floor  of  the  hind-brain.  By  some 
anatomists  the  trabeculae  have  been  held  to  be  a  pair  of  branchial 
bars ;  but  this  view  has  now  been  generally  given  up.  They 
have  also  been  regarded  as  equivalent  to  a  complete  pair  of 
neural  arches  enveloping  the  front  end  of  the  brain.  The  primi- 
tive extension  of  the  base  of  the  fore-brain  through  the  pituitary 
space  is  an  argument,  not  without  force,  which  has  been  appealed 
to  in  support  of  this  view. 

In  the  majority  of  the  lower  forms  the  trabeculse 
arise  quite  independently  of  the  parachordals,  though 
the  two  sets  of  elements  soon  unite;  while  in  Birds 
(Fig.  76)  and  Mammals  the  parachordals  and  trabeculse 
are  formed  as  a  continuous  whole.     The  junction  be- 


240  THE  FIFTH  DAY.  [CHAP. 

tween  the  trabeculse  and  parachordals  becomes  marked 
by  a  cartilaginous  ridge  known  as  the  posterior  clinoid. 
The  trabeculse  are  somewhat  lyre-shaped,  meeting  in 
front  and  behind,  and  leaving  a  large  pituitary  space 
between  their  middle  parts  (Fig.  76).  Into  this  space 
there  primitively  projects  the  whole  base  of  the  fore-brain, 
but  the  space  itself  gradually  becomes  narrowed,  till  it 
usually  contains  only  the  pituitary  body.  The  carotid 
arteries  pass  through  it  in  the  embryo ;  but  it  ceases  to 
be  perforated  in  the  adult.  The  trabeculse  soon  unite 
together,  both  in  front  and  behind,  and  form  a  complete 
plate  underneath  the  fore-brain,  ending  in  two  horns  in 
the  interior  of  the  fronto-nasal  process.  A  special  ver- 
tical growth  of  this  plate  in  the  region  of  the  orbit 
forms  the  interorhital  plate  (Fig.  78,  ps.),  on  the  upper 
surface  of  which  the  front  part  of  the  brain  rests.  The 
trabecular  floor  of  the  brain  does  not  long  remain 
simple.  Its  sides  grow  vertically  upwards,  forming  a 
lateral  wall  for  the  brain,  in  which  two  regions  may 
be  distinguished,  viz.  an  alisphenoidal  region  (Fig.  78, 
as)  behind,  growing  out  from  what  is  known  as  the 
hasisphenoidal  region  of  the  primitive  trabeculse,  and 
an  orhito sphenoidal  region  in  front  growing  out  from 
the  presphenoidal  region  of  the  trabeculse.  These 
plates  form  at  first  on  each  side  a  continuous  lateral 
wall  of  the  cranium.  At  the  front  end  of  the 
brain  they  are  continued  inwards,  and  more  or  less 
completely  separate  the  true  cranial  cavity  from  the 
nasal  region  in  front.  The  region  of  the  trabeculse  in 
front  of  the  brain  is  the  ethmoidal  region  ;  it  forms  the 
anterior  boundary  of  the  cranial  cavity.  The  basal  part 
of  this  region  forms  an  internasal  plate,  from  which  an 


VIII.] 


THE   SENSE   CAPSULES. 


241 


intemasal  septum,  continuous  behind  with  the  inter- 
orbital  septum,  grows  up  (Fig.  78);  while  the  lateral 


Fig.  78. 


d-lm 


bhr 


Side  view  of  the  cartilaginous  cranium  of  a  Fowl  on  the 
SEVENTH  DAT  OF  INCUBATION.     (After  Parker.) 

pn.  prenasal  cartilage,  aln.  alinasal  cartilage,  ale.  aliethmoid  ; 
immediatelj"  below  this  is  the  ahseptal  cartilage,  eth.  eth- 
moid, pp.  pars  plana,  ps.  presphenoid  or  inter-orbital. 
pa.  palatine,  pg.  pterygoid,  z.  optic  nerve,  as.  ahsphenoid. 
q.  quadrate,  st.  stapes,  fr.  fenestra  rotunda,  hso.  horizon- 
tal semicircular  canal,  psc.  posterior  vertical  semicircular 
canal :  both  the  anterior  and  the  posterior  semicircular 
canals  are  seen  shining  through  the  cartilage,  so.  supra- 
occipital,  eo.  exoccipital.  oc.  occipital  condyle,  nc.  noto- 
chord.  mh.  Meckel's  cartilage,  ch.  cerato-hyal.  hh.  basi- 
hyal.     cbr.  and  ebr.  cerato-branchial.     hhr.  basibranchial. 

part  is  known  as  the  lateral  ethmoid  region,  which 
is  always  perforated  for  the  passage  of  the  olfactory 
nerve. 

The  sense  capsules.    The  most  important  of  these 

is  the  auditory  capsule,  which,  as  we  have  seen,  fuses 

intimately  with  the  lateral  walls  of  the  skull.     In  front 

there  is  usually  a  cleft  separating  it  from  the  alisphe- 

F.  &B.  16 


242  THE   FIFTH   DAY.  [CHAP. 

noid  region  of  the  skull,  through  which  the  third 
division  of  the  fifth  nerve  passes  out.  This  cleft  be- 
comes narrowed  to  a  small  foramen.  The  sclerotic  is 
free,  but  profoundly  modifies  the  region  of  the  cranium 
near  which  it  is  placed.  The  nasal  investment  is  de- 
veloped in  continuity,  and  is  closely  united,  with  the 
ethmoid  region. 

The  cartilaginous  cranium,  the  development  of 
which  has  been  thus  briefly  traced,  persists  in  the 
adult  without  even  the  addition  of  membrane  bones 
in  certain  fishes,  e.g.  the  Elasmobranchii.  In  the  Sela- 
chioid  Ganoids  it  is  also  found  in  the  adult,  but  is 
covered  over  by  membrane  bones.  In  all  other  types 
it  is  invariably  present  in  the  embryo,  but  becomes  in 
the  adult  more  or  less  replaced  by  osseous  tissue. 

The  bones  in  the  adult  skull  may  be  divided 
roughly  into  two  categories  according  to  their  origin. 

(1)  Cartilage  hones,  i.e.  ossifications  in  the  primi- 
tive cartilaginous  cranium. 

(2)  Membrane  hones,  i.e.  ossifications  in  membrane 
without  any  cartilaginous  precursors. 

The  names  which  have  been  given  to  the  various 
parts  of  the  cartilaginous  cranium  in  the  above  account 
are  derived  from  the  names  given  to  the  bones  appear- 
ing in  the  respective  regions  in  the  more  developed 
skull. 

The  skeleton  of  the  visceral  arches.  The  visceral 
arches  were  all  originally  branchial  in  function.  They 
supported  the  walls  between  successive  branchial  clefts. 

The  first  arch  (mandibular)  has  in  all  living  forms 
lost  its  branchial  function,  and  its  bar  has  become  con- 
verted into  a  supporting  skeleton  for  the  jaws. 


VIII.]  THE   MANDIBULAR   ARCH.  243 

The  second  arch  (hyoid),  witli  its  contained  bar, 
though  retaining  in  some  forms  (Elasmobranchii)  its 
branchial  function,  has  in  most  acquired  additional 
functions,  and  has  undergone  in  consequence  various 
peculiar  modifications. 

The  succeeding  arches  and  their  contained  bars 
retain  their  branchial  function  in  Pisces  and  some 
Amphibia,  but  are  secondarily  modified  and  largely 
aborted  in  the  abranchiate  forms. 

The  ordinary  visceral  arches  in  the  chick  are,  as  we 
have  seen,  sufficiently  obvious,  while  as  yet  their  meso- 
blast  is  quite  undifferentiated ;  but  in  the  three  ante- 
rior of  them  rods  of  cartilage  are  subsequently  deve- 
loped and  begin  to  make  their  appearance  about  the 
fifth  day. 

The  first  arch  (mandibular),  it  will  be  remembered, 
budded  off  a  process  called  the  superior  maxillary  pro- 
cess. The  whole  arch,  therefore,  comes  to  consist  of 
two  parts,  viz.  a  superior  and  an  inferior  maxillary  pro- 
cess; it  is  in  the  latter  of  these  that  the  cartilaginous  rod 
on  each  side  is  developed.  The  membranous  tissue  in  the 
superior  maxillary  process  is  called,  from  its  subsequent 
fate,  the  j)terygo-palatme  bar,  and  is  in  the  chick  ossified 
directly  without  the  intervention  of  cartilage.  In  the 
inferior  maxillary  process  two  developments  of  cartilage 
take  place,  a  proximal  and  a  distal.  The  proximal 
cartilage  is  situated  (Figs.  76  and  79,  q.)  at  the  side 
of  the  periotic  capsule,  but  is  not  united  with  it.  It  is 
known  as  the  quadrate,  and  in  the  early  stage  is  merely 
a  small  knob  of  cartilage.  The  quadrate  cartilage  os- 
sifies as  the  quadrate  bone,  and  supplies  the  permanent 
articulation  for  the  lower  jaw.     The  distal  rod  is  called 

16—2 


244  THE  FIFTH  DAY.  [CHAP. 

Meckel's  cartilage  (Fig.  79,  mk.) ;  it  soon  becomes 
covered  by  investing  (membrane)  bones  which  form 
the  mandible;  and  its  proximal  end  ossifies  as  the 
articulare. 

Fm.  79. 


View  from  below  op  the  Paired  Appendages  of  the  Skull 
OF  A  Fowl  on  the  Fifth  Day  of  Incubation.  (From 
Parker.) 

CO.  1.  cerebral  vesicles,  e.  eye.  fn.  fronto-nasal  process,  n.  nasal 
pit.  tr.  trabeculae.  pts.  pituitary  space,  mr.  superior 
maxillary  process,  pg.  pterygoid,  pa.  palatine,  q.  quad- 
rate. mJc.  Meckel's  cartilage,  ch.  cerato-hyal.  bh.  basi- 
hyal.  cbr.  ceratobranchial.  ehr.  proximal  portion  of  the 
cartilage  in  the  third  visceral  arch.  hbr.  basibranchial. 
1.  first  visceral  cleft.  2.  second  visceral  cleft.  3.  third  vis- 
ceral arch. 

In  the  next  arch,  usually  called  the  second  visceral 
or  hyoid  arch,  there  is  a  very  small  development  of 
cartilage.     This  consists  of  a  central  azygos  piece,  the 


VIII.]  THE   COLUMELLA.  245 

'^basi-hyal'  (Fig.  79,  hh),  and  two  rods,  one  on  each 
side,  the  '  cerato-hyals '  (Fig.  79,  ch). 

In  the  third  arch,  which  corresponds  with  the  first 
branchial  arch  of  the  Ichthyopsida,  there  is  on  each 
side  a  large  distal  cartilaginous  rod  (Fig.  79,  cJr.),  the 
'  cerato-branchial,'  and  a  smaller  proximal  piece  (Fig. 
79,  ehr.) ;  between  the  two  arches  lies  an  undefined 
mass  (Fig.  79,  66r),  the  '  basibranchial.'  In  the  arches 
behind  this  one  there  is  in  the  bird  no  development  of 
•cartilage. 

The  lower  part  of  the  hyoid  arch,  including  the 
basi-hyal,  unites  with  the  remnants  of  the  arch  behind 
to  form  the  hyoid  bone  of  the  adult. 

The  fenestra  ovalis  and  fenestra  rotunda  appear 
on  the  seventh  day  as  spaces  in  the  side  walls  of  the 
periotic  cartilage.  The  former  is  filled  up  by  a  small 
piece  of  cartilage,  the  stapes  (Fig.  78,  st),  which  in  the 
adult  forms  part  of  the  columella  (see  pp.  166,  167). 

The  columella  is  believed  by  Huxley  and  Parker  to  represent 
the  independently  developed  dorsal  element  of  the  hyoid,  together 
with  the  stapes  with  which  it  has  become  united. 

For  further  details  of  the  development  of  the  skull 
we  must  refer  the  student  to  Professor  Parker's  Memoir 
upon  the  Development  of  the  Skull  of  the  Common 
Fowl  (Gallus  domesticus),  Phil.  Trans.,  1866,  Yol.  CLVL, 
pt.  1,  and  to  the  chapter  on  the  Bird's  skull  in  the 
Morphology  of  the  Skull,  by  Professor  Parker  and 
Mr  Bettany. 

We  shall  conclude  this  account  by  giving  a  table  of 
those  bones  which  are  preformed  in  cartilage,  and  of  the 
purely  splint  or  membrane  bones. 


246  THE   FIFTH   DAY.  [CHAP. 

Parts  of  the  bird's  skull  which   are   either  Reformed 
in  cartilage  or  remain  cartilaginous. 

Formed  from  the  parachordal  cartilages  and  their 
upgrowths  around  the  foramen  magnum. — Supraocci- 
pital.     Exoccipital.     Basioccipital. 

Formed  in  the  periotic  cartilage. — Epiotic.  Prootic. 
Opisthotic. 

Formed  from  the  trabeculse  and  their  upgrowths. 
— Alisphenoid.  Basisphenoid.  Orbitosphenoid.  Pre- 
sphenoid.  Ethmoid.  Septum  nasi,  turbinals,  prenasal 
and  nasal  cartilages. 

Articulare  and  quadrate  belonging  to  the  first 
visceral  arch.  Skeleton  of  the  second  and  third  visceral 
arches  and  stapes. 

Splint-bones  not  preformed  in  cartilage. 

Parietals.  Squamosals.  Frontals.  Lacrymals. 
Nasals.  Premaxillse.  Maxillae.  Maxillo-palatines. 
Vomer.  Jugals.  Quadrato-jugals.  Dentary  and 
bones  of  mandible.  Basi-temporal  and  rostrum.  Ptery- 
goid and  palatine  (superior  maxillary  process). 

The  face.  Closely  connected  with  the  development 
of  the  skull  is  the  formation  of  the  parts  of  the  face. 

After  the  appearance  of  the  nasal  grooves  on  the 
fourth  day  the  mouth  (Fig.  80,  M.)  appears  as  a  deep 
depression  inclosed  by  five  processes.  Its  lower  border 
is  entirely  formed  by  the  two  inferior  maxillary  pro- 
cesses (Fig.  80,  F.  1),  at  its  sides  lie  the  two  superior 
maxillary  processes  S.  M.,  while  above  it  is  bounded  by 
the  fronto-nasal  process  nf 


VIII.] 


THE   FRONTO-NASAL   PROCESS. 

Fig.  80. 


j:b 


247      , 


A.    Head  of  Embryo  Chick  of  the  Fourth  Day  viewed  from 
BELOW  AS  AN  OPAQUE  OBJECT.     (Chromic  acid  preparation.) 

C.H.  cerebral  hemispheres.  FB.  vesicle  of  the  third  ventricle. 
Op.  eyeball,  nf.  naso-frontal  process.  M.  cavity  of  mouth. 
S.M.  superior  maxillary  process  of  F.  1,  the  first  visceral 
fold   (mandibular  arch).     F.   2,   F.   3,  second    and    third 

visceral  folds.     iV.  nasal  pit. 

In  order  to  gain  the  view  here  given  the  neck  was  cut  across 
between  the  third  and  fourth  visceral  folds.  In  the  section  e 
thus  made,  are  seen  the  alimentary  canal  al  with  its  collapsed 
walls,  the  neural  canal  m.c,  the  notochord  ch.,  the  dorsal  aorta 
AO.,  and  the  jugular  veins  V. 

B.  The  same  seen  sideways,  to  shew  the  visceral  folds. 
Letters  as  before. 


After  a  while  the  outer  angles  of  the  fronto-nasal 
process,  enclosing  the  expanded  termination  of  the 
trabeculse,  project  somewhat  outwards  on  each  side, 
giving  the  end  of  the  process  a  rather  bilobed  appear- 
ance. These  projecting  portions  of  the  fronto-nasal  pro- 
cess form  on  each  side  the  inner  margins  of  the  rapidly 


248 


THE   FIFTH   DAY. 


[chap. 


deepening  nasal  grooves,  and  are  sometimes  spoken  of 
as  the  inner  nasal  processes.  The  outer  margin  of  each 
nasal  groove  is  raised  up  into  a  projection  frequently 
spoken  of  as  the  outer  nasal  process,  which  runs  down- 
wards to  join  the  superior  maxillary  process,  jfrom  which 
however  it  is  separated  by  a  shallow  depression.  This 
depression,  which  runs  nearly  horizontally  outwards 
towards  the  eyeball,  is  known  as  the  lacrymal  groove 
(see  p.  155). 

On  the  fifth  day  the  inner  nasal  processes,  or  lower 
and  outer  corners  of  the  fronto-nasal  process,  arching 
over,  unite  on  each  side  with  the  superior  maxillary 
processes.  (Compare  Fig.  81,  which,  however,  is  a  view 
of  the  head  of  a  chick  of  the  sixth  day.)  In  this  way 
each  nasal  groove  is  converted  into  a  canal,  which  leads 

Fig.  81. 


Head  of  a  Chick  at  the  Sixth  Day  from  below.    (From 
Huxley.) 

la.  cerebral  vesicles,  a.  eye,  in  which  the  remains  of  the  choroid 
slit  can  still  be  seen.  g.  nasal  pits.  k.  fronto-nasal  process. 
I.  superior  maxillary  process.     1.  inferior  maxillary  process 


VIII.]  THE   MOUTH.  249 

or  first  visceral  arch.     2.  second  visceral  arch.     x.  first  vis- 
ceral cleft  between  the  first  and  second  visceral  arches. 

The  cavity  of  the  mouth  is  seen  enclosed  by  the  fronto-nasal 
process,  the  superior  maxillary  processes  and  the  first  pair  of 
visceral  arches.  At  the  back  of  it  is  seen  the  opening  leading 
into  the  throat.  The  nasal  grooves  leading  from  the  nasal  pits 
to  the  mouth  are  already  closed  over  and  converted  into  canals. 

from  the  nasal  pit  above,  into  the  cavity  of  the  mouth 
below,  and  places  the  two  in  direct  communication. 
This  canal,  whose  lining  consists  of  epiblast,  is  the 
rudiment  of  the  nasal  labyrinth. 

By  the  seventh  day  (Fig.  82),  not  only  is  the  union 
of  the  superior  maxillary  and  fronto-nasal  processes 
completed,  and  the  upper  boundary  of  the  mouth  thus 
definitely  constituted,  but  these  parts  begin  to  grow 
rapidly  forward,  thus  deepening  the  mouth  and  giving 
rise  to  the  appearance  of  a  nose  or  beak  (Fig.  82), 
which,  though  yet  blunt,  is  still  distinct.  The  whole  of 
the  lower  boundary  of  the  buccal  cavity  is  formed  by 
the  inferior  maxillary  processes. 

As  we  have  before  mentioned  (p.  240),  cartilage  suc- 
ceeded by  bone  is  developed  in  the  fronto-nasal  process ; 
the  pterygo-palatine  osseous  bar  (membranous  ossifica- 
tion) in  the  superior  maxillary  process;  Meckel's  cartilage 
the  main  part  of  which  atrophies,  the  proximal  end  only 
ossifying  as  the  articulare,  and  the  quadrate  succeeded 
by  bone  in  the  inferior  maxillary  process;  the  other 
bones  which  form  the  boundaries  of  the  mouth  in  the 
adult  are  developed  later  after  all  external  trace  of  these 
parts  as  separate  processes  has  disappeared. 

At  first  the  mouth  is  a  simple  cavity  into  which  the 
nasal  canals  open  directly.     When  however  the  various 


250 


THE  FIFTH  DAY. 


[chap. 


Fig.  82. 


Head  of  a  Chick  of  the  Seventh  Day  from  below.     (From 
Huxley.) 

la.  cerebral  vesicles,  a.  eye.  ff.  nasal  pits.  k.  fronto-nasal 
process.  I.  superior  maxillary  process.  1.  first  visceral 
arch.     2,  second  visceral  arch.     ^.  first  visceral  cleft. 

The  external  opening  of  the  mouth  has  become  much  con- 
stricted, but  it  is  still  enclosed  by  the  fronto-nasal  process  and 
superior  maxillary  processes  above,  and  by  the  inferior  maxillary 
processes  (first  pair  of  visceral  arches)  below. 

The  superior  maxillary  processes  have  united  with  the  fronto- 
nasal process,  along  the  whole  length  of  the  latter,  with  the 
exception  of  a  small  space  in  front,  where  a  narrow  angular 
opening  is  left  between  the  two. 

processes  nnite  together  to  form  the  upper  boundary  of 
the  mouth,  each  superior  maxillary  process  sends  in- 
wards a  lateral  bud.  These  buds  become  flattened  and 
form  horizontal  plates  which  stretch  more  and  more 
inward  towards  the  middle  line.  There  they  finally 
meet,  and  by  their  union,  which  is  effected  first  in  front 
and  thence  extends  backwards,  constitute  a  horizontal 


VIII.]  THE   SPINAL   COED.  251 

plate  stretching  right  across  the  mouth  and  dividing 
it  into  two  cavities — an  upper  and  a  lower  one. 

In  the  front  part  of  the  mouth  their  union  is  quite 
complete,  so  that  here  there  is  no  communication  between 
the  two  cavities.  Behind,  however,  the  partition  is  not 
a  complete  one,  so  that  the  two  divisions  of  the  buccal 
cavity  communicate  at  the  back  of  the  mouth.  The 
external  opening  of  the  mouth  passes  into  the  lower  of 
these  two  cavities,  which  may  therefore  be  called  the 
mouth  proper.  Into  the  upper  chamber  the  nasal 
ducts  open ;  it  ma}^  be  called  the  respiratory  chamber, 
and  forms  the  commencement  of  the  chamber  of  the 
nose.  In  birds  generally  the  upper  nasal  cavity  be- 
comes subsequently  divided  by  a  median  partition  into 
two  chambers,  which  communicate  with  the  back  of 
the  mouth  by  separate  apertures,  the  posterior  nares. 
The  original  openings  of  the  nasal  pits  remain  as  the 
nostrils. 

The  spinal  cord. — On  this  day  important  changes 
take  place  in  the  spinal  cord;  and  a  brief  history  of 
the  development  of  this  organ  may  fitly  be  introduced 
here. 

At  the  beginning  of  the  third  day  the  cavity  of  the 
neural  canal  is  still  of  considerable  v/idth,  and  when 
examined  in  vertical  section  its  sides  may  be  seen  to  be 
nearly  parallel,  though  perhaps  approximating  to  each 
other  more  below  than  above. 

The  exact  shape  varies  according  to  the  region  of 
the  body  from  which  the  section  is  taken. 

The  epiblast  walls  are  at  this  time  composed  of 
radiately  arranged  columnar  cells.  The  cells  are  much 
elongated,   but    somewhat    irregular;    and   it    is   very 


252  THE   FIFTH   DAY.  [CHAP. 

difficult  in  sections  to  make  out  their  individual 
boundaries.  They  contain  granular  oval  nuclei  in 
which  a  nucleolus  can  almost  always  be  seen.  The 
walls  of  the  canal  are  both  anteriorly  and  posteriorly 
considerably  thinner  in  the  median  plane  than  in  the 
middle. 

Towards  the  end  of  the  third  day  changes  take 
place  in  the  shape  of  the  cavity.  In  the  lumbar  region 
its  vertical  section  becomes  more  elongated,  and  at  the 
same  time  very  narrow  in  the  middle  while  expanded 
at  each  end  into  a  somewhat  bulbous  enlargement,  pro- 
ducing an  hour-glass  appearance  (Fig.  65).  Its  walls 
however  still  preserve  the  same  histological  characters 
as  before. 

On  the  fourth  day  (Fig.  68)  coincidently  with  the 
appearance  of  the  spinal  nerves,  important  changes 
may  be  observed  in  the  hitherto  undifferentiated  epi- 
blastic  walls,  which  result  in  its  differentiation  into  (1) 
the  epithelium  of  the  central  canal,  (2)  the  grey  matter 
of  the  cord,  and  (3)  the  external  coating  of  white 
matter. 

The  white  matter  is  apparently  the  result  of  a 
differentiation  of  the  outermost  parts  of  the  superficial 
cells  of  the  cord  into  longitudinal  nerve-fibres,  which 
remain  for  a  long  period  without  a  medullary  sheath. 
These  fibres  appear  in  transverse  sections  as  small  dots. 
The  white  matter  forms  a  transparent  investment  of 
the  grey  matter;  it  arises  as  four  patches,  viz.  an  anterior 
and  a  posterior  white  column  on  each  side,  which  lie  on 
a  level  with  the  origin  of  the  anterior  and  posterior 
nerve-roots.  It  is  always,  at  first,  a  layer  of  extreme 
tenuity,  but  rapidly  increases  in  thickness  in  the  sub- 


VIII.] 


THE  GREY  MATTER. 


25S 


sequent  stages,  and  extends  so  as  gradually  to  cover  the 
whole  cord  (Fig.  83). 


Fig.  83. 


Iciu 


Section  through  the  Spinal  Cord  of  a  Seven  Days' 
Chick. 

pew.  dorsal  white  column,  lew.  lateral  white  column,  acw.  ven- 
tral white  column,  c.  dorsal  tissue  filling  up  the  part  where 
the  dorsal  fissure  will  be  formed,  pc.  dorsal  grey  cornu. 
ac.  anterior  grey  cornu.  ep.  epithelial  cells,  age.  anterior 
commissure,  pf.  dorsal  part  of  spinal  canal,  spc.  ventral 
part  of  spinal  canal,     af.  anterior  fissure. 

The  grey  matter  and  the  central  epithelium  are 
formed  by  a  differentiation  of  the  main  mass  of  the 
walls  of  the  medullary  canal.    The  outer  cells  lose  their 


254  THE  FIFTH  DAY.  [CHAP. 

epithelial-like  arrangement,  and,  becoming  prolonged 
into  fibres,  give  rise  to  the  grey  matter,  while  the  inner- 
most cells  retain  their  primitive  arrangement,  and  con- 
stitute the  epithelium  of  the  canal.  The  process  of 
formation  of  the  grey  matter  would  appear  to  proceed 
from  without  inwards,  so  that  some  of  the  cells  which 
have,  on  the  formation  of  the  grey  matter,  an  epithelial- 
like  arrangement,  subsequently  become  converted  into 
true  nerve-cells. 

The  central  epithelium  of  the  nervous  system  pro- 
bably corresponds  with  the  so-called  epidermic  layer  of 
the  epiblast. 

The  grey  matter  soon  becomes  prolonged  dorsally 
and  ventrally  into  the  posterior  and  anterior  horns.  Its 
fibres  may  especially  be  traced  in  two  directions : — (1) 
round  the  anterior  end  of  the  spinal  canal,  immediately 
outside  its  epithelium  and  so  to  the  grey  matter  on 
the  opposite  side,  forming  in  this  way  an  anterior  grey 
commissure,  through  which  a  decussation  of  the  fibres 
from  the  opposite  sides  is  effected:  (2)  dorsalwards 
along  the  outside  of  the  lateral  walls  of  the  canal. 

There  is  at  this  period  (fourth  day)  no  trace  of  the 
ventral  or  dorsal  fissure,  and  the  shape  of  the  central 
canal  is  not  very  different  from  what  it  was  at  an  earlier 
period.  This  condition  of  the  spinal  cord  is  especially 
instructive  as  it  is  very  nearly  that  which  is  permanent 
in  Amphioxus. 

The  next  event  of  importance  is  the  formation  of 
the  ventral  or  anterior  fissure.  This  begins  on  the  fifth 
day  and  owes  its  origin  to  a  downgrowth  of  the  an- 
terior horns  of  the  cord  on  each  side  of  the  middle  line. 
The  two  downgrowths  enclose  between  them  a  some- 


VIII.]  THE   POSTERIOR   FISSURE.  255 

what   linear   space — the    anterior    fissure — which   in- 
creases in  depth  in  the  succeeding  stages  (Fig.  83,  af). 

The  dorsal  or  posterior  fissure  is  formed  at  a  later 
period  (about  the  seventh  day)  than  the  anterior,  and 
accompanies  the  atrophy  of  the  dorsal  section  of  the 
embryonically  large  canal  of  the  spinal  cord.  The  exact 
mode  of  its  formation  appears  to  be  still  involved  in 
some  obscurity. 

It  seems  probable,  though  further  investigations  on  the  point 
are  still  required,  that  the  dorsal  fissure  is  a  direct  result  of  the 
atrophy  of  the  dorsal  part  of  the  central  canal  of  the  spinal 
cord.  The  walls  of  this  coalesce  dorsally,  and  the  coalescence 
gradually  extends  inwards,  so  as  finally  to  reduce  the  central 
canal  to  a  minute  tube,  formed  of  the  ventral  part  of  the  original 
canal.  The  epithelial  wall  formed  by  the  coalesced  walls  on  the 
dorsal  side  of  the  canal  is  gradually  absorbed. 

The  epithelium  of  the  central  canal,  at  the  period  when  its 
atrophy  commences,  is  not  covered  dorsally  either  by  grey  or 
white  matter,  so  that,  with  the  gradual  reduction  of  the  dorsal 
part  of  the  canal  and  the  absorption  of  the  epithelial  wall  formed 
by  the  fusion  of  its  two  sides,  a  fissure  between  the  two  halves  of 
the  spinal  cord  becomes  formed.  This  fissure  is  the  posterior  or 
dorsal  fissure.  In  the  process  of  its  formation  the  white  matter 
of  the  dorsal  horns  becomes  prolonged  so  as  to  line  its  walls ;  and 
shortly  after  its  formation  the  dorsal  grey  commissure  makes  its 
appearance ;  this  is  not  improbably  derived  from  part  of  the 
epithelium  of  the  original  central  canal. 

Meanwhile  an  alteration  is  taking  place  in  the  ex- 
ternal outline  of  the  cord.  From  being,  as  on  the 
fourth  and  fifth  days,  oval  in  section,  it  becomes,  chiefly 
through  the  increase  of  the  white  matter,  much  more 
nearly  circular. 

By  the  end  of  the  seventh  day  the  following  im- 


256  THE  FIFTH  DAY.  [CHAP. 

portant   parts   of   the   cord   have   been   definitely  es- 
tablished : 

(1)  The  anterior  and  posterior  fissures. 

(2)  The   anterior   and   posterior   horns   of  grey 
matter. 

(3)  The  anterior,  posterior  and  lateral  columns 
of  white  matter. 

(4)  The  spinal  canal. 

As  yet,  however,  the  grey  masses  of  the  two  sides  of 
the  cord  only  communicate  by  the  anterior  grey  com- 
missure, and  the  white  columns  of  opposite  sides  do 
not  communicate  at  all.  The  grey  matter,  moreover, 
still  far  preponderates  over  the  white  matter  in 
quantity. 

By  the  ninth  day  the  posterior  fissure  is  fully 
formed,  and  the  posterior  grey  commissure  has  also 
appeared. 

In  the  centre  of  the  sacral  enlargement  this  com- 
missure is  absent,  and  the  posterior  columns  at  a  later 
period  separate  widely  and  form  the  ^  sinus  rhomboi- 
dalis,'  which  is  not,  as  has  been  sometimes  stated,  the 
remains  of  the  primitive  'sinus  rhomboidalis '  visible 
during  the  second  day. 

The  anterior  white  columns  have  much  increased  on 
this  day,  and  now  form  the  sides  of  the  already  deep 
anterior  fissure.  The  anterior  white  commissure  does 
not  however  appear  till  somewhat  later. 

The  heart.  The  fifth  day  may  perhaps  be  taken 
as  marking  a  most  important  epoch  in  the  history  of 
the  heart.  The  changes  which  take  place  on  that  and 
on  the  sixth  day,  added  to  those  previously  undergone, 


VIII.]  THE   VENTRICULAR   SEPTUM.  257 

transform  the  simple  tube  of  the  early  days  of  in- 
cubation into  an  almost  completely  formed  heart. 

The  venous  end  of  the  heart,  though  still  lying- 
somewhat  to  the  left  and  dorsal,  is  now  placed  as  far 
forwards  as  the  arterial  end,  the  whole  organ  appearing 
to  be  drawn  together.  The  ventricular  septum  is  com- 
plete. 

The  apex  of  the  ventricles  becomes  more  and  more 
pointed.  In  the  auricular  portion  a  small  longitudinal 
fold  appears  as  the  rudiment  of  the  auricular  septum, 
while  in  the  canalis  auricularis,  which  is  now  at  its 
greatest  length,  there  is  also  to  be  seen  a  commencing 
transverse  partition  tending  to  separate  the  cavity  of 
the  auricles  from  those  of  the  ventricles. 

About  the  106th  hour,  a  septum  begins  to  make  its 
appearance  in  the  bulbus  arteriosus  in  the  form  of  a 
longitudinal  fold,  which  according  to  Tonge  (Proc. 
of  Royal  Soc.  1868)  starts,  not  (as  Von  Baer  thought) 
at  the  end  of  the  bulbus  nearest  to,  but  at  that  farthest 
removed  from,  the  heart.  It  takes  origin  from  the  wall 
of  the  bulbus  between  the  fifth  and  fourth  pairs  of 
arches  and  grows  backwards  in  such  a  manner  as  to 
divide  the  bulbus  into  two  channels,  one  of  which  leads 
from  the  heart  to  the  fourth  and  third  pair  of  arches 
and  the  other  to  the  fifth  pair.  The  free  edge  of  the 
septum  is  somewhat  V-shaped,  so  that  its  two  legs  as 
it  were  project  backwards  towards  the  heart,  further 
than  its  central  portion;  and  this  shape  of  the  free 
edge  is  maintained  during  the  whole  period  of  its 
growth.  Its  course  backwards  is  not  straight  but 
spiral,  and  thus  the  two  channels  into  which  it  divides 
the  bulbus  arteriosus  wind  spirally  the  one  over  the 
F.  &B.  17 


258  THE   FIFTH   DAY.  [CHAP. 

other.  The  existence  of  the  septum  can  only  be  as- 
certained at  this  stage  by  dissection  or  by  sections, 
there  being  as  yet  no  external  signs  of  the  division. 

At  the  time  Avhen  the  septum  is  first  formed,  the 
opening  of  the  bulbus  arteriosus  into  the  ventricles  is 
narrow  or  slit-like,  apparently  in  order  to  prevent  the 
flow  of  the  blood  back  into  the  heart.  Soon  after  the 
appearance  of  the  septum,  however,  semilunar  valves 
(Tonge,  loc.  cit)  are  developed  from  the  wall  of  that 
portion  of  the  bulbus  which  lies  between  the  free  edge 
of  the  septum  and  the  cavity  of  the  ventricles. 

These  arise  as  six  solid  outgrowths  of  the  wall 
arranged  in  pairs,  a  ventral,  a  dorsal,  and  an  outer  pair, 
one  valve  of  each  pair  belonging  to  the  one  and  the 
other  to  the  other  of  the  two  main  divisions  of  the 
bulbus  which  are  now  being  established. 

The  ventral  and  the  dorsal  pairs  of  valves  are  the 
first  to  appear:  the  former  as  two  small  prominences 
separated  from  each  other  by  a  narrow  groove,  the 
latter  as  a  single  shallow  ridge,  in  the  centre  of  which 
is  a  prominence  indicating  the  point  where  the  ridge 
will  subsequently  become  divided  into  two.  The  outer 
pair  of  valves  appear  opposite  each  other,  at  a  con- 
siderably later  period,  between  the  ends  of  the  other 
pair  of  valves  on  each  side. 

As  the  septum  grows  backwards  towards  the  heart, 
it  finally  reaches  the  position  of  these  valves.  One  of 
its  legs  then  passes  between  the  two  ventral  valves, 
and  the  other  unites  with  the  prominence  on  the  dorsal 
valve-ridge.  At  the  same  time  the  growth  of  all  the 
parts  causes  the  valves  to  appear  to  approach  the  heart 
and  thus  to  be  placed  quite  at  the  top  of  the  ventricular 


VIII.]  THE   BULBUS   ARTERIOSUS.  259 

cavities.  The  free  edge  of  the  septum  of  the  bulbus 
now  fuses  with  the  ventricular  septum,  and  thus  the 
division  of  the  bulbus  into  two  separate  channels,  each 
provided  with  three  valves,  and  each  communicating 
with  a  separate  side  of  the  heart,  is  complete,  the  po- 
sition of  the  valves  not  being  very  different  from  what 
it  is  in  the  adult  heart. 

That  division  of  the  bulbus  which  opens  into  the 
fifth  pair  of  arches  is  the  one  which  communicates  with 
the  right  ventricle,  while  that  which  opens  into 
the  third  and  fourth  pairs  communicates  with  the  left 
ventricle  (vide  Fig.  93).  The  former  becomes  the  pul- 
monary artery,  the  latter  the  commencement  of  the 
systemic  aorta. 

The  external  constriction  actually  dividing  the  bul- 
bus into  two  vessels  does  not  begin  to  appear  till  the 
septum  has  extended  some  way  back  towards  the  heart. 
The  semilunar  valves  become  pocketed  at  a  period 
considerably  later  than  their  first  formation  (from  the 
147th  to  the  165th  hour)  in  the  order  of  their  ap- 
pearance. 

Towards  the  end  of  the  fifth  and  in  the  course  of  the 
sixth  day  further  important  changes  take  place  in  the 
heart. 

The  venous  end  with  its  two  very  conspicuous  au- 
ricular appendages,  comes  to  be  situated  more  dorsal 
to  the  arterial  end,  though  it  still  turns  rather  towards 
the  left.  The  venous  portion  of  the  heart  undergoes 
on  the  sixth  day,  or  even  near  to  the  end  of  the  fifth, 
such  a  development  of  the  muscular  fibres  of  its  walls 
that  the  canalis  auricularis  becomes  almost  entirely 
concealed.      The   point   of  the  heart  is  now  directed 

17—2 


260 


THE   FIFTH  DAY. 


[chap. 


nearly  backwards  (^.  e.  towards  the  tail),  but  also  a  little 
ventralwards. 

An  alteration  takes  place  during  the  sixth  day  in 
the  relative  position  of  the  parts  of  the  ventricular 
division  of  the  heart.  The  right  ventricle  is  now  turned 
towards  the  abdominal  surface,  and  also  winds  to  a 
certain  extent  round  the  left  ventricle.  It  will  be 
remembered  that  on  the  fourth  day  the  right  ventricle 
was  placed  dorsal  to  the  left. 

The  right  ventricle  is  now  also  the  smaller  of  the 
two,  and  the  constriction  which  divides  it  from  the  left 
ventricle  does  not  extend  to  the  apex  of  the  heart 
(Fig.  84).  It  has,  however,  a  very  marked  bulge  to- 
wards the  right. 

Fig.  84. 
A  B 


Two  Views  of  the  Heart  op  a  Chick   upon  the  Fifth 

Day  op  Incubation. 

A.  from  the  ventral,  B.  from  the  dorsal  side. 

l.a.  left  auricular  appendage,     r.a.  right  auricular  appendage. 
r.v.  right  ventricle,     l.v.  left  ventricle,     h.  bulbus  arteriosus. 

At  first  the  bulbus  arteriosus  appeared  to  come  off 
chiefly  from  the  left  ventricle ;  during  the  fifth  day,  and 
still  more  on  the  sixth,  it  appears  to  come  from  the 


VIII.] 


THE  BULBUS  AETERIOSUS. 


261 


right  chamber.  This  is  caused  by  the  canal  from  the 
right  ventricle  into  the  bulbus  arteriosus  passing  to- 
wards the  left,  and  on  the  ventral  side,  so  as  entirely 
to  conceal  the  origin  of  the  canal  from  the  left  chamber 
of  the  heart.  On  the  seventh  day  the  bulbus  arteriosus 
appears  to  come  less  markedly  from  the  right  side  of 
the  heart. 

All  these  changes,  however,  of  position  of  the  bulbus 
arteriosus  only  affect  it  externally;  during  the  whole 
time  the  two  chambers  of  the  heart  open  respectively 
into  the  two  divisions  of  the  bulbus  arteriosus.  The 
swelling  of  the  bulbus  is  much  less  marked  on  the 
seventh  day  than  it  was  before. 

At  the  end  of  the  sixth  day,  and  even  on  the  fifth 
day  (Figs.  84,  85),  the  appearance  of  the  heart  itself, 

Fig.  85. 


T.d 


Heart  of  a  Chick  upon  the  Sixth   Day  of   Incubation, 
FROM  THE  Ventral  Surface. 

l.a.  left  auricular  appendage,      r.a.  right  auricular  appendage, 
r.-y.  right  ventricle,     l.v.  left  ventricle,     h.  bulbus  arteriosus. 

without  reference  to  the  vessels  which  come  from  it, 
is  not  very  dissimilar  from  that  which  it  presents  when 
adult. 


262  THE  FIFTH  DAY.  [CHAP. 

The  original  curvature  to  the  right  now  forms  the 
apex  of  the  ventricles,  and  the  two  auricular  appendages 
are  placed  at  the  anterior  extremity  of  the  heart. 

The  most  noticeable  difference  (in  the  ventral  view) 
is  the  still  externally  undivided  condition  of  the  bulbus 
arteriosus. 

The  subsequent  changes  which  the  heart  undergoes 
are  concerned  more  with  its  internal  structure  than 
with  its  external  shape.  Indeed,  during  the  next  three 
days,  viz.  the  eighth,  ninth,  and  tenth,  the  external 
form  of  the  heart  remains  nearly  unaltered. 

In  the  auricular  portion,  however,  the  septum  which 
commenced  on  the  fifth  day  becomes  now  more  con- 
spicuous. It  is  placed  vertically,  and  arises  from  the 
ventral  wall;  commencing  at  the  canalis  auricularis 
and  proceeding  backwards,  it  does  not  as  yet  reach  the 
opening  into  the  sinus  venosus. 

The  blood  from  the  sinus,  or,  as  we  may  call  it,  the 
inferior  vena  cava,  enters  the  heart  obliquely  from  the 
right,  so  that  it  has  a  tendency  to  flow  towards  the  left 
auricle  of  the  heart,  which  is  at  this  time  the  larger  of 
the  two. 

The  valves  between  the  ventricles  and  auricles  are 
now  well  developed,  and  it  is  about  this  time  that  the 
division  of  the  bulbus  arteriosus  into  the  aorta  and 
pulmonary  artery  becomes  visible  on  the  exterior. 

By  the  eleventh  or  thirteenth  day  the  right  auricle 
has  become  as  large  as  the  left,  and  the  auricular  sep- 
tum much  more  complete,  though  there  is  still  a  small 
opening,  the  foramen  ovale,  by  which  the  two  cavities 
communicate  with  each  other.  Through  this  foramen 
the  greater  part  of  the  blood  of  the  vena  cava  inferior. 


VIII.]  THE   EUSTACHIAN   VALVE.  263 

whicli  is  now  joined  just  at  its  entrance  into  tlie  heart 
by  the  right  vena  cava  superior,  is  directed  into  the  left 
auricle.  The  left  vena  cava  superior  enters  the  right 
auricle  independently;  between  it  and  the  inferior  vena 
cava  is  a  small  valve  which  directs  its  blood  entirely 
into  the  right  auricle. 

On  the  sixteenth  day  the  right  vena  cava  superior, 
when  viewed  from  the  exterior,  still  appears  to  join  the 
inferior  vena  cava  before  entering  the  heart ;  from  the 
interior  however  the  two  can  now  be  seen  to  be  sepa- 
rated by  a  valve.  This  valve,  called  the  'Eustachian 
valve,'  extends  to  the  opening  of  the  left  vena  cava 
superior,  and  into  it  the  valve  which  in  the  earlier 
stage  separated  the  left  superior  and  inferior  venae 
cavse  has  apparently  become  merged.  There  is  also  on 
the  left  side  of  the  opening  of  the  inferior  cava  a  mem- 
brane stretching  over  the  foramen  ovale,  and  serving  as 
a  valve  for  that  orifice.  The  blood  from  the  inferior 
cava  still  passes  chiefly  into  the  left  auricle  through 
the  foramen  ovale,  while  the  blood  from  the  other 
two  venae  cava3  now  falls  into  the  right  auricle,  being 
prevented  from  entering  the  left  chamber  by  the 
Eustachian  valve. 

Hence,  since  at  this  period  also  the  blood  from  the 
left  ventricle  passes  to  a  great  extent  to  the  anterior 
portion  of  the  body,  there  is  a  species  of  double-circula- 
tion going  on.  The  greater  part  of  the  blood  from  the 
allantois  entering  the  left  auricle  from  the  inferior  vena 
cava  passes  into  the  left  ventricle  and  is  thence  sent 
chiefly  to  the  head  and  anterior  extremities  through  the 
third  and  fourth  arches ;  from  these  it  is  brought  back 
through  the  right  auricle  to  the  right  ventricle,  from 


264  THE  FIFTH  DAY.  [CHAP. 

whence  througli  the  fifth  arch  it  is  returned  along  the 
aorta  to  the  allantois. 

From  the  seventeenth  to  the  nineteenth  day  the 
right  auricle  becomes  larger  than  the  left.  The  large 
Eustachian  valve  still  prevents  the  blood  from  the 
superior  cavse  from  entering  the  left  auricle,  while  it 
conducts  the  blood  from  the  inferior  vena  cava  into  that 
chamber  through  the  foramen  ovale.  The  entrance  of 
the  inferior  vena  cava  is  however  further  removed  than 
it  was  from  the  foramen  ovale,  and  the  increased  flow 
of  blood  from  the  lungs  prevents  all  the  blood  of  the 
inferior  cava  from  entering  into  the  left  auricle.  At 
the  same  time  the  valve  of  the  foramen  ovale  prevents 
the  blood  in  the  left  auricle  from  entering  the  right 
auricle. 

During  the  period  from  the  seventh  day  onwards 
the  apex  of  the  heart  becomes  more  marked,  the  arte- 
rial roots  are  more  entirely  separated  and  the  various 
septa  completed,  so  that  when  the  foramen  ovale  is 
closed  and  the  blood  of  the  inferior  vena  cava  thereby 
entirely  confined  to  the  right  auricle,  the  heart  has 
practically  acquired  its  adult  condition. 

The  pericardial  and  pleural  cavities.  The  heart 
at  first  lies  in  the  general  body  cavity  attached  to  the 
ventral  wall  of  the  gut  by  a  mesocardium  (Fig.  86,  A), 
but  the  part  of  the  body  cavity  containing  it  afterwards 
becomes  separated  off  as  a  distinct  cavity  known  as  the 
pericardial  cavity.  It  is  formed  in  the  following  way. 
When  the  two  ductus  Cuvieri  leading  transversely  from 
the  sinus  venosus  to  the  cardinal  veins  become  deve- 
loped (p.  170),  a  horizontal  septum  is  formed  to  support 
them,  stretching  across  from  the  splanchnic  to  the  so- 


VIII  ] 


THE   PERICARDIAL   CAVITY. 


266 


matic  side  of  the  body  cavity,  dividing  the  body  cavity 
for  a  short  distance  in  this  region  into  a  dorsal  section, 
(formed  of  a  right  and  a  left  division)  constituting  the 
true  body  cavity  (Fig.  86  B,  p.p),  and  a  ventral  section 
{Fig.  86,  B,  ^.c),  the  pericardial  cavity.  The  two  parts 
of  the  body  cavity  thus  formed  are  at  first  in  free  com- 
munication both  in  front  of  and  behind  this  septum.    The 

Fig.  86. 


Transverse  Sections  through  a  Chick  Embryo  with 
Twenty-one  Mesoblastic  Somites  to  shew  the  forma- 
tion OF  THE  Pericardial  Cavity,  A.  being  the  Ante- 
rior Section. 

pp.  body  cavity,  pc.  pericardial  cavity,  al.  alimentary  cavity. 
au.  auricle,  v.  ventricle,  sv.  sinus  venosus.  dc.  ductus 
Cuvieri.    ao.  aorta,    mp.  muscle-plate,    mc.  medullary  cord. 


266 


THE  FIFTH  DAY. 


[chap. 


septum  however  is  soon  continued  forwards  so  as  com- 
pletely to  separate  the  ventral  pericardial  and  the 
dorsal  body  cavity  in  front,  the  pericardial  cavity  ex- 
tending considerably  further  forwards  than  the  body 
cavity. 

Fig.  87. 


,..'?7tO 


Section  through  the  Cardiac  Region  op  an  Embryo  of 
Lacerta  Muralis  of  9  m.m.  to  shew  the  mode  of 
formation  of  the  Pericardial  Cavity. 

Ivt.  heart,  pc.  pericardial  cavity,  at.  alimentary  tract.  Ig.  lung. 
I.  liver,  pp.  body  cavity,  md.  open  end  of  Miillerian  duct. 
wd.  Wolffian  duct.  vc.  vena  cava  inferior,  ao.  aorta,  ch. 
notochord.     mo.  medullary  cord. 

Since  the  horizontal  septum,  by  its  mode  of  origin, 
is  necessarily  attached  to  the  ventral  side  of  the  gut, 
the  dorsal  part  of  the  primitive  body  space  is,  as  we 
have  already  mentioned,  divided  into  two  halves  by 
a  median  vertical  septum  formed  of  the  gut  and  its 


VIII.]  THE   PERICARDIAL   CAVITY.  267 

mesentery  (Fig.  86,  B).  Posteriorly  the  horizontal  sep- 
tum grows  in  a  slightly  ventral  direction  along  the 
under  surface  of  the  liver  (Fig.  87),  till  it  meets  the 
abdominal  wall  of  the  body  at  the  insertion  of  the 
falciform  ligament,  and  thus  completely  shuts  off  the 
pericardial  cavity  from  the  body  cavity.  The  horizontal 
septum  forms,  as  is  obvious  from  the  above  description, 
the  dorsal  wall  of  the  pericardial  cavity. 

After  the  completion  of  this  separation  the  right 
and  left  sections  of  the  body  cavity,  dorsal  to  the  peri- 
cardial cavity,  rapidly  become  larger  and  receive  the 
lungs  which  soon  sprout  out  from  the  throat. 

The  diverticula  which  form  the  lungs  grow  out  into 
splanchnic  mesoblast,  in  front  of  the  body  cavity,  but 
as  they  grow  they  extend  into  the  two  anterior  com- 
partments of  the  body  cavity,  each  attached  by  its 
mesentery  to  the  mesentery  of  the  gut  (Fig.  87,  Ig). 
They  soon  moreover  extend  beyond  the  posterior  limit  of 
the  pericardium  into  the  undivided  body  cavity  behind. 

To  understand  the  further  changes  in  the  peri- 
cardial cavity  it  is  necessary  to  bear  in  mind  its  rela- 
tions to  the  adjoining  parts.  It  lies  at  this  period 
completely  ventral  to  the  two  anterior  prolongations  of 
the  body  cavity  containing  the  lungs.  Its  dorsal  wall  is 
attached  to  the  gut,  and  is  continuous  with  the  me- 
sentery of  the  gut  passing  to  the  dorsal  abdominal  wall, 
forming  the  posterior  mediastinum  of  human  anatomy. 

The  changes  which  next  ensue  consist  essentially  in 
the  enlargement  of  the  sections  of  the  body  cavity 
dorsal  to  the  pericardial  cavity.  This  enlargement 
takes  place  partly  by  the  elongation  of  the  posterior 
mediastinum,  but  still  more  by  the  two  divisions  of  the 


268 


THE   FIFTH   DAY, 


[chap. 


body  cavity  which  contain  the  lungs  extending  them- 
selves ventrally  round  the  outside  of  the  pericardial 
cavity.     This  process  is  illustrated  by  Fig.  88,  taken 

Fm.  88. 

'3fi.  c. 


Section  through  an  Advanced  Embryo  of  a  Rabbit  to 
SHEW  how  the  Pericardial  Cavity  becomes  sur- 
rounded BY  THE  Pleural  Cavities. 

ht.  heart,  pc,  pericardial  cavity,  'pl.p.  pleural  cavity.  Ig.  lung. 
al.  alimentary  tract,  ao.  dorsal  aorta,  ch.  notochord.  rp. 
rib.    &t.  sternum,    sp.c.  spinal  cord. 

from  an  embryo  rabbit.  The  two  dorsal  sections  of  the 
body  cavity  {'pl^p^  finally  extend  so  as  completely  to 
envelope  the  pericardial  cavity  (pc),  remaining  how- 
ever separated  from  each  other  below  by  a  lamina  ex- 
tending from  the  ventral  wall  of  the  pericardial  cavity 


VIII.]  HISTOLOGICAL   DIFFEKENTIATION.  26D 

to  the  body  wall,  which  forms  the  anterior  mediastinum 
of  human  anatomy. 

By  these  changes  the  pericardial  cavity  is  converted 
into  a  closed  bag,  completely  surrounded  at  its  sides  by 
the  two  lateral  halves  of  the  body  cavity,  which  were 
primitively  placed  dorsally  to  it.  These  two  sections  of 
the  body  cavity,  which  in  the  chick  remain  in  free 
communication  with  the  undivided  peritoneal  cavity 
behind,  may,  from  the  fact  of  their  containing  the 
lungs,  be  called  the  pleural  cavities. 

Histological  differentiation.  The  fifth  day  may  also 
be  taken  as  marking  the  epoch  at  which  histological 
differentiation  first  becomes  distinctly  established  and 
begins  to  make  great  progress. 

It  is  of  course  true  that  long  before  this  date,  even 
from  the  earliest  hours,  the  cells  in  each  of  the  three 
fundamental  layers  have  ceased  to  be  everywhere  alike. 
Nevertheless  the  changes  undergone  by  the  several  cells 
have  been  few  and  slight.  The  cells  of  epiblastic  origin, 
both  those  going  to  form  the  epidermis  and  those  in- 
cluded in  the  neural  involution,  are  up  to  this  time 
simple  more  or  less  columnar  cells ;  they  may  be  seen 
here  elongated,  there  oval,  and  in  another  spot  spheroi- 
dal ;  here  closely  packed,  with  scanty  protoplasm,  there 
scattered,  with  each  nucleus  well  surrounded  by  cell- 
substance  ;  but  wherever  they  are  found  they  may  still 
be  recognized  as  cells  of  a  distinctly  epithelial  character. 
So  also  with  the  cells  of  hypoblastic  origin,  whether 
simply  lining  the  aUmentary  canal  or  taking  part  in  the 
formation  of  the  compound  glands.  Even  in  the  meso- 
blast,  which  undergoes  far  more  changes  than  either  of 
the  other  layers,  not  only  increasing  more  rapidly  in 


270  THE   FIFTH   DAY.  [CHAP. 

bulk  but  also  serving  as  tbe  mother  tissue  for  a  far 
greater  number  of  organs,  the  alterations  in  the  indi- 
vidual cells  ^  are,  till  near  upon  the  fifth  day,  insignifi- 
cant. Up  to  this  time  the  mesoblast  may  be  spoken  of 
as  consisting  for  the  most  part  of  Httle  more  than  in- 
different tissue  : — of  nuclei  imbedded  in  a  protoplasmic 
cell-substance.  In  one  spot  the  nuclei  are  closely 
packed  together,  and  the  cell-substance  scanty  and 
compact;  at  another  the  nuclei  are  scattered  about 
with  spindle-shaped  masses  of  protoplasm  attached  to 
each,  and  there  is  a  large  development  either  of  inter- 
cellular spaces  or  of  intracellular  vacuoles  filled  with 
clear  fluid.  The  protoplasm  differs  in  various  places, 
chiefly  in  being  more  or  less  granular,  and  less  or  more 
transparent,  having  as  yet  undergone  but  slight  chemi- 
cal transformation.  Up  to  this  epoch  (with  the  excep- 
tion of  the  early  differentiated  blood  and  muscles  of  the 
muscle  plates)  there  are  no  distinct  tissues,  and  the 
rudiments  of  the  various  organs  are  simply  marked  out 
by  greater  or  less  condensation  of  the  simple  meso- 
blastic  substance. 

From  the  fifth  day  onwards,  however,  histological 
differentiation  takes  place  rapidly,  and  it  soon  becomes 
possible  to  speak  of  this  or  that  part  as  being  composed 
of  muscular,  or  cartilaginous,  or  connective,  &c.  tissue. 
It  is  not  within  the  scope  of  the  present  work  to  treat 
in  detail  of  these  histogenetic  changes,  for  information 
concerning  which  we  would  refer  the  reader  to  histolo- 
gical treatises.     We  have  already  had  occasion  to  refer 

1  With  the  exception  of  the  cells  of  the  middle  part  of  the  inner 
layer  of  the  muscle-plates,  which  we  have  seen  become  converted  into 
longitudinal  muscles  on  the  third  day  (p.  187). 


VIII.]  THE   EPIBLAST.  271 

incidentally  to  many  of  the  earliest  histological  events, 
and  shall  content  ourselves  by  giving  a  brief  summary 
of  the  derivation  of  the  tissues  of  the  adult  animal  from 
the  three  primary  layers  of  the  blastoderm. 

The  epiblast  or  upper  layer  of  many  embryologists 
forms  primarily  two  very  important  parts  of  the  body, 
viz.  the  central  nervous  system  and  the  epidermis. 

It  is  from  the  involuted  epiblast  of  the  neural  tube 
that  the  whole  of  the  grey  and  white  matter  of  the 
brain  and  spinal  cord  appears  to  be  developed,  the 
simple  columnar  cells  of  the  epiblast  being  apparently 
directly  transformed  into  the  characteristic  multipolar 
nerve-cells.  The  whole  of  the  sympathetic^  nervous 
system  and  the  peripheral  nervous  elements  of  the 
body,  including  both  the  spinal  and  cranial  nerves  and 
ganglia,  are  epiblastic  in  origin. 

The  epithelium  (ciliated  in  the  young  animal)  lining 
the  canalis  centralis  of  the  spinal  cord,  together  with 
that  lining  the  ventricles  of  the  brain,  all  which  cavities 
and  canals  are,  as  we  have  seen,  derivatives  of  the 
primary  neural  canal,  is  the  undifferentiated  remnant  of 
the  primitive  epiblast. 

The  epiblast,  as  we  have  said,  also  forms  the  epider- 
mis, not  however  the  dermis,  which  is  of  mesoblastic 
origin.  The  line  of  junction  between  the  epiblast  and 
the  mesoblast  coincides  with  that  between  the  epidermis 

1  The  details  of  the  development  of  the  sympathetic  system  have 
only  been  imperfectly  worked  out  in  the  chick.  We  propose  deferring 
our  account  of  what  is  known  on  this  head  to  the  second  part  of  this 
work  dealing  with  the  Mammaha.  We  may  here  state,  however,  that  the 
whole  of  the  chain  of  the  sympathetic  ganglia  is  developed  in  con- 
tinuity with  the  outgrowths  from  the  wall  of  the  neural  tube  which 
give  rise  to  the  spinal  nerves. 


272  THE  FIFTH  DAY.  [CHAP. 

and  the  dermis.  From  the  epiblast  are  formed  all  such 
tegumentary  organs  or  parts  of  organs  as  are  epidermic 
in  nature. 

In  addition  to  these,  the  epiblast  plays  an  important 
part  in  the  formation  of  the  organs  of  special  sense. 

According  to  their  mode  of  formation  these  organs 
may  be  arranged  into  two  divisions.  In  the  first  come 
the  cases  where  the  sensory  expansion  of  the  organ  of 
special  sense  is  derived  from  the  involuted  epiblast  of 
the  medullary  canal.  To  this  class  belongs  the  retina, 
including  the  epithelial  pigment  of  the  choroid,  which 
is  formed  from  the  original  optic  vesicle  budded  out 
from  the  fore-brain. 

To  the  second  class  belong  the  epithelial  expansions 
of  the  membranous  labyrinth  of  the  ear  and  the  cavity 
of  the  nose,  which  are  formed  by  involution  from  the 
superficial  epiblast  covering  the  external  surface  of  the 
embryo.  These  accordingly  have  no  primary  connection 
with  the  brain.  We  may  also  fairly  suppose  that  the 
'taste  bulbs'  and  the  nervous  cells,  which  have  lately 
been  described  as  present  in  the  epidermis,  are  also 
structures  formed  from  the  epiblast. 

In  addition  to  these  we  have  the  crystalline  lens 
formed  of  involuted  epiblast,  and  the  cavity  of  the 
mouth  and  anus  lined  by  it.  The  pituitary  body  is 
also  epiblastic  in  origin.  These  are  the  most  important 
parts  which  are  derived  from  the  epiblast. 

From  the ,  hypoblast  are  derived  the  epithelium  of 
the  digestive  canal,  the  epithelium  of  the  trachea, 
bronchial  tubes  and  air  cells,  the  cylindrical  epithelium 
of  the  ducts  of  the  liver,  pancreas  and  other  glands  of 
the  alimentary  canal,  as  well  as  the  hepatic  cells  con- 


VIII.]  THE   HYPOBLAST   AND   MESOBLAST.  273 

stituting  the  parenchyma  of  the  liver,  developed,  as  we 
have  seen,  from  the  hypoblast  cylinders  given  off  around 
the  primary  hepatic  diverticula. 

Homologous,  probably  with  the  hepatic  cells,  and 
equally  of  hypoblastic  origin,  are  the  more  spheroidal 
'  secreting  cells '  of  the  pancreas  and  other  glands.  The 
epithelium  of  the  salivary  glands,  though  these  so  exactly 
resemble  the  pancreas,  is  of  epiblastic  origin,  inasmuch 
as  the  cavity  of  the  mouth  (p.  119)  is  entirely  lined  by 
epiblast. 

The  hypoblast  lines  the  allantois,  and  the  notochord 
also  is  an  hypoblastic  product. 

From  the  mesoblast  are  formed  all  the  remaining 
parts  of  the  body.  The  muscles,  the  bones,  the  connec- 
tive tissue  and  the  vessels,  both  arteries,  veins,  capillaries 
and  lymphatics,  with  their  appropriate  epithelium,  are 
entirely  formed  from  the  mesoblast. 

The  generative  and  urinary  organs  are  also  de- 
rived from  the  mesoblast.  It  is  worthy  of  notice  that 
their  epithelium,  though  resembling  the  hypoblastic 
epithelium  of  the  alimentary  canal,  is  undoubtedly 
mesoblastic. 

From  the  mesoblast  lastly  are  derived  all  the  mus- 
cular, connective  and  vascular  elements,  as  well  of  the 
alimentary  canal  and  its  appendages  as  of  the  skin  and 
the  tegumentary  organs.  Just  as  it  is  only  the  epider- 
mic moiety  of  the  latter  which  is  derived  from  the 
epiblast,  so  it  is  only  the  epithelium  of  the  former 
which  comes  from  the  hypoblast. 

The  important  events  then  which  characterize  the 
fifth  day  are  : — 

1.     The  growth  of  the  allantois. 
F,  &  B.  18 


274  THE   FIFTH  DAY.  [CHAP.  VIII. 

2.  The  appearance  of  the  knee  and  elbow,  and  of 
the  cartilages  which  precede  the  bones  of  the  digits  and 
limbs. 

3.  The  formation  of  the  primitive  cartilaginous 
cranium,  more  especially  of  the  investing  mass  and  the 
trabeculse,  and  the  appearance  of  rods  of  cartilage  in 
the  visceral  arches. 

4.  The  developments  of  the  parts  of  the  face  :  the 
closing  in  of  the  nasal  passages  by  the  nasal  processes. 

5.  A  large  development  of  grey  matter  in  the 
spinal  cord  as  the  anterior  and  posterior  cornua;  con- 
siderable growth  both  of  the  anterior  and  posterior 
white  columns,  and  the  commencement  of  the  anterior 
and  posterior  fissures. 

6.  The  appearance  of  the  auricular  septum,  of  a 
septum  in  the  bulbus  arteriosus,  and  of  the  semilunar 
valves. 

7.  The  establishment  of  the  several  tissues. 


CHAPTER  IX. 

FROM   THE   SIXTH   DAY  TO   THE   END   OF   INCUBATION. 

The  sixth  day  marks  a  new  epoch  in  the  develop- 
ment of  the  chick,  for  distinctly  avian  characters  then 
first  make  their  appearance. 

Striking  and  numerous  as  are  the  features,  which 
render  the  class  Aves  one  of  the  most  easily  recognizable 
in  the  whole  animal  kingdom,  the  embryo  of  a  bird  does 
not  materially  differ  in  its  early  phases  from  that  of  a 
reptile  or  a  mammal,  even  in  the  points  of  structure 
which  are  most  distinctively  avian.  It  may,  it  is  true, 
be  possible  to  infer,  even  at  a  comparatively  early  stage, 
from  some  subsidiary  tokens,  whether  any  given  em- 
bryo belongs  to  this  class  or  that  (and  indeed  the  same 
inference  may  be  drawn  from  the  ovum  itself) ;  but  up 
to  a  certain  date  it  is  impossible  to  point  out,  in  the 
embryo  of  the  fowl,  the  presence  of  features  which  may 
be  taken  as  broadly  characteristic  of  an  avian  organiza- 
tion. This  absence  of  any  distinctive  avian  differen- 
tiation lasts  in  the  chick  roughly  speaking  till  the  com- 
mencement of  the  sixth  day. 

18—2 


276  THE  SIXTH  DAY.  [CHAP. 

We  do  not  mean  that  on  the  sixth  day  all  the  organs 
suddenly  commence  to  exhibit  peculiarities  ^hich  mark 
them  as  avian.  There  are  no  strongly  marked  breaks 
in  the  history  of  development;  its  course  is  perfectly 
gradual,  and  one  stage  passes  continuously  into  the 
next.  The  sixth  and  seventh  days  do  however  mark 
the  commencement  of  the  period  in  which  the  spe- 
ciaUzation  of  the  bird  begins  to  be  apparent.  Then  for 
the  first  time  there  become  visible  the  main  features 
of  the  characteristic  manus  and  pes ;  the  crop  and  the 
intestinal  caeca  make  their  appearance;  the  stomach 
takes  on  the  form  of  a  gizzard ;  the  nose  begins  to  de- 
velope  into  a  beak ;  and  the  commencing  bones  of  the 
skull  arrange  themselves  after  an  avian  type.  Into 
these  details  we  do  not  propose  to  enter,  and  shall 
therefore  treat  the  history  of  the  remaining  days  with 
great  brevity. 

We  will  first  speak  of  the  fcetal  appendages. 

On  the  sixth  and  seventh  days  these  exhibit 
changes  which  are  hardly  less  important  than  the 
events  of  previous  days. 

The  amnion  at  its  complete  closure  on  the  fourth 
day  very  closely  invested  the  body  of  the  chick;  the 
true  cavity  of  the  amnion  was  at  that  time  therefore  very 
small.  On  the  fifth  day  fluid  begins  to  collect  in  the 
cavity,  and  raises  the  membrane  of  the  amnion  to  some 
distance  from  the  embryo.  The  cavity  becomes  still 
larger  by  the  sixth  day,  and  on  the  seventh  day  is  of 
very  considerable  dimensions,  the  fluid  increasing  with 
it.  On  the  sixth  day  Von  Baer  observed  movements  of 
the  embryo,  chiefly  of  the  limbs;  he  attributes  them 
to  the  stimulation  of  the  cold  air  on  opening  the  egg. 


IX.]  THE   YOLK.  277 

By  the  seventh  day  very  obvious  movements  begin  to 
appear  in  the  amnion  itself;  slow  vermicular  con- 
tractions creep  rythmically  over  it.  The  amnion  in 
fact  begins  to  pulsate  slowly  and  rythmically,  and  by 
its  pulsation  the  embryo  is  rocked  to  and  fro  in  the 
egg.  This  pulsation  is  due  probably  to  the  contraction 
of  involuntary  muscular  fibres,  which  seem  to  be  present 
in  the  attenuated  portion  of  the  mesoblast,  forming 
part  of  the  amniotic  fold.  (Cf.  Chap.  ii.  p.  45.)  Similar 
movements  are  also  seen  in  the  allantois  at  a  con- 
siderably later  period. 

The  growth  of  the  allantois  has  been  very  rapid, 
and  it  forms  a  flattened  bag,  covering  the  right  side  of 
the  embryo  and  rapidly  spreading  out  in  all  directions, 
between  the  primitive  folds  of  the  amnion,  that  is  be- 
tween the  amnion  proper  and  the  false  amnion  (serous 
membrane).  It  is  filled  with  fluid,  so  that  in  spite  of 
its  flattened  form  its  opposite  walls  are  distinctly  sepa- 
rated from  each  other. 

The  vascular  area  has  become  still  further  extended 
than  on  the  previous  day,  but  with  a  corresponding  loss 
in  the  definite  character  of  its  blood-vessels.  The  sinus 
terminalis  has  indeed  by  the  end  of  the  seventh  day 
lost  all  its  previous  distinctness,  and  the  vessels  which 
brought  back  the  blood  from  it  to  the  heart  are  no 
longer  to  be  seen. 

Both  the  vitelline  arteries  and  veins  now  pass  to 
and  from  the  body  of  the  chick  as  single  trunks,  as- 
suming more  and  more  the  appearance  of  being  merely 
branches  of  the  mesenteric  vessels. 

The  yolk  is  still  more  fluid  than  on  the  previous 
day,  and  its  bulk  has  (according  to  Yon  Baer)  increased. 


278  THE   SIXTH   DAY.  [CHAP. 

This  can  only  be  due  to  its  absorbing  the  white  of  the 
egg,  which  indeed  is  diminishing  rapidly. 

During  the  eighth,  ninth,  and  tenth  days  the 
amnion  does  not  undergo  any  very  important  changes. 
Its  cavity  is  still  filled  with  fluid,  and  on  the  eighth 
day  its  pulsations  are  at  their  height,  henceforward 
diminishing  in  intensity. 

The  splitting  of  the  mesoblast  has  now  extended  to 
the  outer  limit  of  the  vascular  area,  viz.  over  about 
three  quarters  of  the  yolk-sac.  The  somatopleure  at 
this  point  is  continuous  (as  can  be  easily  seen  by 
reference  to  Fig.  9)  with  the  original  outer  fold  of 
the  amnion. 

It  thus  comes  about  that  the  further  splitting  of  the 
mesoblast  merely  enlarges  the  cavity  in  which  the 
allantois  lies.  The  growth  of  this  organ  keeps  pace 
with  that  of  the  cavity  in  which  it  is  placed.  Spread 
out  over  the  greater  part  of  the  yolk-sac  as  a  flattened 
bag  filled  with  fluid,  it  now  serves  as  the  chief  organ  of 
respiration. 

Hence  it  is  very  vascular,  the  vessels  on  that  side  of 
the  bag  which  is  turned  to  the  serous  membrane  and 
shell  being  especially  large  and  numerous. 

The  yolk  now  begins  to  diminish  rapidly  in  bulk. 
The  yolk-sac  becomes  flaccid,  and  on  the  eleventh  day 
is  thrown  into  a  series  of  internal  folds,  abundantly 
supplied  with  blood-vessels.  By  this  means  the  surface 
of  absorption  is  largely  increased,  and  the  yolk  is  more 
and  more  rapidly  taken  up  by  the  blood-vessels,  and  in 
a  partially  assimilated  condition  transferred  to  the  body 
of  the  embryo. 

By  the  eleventh  day  the  abdominal  parietes  though 


IX.]  THE  ALLANTOIS.  279 

still  much  looser  and  less  firm  tlian  the  walls  of  the 
chest  may  be  said  to  be  definitely  established,  and  the 
loops  of  intestine,  which  have  hitherto  been  hanging 
down  into  the  somatic  stalk,  are  henceforward  confined 
within  the  cavity  of  the  abdomen.  The  body  of  the 
embryo  is  therefore  completed ;  but  it  still  remains 
connected  with  its  various  appendages  by  a  narrow 
somatic  umbilicus,  in  which  run  the  stalk  of  the  allan- 
tois  and  the  solid  cord  suspending  the  yolk-sac. 

The  cleavage  of  the  mesoblast  still  progressing,  the 
yolk  is  completely  invested  by  the  (splanchnopleuric) 
yolk-sac  except  at  the  pole  opposite  to  the  embryo, 
where  for  some  little  time  a  small  portion  remains 
unenclosed;  at  this  spot  the  diminished  white  of  the 
egg  adheres  as  a  dense  viscid  plug. 

The  allantois  meanwhile  spreads  out  rapidly,  and 
lies  over  the  embryo  close  under  the  shell,  being  sepa- 
rated from  the  shell  membrane  by  nothing  more  than 
an  attenuated  membrane,  th^  serous  membrane,  formed 
out  of  the  outer  primitive  fold  of  the  amnion  and  the 
remains  of  the  vitelline  membrane.  With  this  serous 
membrane  the  allantois  partially  coalesces,  and  in 
opening  an  egg  at  the  later  stages  of  incubation,  unless 
care  be  taken  the  allantois  is  in  danger  of  being  torn 
in  the  removal  of  the  shell  membrane.  As  the  allantois 
increases  in  size  and  importance,  the  allantoic  vessels 
are  correspondingly  developed.  They  are  very  con- 
spicuous when  the  egg  is  opened,  the  pulsations  of  the 
allantoic  arteries  at  once  attracting  attention. 

On  about  the  sixteenth  day,  the  white  having 
entirely  disappeared,  the  cleavage  of  the  mesoblast  is 
carried  right  over  the  pole  of  the  yolk  opposite  the 


280  THE   SIXTH   DAY.  [CHAP. 

embryo,  and  is  thus  completed  (Fig.  9).  The  yolk-sac 
now,  like  the  allantois  which  closely  WTaps  it  all  round, 
lies  loose  in  a  space  bounded  outside  the  body  by  the 
serous  membrane,  and  continuous  with  the  pleuro- 
peritoneal  cavity  of  the  body  of  the  embryo.  Deposits 
of  urates  now  become  abundant  in  the  allantoic  fluid. 

The  loose  and  flaccid  walls  of  the  abdomen  enclose 
a  space  which  the  empty  intestines  are  far  from  filling, 
and  on  the  nineteenth  day  the  yolk-sac,  diminished 
greatly  in  bulk  but  still  of  some  considerable  size,  is 
withdrawn  through  the  somatic  stalk  into  the  ab- 
dominal cavity,  which  it  largely  distends.  Outside  the 
embryo  there  remains  nothing  now  but  the  highly 
vascular  allantois  and  the  practically  bloodless  serous 
membrane  and  amnion.  The  amnion,  whose  fluid  during 
the  later  days  of  incubation  rapidly  diminishes,  is  con- 
tinuous at  the  umbilicus  with  the  body-walls  of  the 
embryo.  The  serous  membrane  (or  outer  primitive 
amniotic  fold)  is  by  the  completion  of  the  cleavage  of 
the  mesoblast  and  the  invagination  of  the  yolk-sac, 
entirely  separated  from  the  embryo.  The  cavity  of  the 
allantois  by  means  of  its  stalk  passing  through  the  um- 
bilicus is  of  course  continuous  with  the  cloaca. 

In  the  EMBEYO  itself  a  few  general  points  only  de- 
serve notice. 

By  the  sixth  or  seventh  day  the  flexure  of  the 
body  has  become  less  marked,  so  that  the  head  does 
not  lie  so  near  to  the  tail  as  on  the  previous  days ;  at 
the  same  time  a  more  distinct  neck  makes  its  ap- 
pearance. 

Though  the  head  is  still  disproportionately  large,  its 
growth  ceases  to  be  greater  than  that  of  the  body. 


IX.]  THE    BRAIN.  281 

Up  to  this  period  ttie  walls  of  tlie  somatic  stalk 
have  remained  thin  and  flaccid,  almost  membranous  in 
fact,  the  heart  appearing  to  hang  loosely  out  of  the 
body  of  the  embryo.  About  this  time  however  the 
stalk,  especially  in  front,  rapidly  narrows  and  its  meso- 
blast  becomes  thickened.  In  this  way  the  heart  and 
the  other  thoracic  viscera  are  enclosed  by  definite  firm 
chest  walls,  along  the  sides  of  which  the  ribs  grow 
forwards  and  in  front  of  which  the  cartilaginous  rudi- 
ments of  the  sternum  appear. 

The  abdominal  walls  are  also  being  formed,  but  not 
to  the  same  extent,  and  the  stalk  of  the  allantois  still 
passes  out  from  the  peritoneal  cavity  between  the 
somatic  and  the  splanchnic  stalks. 

In  the  brain  one  of  the  most  marked  features  is  the 
growth  of  the  cerebral  hemispheres.  The  median  division 
between  these  has  in  front  increased  in  depth,  so  that 
the  lateral  ventricles  are  continued  forwards  as  two 
divergent  horns,  while  backwards  they  are  also  con- 
tinued as  similar  divergent  horns  separated  from  one 
another  by  the  vesicle  of  the  third  ventricle. 

We  propose  to  treat  more  fully  of  the  development  of  the 
brain  in  the  second  part  of  this  work,  the  importance  of  the 
mammalian  brain  rendering  it  undesirable  to  go  too  much  into 
the  details  of  the  brain  of  the  bird. 

All  the  visceral  clefts  are  closed  by  the  seventh  day. 
It  will  be  remembered  that  the  inner  part  of  the  first 
cleft  persists  as  the  Eustachian  tube  (p.  166). 

The  structures  which  surround  the  mouth  are  be- 
ginning to  become  avian  in  form,  though  the  features 
are  as  yet  not  very  distinctly  marked. 


282  THE   SIXTH   DAY.  [CHAP. 

The  tongue  has  appeared  on  the  floor  of  the  mouth 
as  a  bud  of  mesoblast  covered  by  epiblast. 

During  the  eighth,  ninth,  and  tenth  days  the 
embryo  grows  very  rapidly,  the  head  being  still  especially 
large,  and  at  the  same  time  becoming  more  round,  the 
mid-brain  not  being  so  prominent. 

From  the  eleventh  day  onwards  the  embryo  suc- 
cessively puts  on  characters  which  are  not  only 
avian,  but  even  distinctive  of  the  gemis,  species  and 
variety. 

So  early  as  the  ninth  or  tenth  day  the  sacs  con- 
taining the  feathers  begin  to  protrude  from  the  surface 
of  the  skin  as  papillae,  especially  prominent  at  first  along 
the  middle  line  of  the  back  from  the  neck  to  the  rump, 
and  over  the  thighs,  the  sacs  of  the  tail  feathers  being 
very  conspicuous.  On  the  thirteenth  day  these  sacs, 
generally  distributed  over  the  body,  and  acquiring  the 
length  of  a  quarter  of  an  inch  or  more,  appear  to  the 
naked  eye  as  feathers,  the  thin  walls  of  the  sacs  allow- 
ing their  contents,  now  coloured  according  to  the  variety 
of  the  bird,  to  shine  through.  They  are  still  however 
closed  sacs,  and  indeed  remain  such  even  on  the  nine- 
teenth day,  when  many  of  them  are  an  inch  in  length. 

Feathers  are  epidermal  structures.  They  arise  from  an  in- 
duration of  the  epidermis  of  papillae  containing  a  vascular  core 

On  the  eighth  day  a  chalky-looking  patch  is  ob- 
servable on  the  tip  of  the  nose.  This  by  the  twelfth 
day  has  become  developed  into  a  horny  but  still  soft 
beak. 

On  the  thirteenth  day,  nails  are  visible  at  the  ex- 
tremities, and  scales  on  the  remaining  portions  of  the 


IX.]  OSSIFICATION.  288 

toes.     These  on  the  sixteenth  day  become  harder  and 
more  horny,  as  does  also  the  beak. 

Nails  are  developed  on  special  regions  of  the  epidermis, 
known  as  the  primitive  nail  beds.  They  are  formed  by  the 
cornification  of  a  layer  of  cells  which  makes  its  appearaace 
between  the  horny  and  mucous  layers  of  the  epidermis.  The 
distal  border  of  the  nail  soon  becomes  free,  and  the  further 
growth  is  effected  by  additions  to  the  under  side  and  attached 
extremity  of  the  nail. 

By  the  thirteenth  day  the  cartilaginous  skeleton  is 
completed  and  the  various  muscles  of  the  body  can  be 
made  out  with  tolerable  clearness. 

Ossification  begins  according  to  Yon  Baer  on  the 
eighth  or  ninth  day  by  small  deposits  in  the  tibia,  in 
the  metacarpal  bones  of  the  hind-limb,  and  in  the  sca- 
pula. On  the  eleventh  or  twelfth  day  a  multitude  of 
points  of  ossification  make  their  appearance  in  the 
limbs,  in  the  scapular  and  pelvic  arches,  in  the  ribs,  in 
the  bodies  of  the  cervical  and  dorsal  vertebrse  and  in 
the  bones  of  the  head,  the  centres  of  ossification  of  the 
vertebral  arches  not  being  found  till  the  thirteenth  day. 

The  events  which  we  have  thus  briefly  narrated  are 
accompanied  by  important  changes  in  tlie  arterial 
and  venous  systems. 

The  condition  of  the  venous  system  at  about  the 
end  of  the  third  day  Avas  fully  described  in  Chap.  VI. 
p.  170,  and  the  changes  which  have  taken  place  between 
that  date  and  the  latter  days  of  incubation  may  be  seen 
by  comparing  the  diagram  Fig.  58  with  the  diagrams 
Figs.  89  and  90. 

On  the  third  day,  nearly  the  whole  of  the  venous 
blood  from  the  body  of  the  embryo  was  carried  back  to 


284  THE   SIXTH   DAY.  [CHAP. 

the  heart  by  two  main  venous  trunks,  the  superior  (Fig. 
58,  JT)  and  inferior  (Fig.  58,  G)  cardinal  veins,  joining 
on  each  side  to  form  the  short  transverse  ductus  Cuvieri, 
both  which  in  turn  united  with  the  sinus  venosus  close 
to  the  heart.  As  the  head  and  neck  continue  to  enlaro-e 
and  the  wings  become  developed,  the  single  superior 
cardinal  or  jugular  vein,  as  it  is  usually  called  (Figs.  89, 
90,  J"),  of  each  side,  is  joined  by  two  new  veins :  the 


Diagram  of  the  Venous  Circulation  at  the  Commencement 
OP  THE  Fifth  Day. 

H.  heart,  d.c.  ductus  Cuvieri.  Into  the  ductus  Cuvieri  of  each 
side  fall  J.  the  jugular  vein,  W.  the  vein  from  the  wing  and 
C.  the  inferior  cardinal  vein.  S.  V.  sinus  venosus.  Of.  vitel- 
line vein.  U.  allantoic  vein,  which  at  this  stage  gives  off 
branches  to  the  body- walls.  V.C.I.  inferior  vena  cava. 
I.  liver. 

vertebral  vein  {8u.  J.  F.),  bringing  back  blood  from  the 
head  and  neck,  and  the  vein  from  the  wing  ( W). 

The  inferior  cardinal  veins  have  their  roots  in  the 
Wolffian  bodies;   they  become  developed,  pari  passu, 


IX.]  THE  VENOUS   SYSTEM.  285 

with  those  organs,  and  may  be  called  the  veins  of  the 
Wolffian  bodies.  On  the  third  day  they  are  the  only 
veins  which  bring  the  blood  back  from  the  hinder  part 
of  the  body  of  the  embryo. 

About  the  fourth  or  fifth  day,  however,  a  new  single 
venous  trunk,  the  vena  cava  inferior  (Fig.  89,  V.G.I.), 
makes  its  appearance  in  the  middle  line,  in  a  plane  more 
dorsal  than  that  of  the  cardinal  veins.  This,  starting 
from  the  sinus  venosus  not  far  from  the  heart,  is  on  the 
fifth  day  a  short  trunk  running  backward  in  the  middle 
line  below  the  aorta,  and  speedily  losing  itself  in  the 
tissues  above  the  Wolffian  bodies.  When  the  kidneys 
are  formed  it  receives  blood  from  them,  and  thencefor- 
ward enlarging  rapidly  eventually  becomes  the  channel 
by  which  the  greater  part  of  the  blood  from  the  hind  Hmbs 
and  the  hinder  part  of  the  body  finds  its  way  to  the  heart. 
In  proportion  as  this  vena  cava  inferior  increases  in  size, 
and  the  Wolffian  bodies  give  place  to  the  permanent 
kidneys,  the  posterior  cardinal  veins  diminish.  The 
blood  originally  coming  to  the  posterior  cardinals  from 
the  posterior  part  of  the  spinal  cord  and  trunk  is  trans- 
ported into  two  posterior  vertebral  veins;  which  are 
placed  dorsal  to  the  heads  of  the  ribs  and  join  the 
anterior  vertebral  veins.  With  the  appearance  of  these 
veins  the  anterior  part  of  the  posterior  cardinals  dis- 
appears. 

At  its  first  appearance  the  vena  cava  inferior  may 
be  considered  as  a  branch  of  the  trunk  which  we  have 
called  the  sinus  venosus,  but  as  development  proceeds, 
and  the  vena  cava  becomes  larger  and  larger,  the  sinus 
venosus  assumes  more  and  more  the  appearance  of  being 
merely  the  cardiac  termination  of  the  vena  cava,  and 


286  THE  SIXTH  DAY.  [CHAP. 

the  ductus  venosus  from  the  liver  may  now  be  said  to  join 
the  vena  cava  instead  of  being  prolonged  into  the  sinus. 
While  this  growth  of  the  vena  cava  is  going  on,  the 
points  at  which  the  ductus  Cuvieri  enter  into  the  sinus 
venosus  are  drawn  in  towards  the  heart  itself,  and  finally 
these  trunks  fall  directly  and  separately  into  the  auricular 
cavities,  and  are  henceforward  known  as  the  right  and 
left  vena  cava  superior  (Fig.  90,  V.8.R,  V.8.L.).     There 


Diagram  of  the  Venous  Circulation  during  the  Later 
Days  op  Incubation, 

H.  heart.  V.S.R.  right  vena  cava  superior.  V.S.L.  left  vena  cava 
superior.  The  two  vense  cavse  superiores  are  the  original 
'  ductus  Cuvieri,'  they  still  open  into  the  sinus  venosus  and 
not  independently  into  the  heart.  J.  jugular  vein.  SU.  V. 
superior  vertebral  vein.  In.  V.  inferior  vertebral  vein.  W. 
vein  for  the  wing.  V.C.I,  vena  cava  inferior,  which  receives 
most  of  the  blood  from  the  inferior  extremities,  etc.  I).  V. 
ductus  venosus.  P.V.  portal  vein.  M.  a  vein  bringing 
blood  from  the  intestines  into  the  portal  vein.  Of.  vitelline 
vein.  U.  allantoic  vein.  The  three  last  mentioned  veins 
unite  together  to  form  the  portal  vein.    I.  liver. 

The  remnants  of  the  inferior  cardinal  veins  are  not  shewn. 


IX.]  THE   VENOUS   SYSTEM.  287 

are  therefore,  when  these  changes  have  been  effected, 
three  separate  channels,  with  their  respective  orifices, 
by  which  the  blood  of  the  body  is  brought  back  to  the 
heart,  viz.  the  right  and  left  superior  and  the  inferior 
vense  cavse. 

While  the  auricular  septum  is  as  yet  unformed,  the 
blood  from  these  veins  falls  into  both  auricles,  perhaps 
more  into  the  left  than  into  the  right.  As  the  septum 
however  grows  up,  the  three  vessels  become  connected 
with  the  right  auricle  only  while  the  left  receives  the 
two  pulmonary  veins  coming  from  the  lungs.  (Compare 
Chap.  VII.  p.  228). 

On  the  third  day  the  course  of  the  vessels  from  the 
yolk-sac  is  very  simple.  The  two  vitelline  veins,  of 
which  the  right  is  already  the  smaller,  form  the  meatus 
venosus  from  which,  as  it  passes  through  the  liver  on  its 
way  to  the  heart,  are  given  off  the  two  sets  of  venae 
advehentes  and  venae  revehentes. 

With  the  appearance  of  the  allantois  on  the  fourth 
day,  a  new  feature  is  introduced.  From  the  meatus 
venosus,  a  short  distance  behind  the  hver,  there  is  given 
off  a  vein  which  quickly  divides  into  two  branches. 
These,  running  along  the  ventral  side  of  the  body  from 
the  walls  of  which  they  receive  some  amount  of  blood, 
pass  to  the  allantois.  They  are  the  allantoic  or  um- 
bihcal  veins.  The  single  vein  which  they  unite  to  form 
becomes,  by  reason  of  the  rapid  growth  of  the  allantois, 
very  long ;  and  hence  it  is  perhaps  better  to  speak  of  it 
as  the  allantoic  vein  (Fig.  90,  U).  The  right  branch 
soon  diminishes  in  size  and  finally  disappears.  Mean- 
while the  left  on  reaching  the  allantois  bifurcates ;  and, 
its  two  branches  becoming  large  and  conspicuous,  there 


288  THE   SIXTH   DAT.  [CHAP. 

still  appear  to  be  two  main  allantoic  veins  uniting  at  a 
short  distance  from  the  allantois  to  form  the  single  long 
allantoic  vein.  At  its  first  appearance  the  allantoic 
vein  seems  to  be  but  a  small  branch  of  the  vitelline, 
but  as  the  allantois  grows  rapidly,  and  the  yolk-sac 
dwindles,  this  state  of  things  is  reversed,  and  the  less 
conspicuous  vitelline  appears  as  a  branch  of  the  larger 
allantoic. 

On  the  third  day  the  blood  returning  from  the  walls 
of  the  intestine  is  insignificant  in  amount.  As  however 
the  intestine  becomes  more  and  more  developed,  it 
acquires  a  distinct  venous  system,  and  the  blood  sent  to 
it  by  branches  of  the  aorta  is  returned  by  veins  which 
form  a  trunk,  the  mesenteric  vein  (Fig.  90,  if),  falling 
into  the  vitelline  vein  at  its  junction  with  the  allantoic 
vein. 

These  three  great  veins  in  fact,  viz.  the  vitelline, 
the  allantoic,  and  the  mesenteric,  form  a  large  common 
trunk  which  enters  at  once  into  the  liver,  and  which  we 
may  now  call  the  portal  vein  (Fig.  90,  P.  V).  This,  at 
its  entrance  into  the  liver,  partly  breaks  up  into  the 
venae  advehentes,  and  partly  continues  as  the  ductus 
venosus  straight  through  the  liver,  emerging  from  which 
it  joins  the  vena  cava  inferior.  Before  the  establish- 
ment of  the  vena  cava  inferior,  the  venae  revehentes, 
carr3dng  back  the  blood  which  circulates  through  the 
hepatic  capillaries,  joined  the  ductus  venosus  close  to 
its  exit  from  the  liver  (Fig.  89).  By  the  time  however 
that  the  vena  cava  has  become  a  large  and  important 
vessel  it  is  found  that  the  venae  revehentes  or  as  we 
may  now  call  them  the  hepatic  veins  have  shifted  their 
embouchment  and  now  fall  directly  into  that  vein,  the 


IX.]  THE   VENOUS   SYSTEM.  289 

ductus  venosus  making  a  separate  junction  rather  higher 
up  (Fig.  90). 

This  state  of  things  continues  with  but  slight  changes 
till  near  the  end  of  incubation,  when  the  chick  begins 
to  breathe  the  air  in  the  air-chamber  of  the  shell,  and 
respiration  is  no  longer  carried  on  by  the  allantois. 
Blood  then  ceases  to  flow  along  the  allantoic  vessels; 
they  become  obliterated.  The  vitelline  vein,  which  as 
the  yolk  becomes  gradually  absorbed  proportionately 
diminishes  in  size  and  importance,  comes  to  appear  as 
a  mere  branch  of  the  portal  vein.  The  ductus  venosus 
becomes  closed,  remaining  often  as  a  mere  ligament; 
and  hence  the  whole  of  the  blood  coming  through  the 
portal  vein  flows  into  the  substance  of  the  Hver,  and 
so  by  the  two  hepatic  veins  into  the  vena  cava  (Fig. 
91,  HP). 

Previous  to  these  changes  one  of  the  veins  passing 
from  the  rectum  into  the  vena  cava  has  given  off  a 
branch  which  effects  a  junction  with  one  of  the  mesen- 
teric veins.  This  now  forms  a  somewhat  conspicuous 
connecting  branch  between  the  systems  of  the  vena 
cava  and  the  portal  vein  (Fig.  91,  Gy.  M.). 

All  three  venae  cavse  now  fall  exclusively  into  the 
right  auricle,  and  by  the  closure  of  the  foramen  ovale 
the  blood  flowing  through  them  is  entirely  shut  off  from 
the  left  auricle,  into  which  passes  the  blood  from  the 
two  pulmonary  veins  (Fig.  91,  L.V). 

Such  is  the  history  of  the  veins  in  the  chick.  As 
will  be  seen  in  the  second  part  of  this  work,  the  course 
of  events  in  the  mammal,  though  in  the  main  similar, 
differs  in  some  unimportant  respects. 

It  remains  for  us  to  speak  of  the  changes  which 
F.  &  B.  19 


290  THE   SIXTH    DAY.  [CHAP. 


Su,l: 


Cy.M 


Diagram  of  the  Venous  Circulation  of  the  Chick  after 
THE  Commencement  of  Eespiration  by  means  of  the 
Lungs. 

W.  wing  vein.  J.  jugular  vein.  8u.  Y.  superior  vertebral  vein. 
In.  V.  inferior  vertebral  vein.  These  unite  together  on  each 
side  to  form  the  corresponding  superior  vena  cava.  L.V. 
pulmonary  veins.  V.G.I,  vena  cava  inferior.  S.P.  hepatic 
veins.  F.  V.  portal  vein.  M.  mesenteric  veins.  Ci/.M.  con- 
necting vessel  between  the  branches  of  the  portal  vein  and 
the  system  of  the  vena  cava  inferior.  It  is  called  the  coccy- 
geo-mesenteric  vein,  and  unites  the  cross  branch  connecting 
the  two  hypogastrics  with  the  mesenteric  vein.  The  ductus 
venosus  has  become  obliterated.  The  three  vense  cavse  fall 
independently  into  the  right  auricle  and  the  pulmonary 
veins  into  the  left  auricle,  Cr.  crural  vein.  k.  kidney. 
I.  liver,    pp.  hypogastric  veins.     C.  V.  caudal  vein. 

have  in  the  meantime  been  taking  place  in  the  arterial 
system.  The  condition  of  things  v^hich  exists  on  the 
fifth  or  sixth  day  is  shewn  in  the  diagram  (Fig.  92). 


IX.]  THE  ARTERIAL  ARCHES.  291 

Fig.  92. 


W\ 


State  of  Arterial  Circulation   on   the   Fifth  or   Sixth 

Day. 

E.C.A.  external  carotid.    LC.A.  internal  carotid.     D.A.  dorsal 
aorta.     Of. A.  vitelline  artery.     U.A.  allantoic  artery. 

We  have  already  seen  (Chap.  vii.  p.  225)  that  of 
the  three  aortic  arches  which  make  their  appearance  on 
the  third  day,  the  first  two  disappear :  the  first  on  the 
fourth,  the  second  on  the  fifth  day ;  but  that  their  dis- 
appearance is  accompanied  by  the  formation  behind 
them  of  two  new  aortic  arches,  the  fourth  and  the  fifth. 
Thus  there  are  generally  three,  never  more  than  three, 
pairs  of  aortic  arches  present  and  functional  at  one  time. 

This  statement  needs  some  limitation  ;  for  according  to  Yon 
Baer  there  are  four  arches  present  both  on  the  fourth  and 
fifth  days.  In  the  case  of  the  fourth  day  a  shght  remnant  of  the 
first  pair  of  arches  still  persists  when  the  fourth  pair  is  already 
formed;  and  on  the  fifth  day  the  second  pair  has  not  entirely 
disappeared  when  the  fifth  pair  is  formed.  In  both  of  these 
cases  however  the  first  pair  of  arches  of  the  four  is  only  present 
for  a  very  short  time,  and  then  is  so  diminished  in  size  as  to  be 
of  no  importance. 

J  9— 2 


292  THE   SIXTH   DAY.  [CHAP. 

The  first  pair  of  arches,  before  it  entirely  disappears, 
sends  off  on  each  side  two  branches  towards  the  head. 
Of  these,  one  forms  the  direct  continuation  of  the  bulbus 
arteriosus  in  a  straight  line  from  the  point  where  the 
first  aortic  arch  leaves  it ;  primarily  distributed  to  the 
tongue  and  inferior  maxillary  region,  it  becomes  the 
external  carotid  (Fig.  92,  E.C.A.).  The  other,  starting 
from  the  point  where  the  aortic  arch  of  each  side  joins 
its  fellow,  dorsal  to  the  alimentary  canal,  to  form  the 
dorsal  aorta,  is  primarily  distributed  to  the  brain,  and 
becomes  the  internal  carotid  (Fig.  92,  I.G.A.). 

When  the  first  arch  disappears,  the  external  carotid 
arteries  still  remain  as  the  anterior  continuations  of  the 
bulbus  arteriosus.  And  since  the  dorsal  trunks  uniting 
the  distal  ends  of  the  first  and  second  arches  do  not 
become  obliterated  at  the  time  when  the  first  pair  of 
arches  disappears,  the  internal  carotids  remain  as 
branches  springing  from  the  distal  ends  of  the  second 
pair  of  arches ;  they  are  supplied  with  blood  from  that 
pair,  the  stream  in  which  flows  chiefly  towards  the  head 
instead  of  backwards  towards  the  dorsal  aorta,  as  is  the 
case  with  the  succeeding  arches.  When  the  second 
pair  of  arches  is  obliterated,  the  connecting  branch  with 
the  next  arch  is  again  left,  and  thus  the  internal  carotids 
appear  as  branches  from  the  distal  ends  of  the  third 
pair  of  arches. 

On  the  third  day  the  dorsal  aorta  does  not  for  any 
distance  remain  single  in  its  backward  course  along  the 
body,  but  soon  divides  into  two  trunks  which  run  one 
on  either  side  of  the  middle  line  of  the  body.  These 
two  trunks,  as  development  proceeds,  gradually  unite 
along  their  whole  length,  and  there  is  thus  formed  a 


IX.]  THE   PULMONARY   AETERIES.  293 

single  median  aorta  terminating  behind  in  the  caudal 
artery  (Figs.  92,  94).  The  arteries  to  the  kidneys, 
hind  limbs,  etc.  are  developed  as  branches  of  this  aorta. 

As  the  allantois  grows  rapidly  and  becomes  an  im- 
portant respiratory  organ,  the  allantoic  or  umbilical 
arteries  increase  in  size.  As  a  general,  though  ap- 
parently not  invariable  rule,  the  right  allantoic  artery 
gets  gradually  smaller  and  soon  disappears. 

The  vitelline  artery  {Of.  A)  now  leaves  the  aorta 
as  a  single  but  quickly  bifurcating  trunk,  which  at  the 
end  of  the  fifth  day  is  still  very  large. 

By  the  fifth  day  the  ventricular  portion  of  the  heart 
(compare  Chap.  vii.  p.  257)  is  completely  divided  into 
two  chambers.  The  bulbus  arteriosus  is  also  divided 
by  a  septum  into  two  channels,  one  of  which  com- 
municates with  the  right  ventricle  of  the  heart  and  the 
other  with  the  left. 

One  result  of  this  arrangement  is  that  all  the 
blood  which  passes  to  the  anterior  extremity  of  the 
body  comes  from  the  left  ventricle  of  the  heart. 

At  about  the  seventh  day  an  entire  separation 
begins  to  take  place  between  the  arterial  roots  which 
come  respectively  from  the  right  and  left  chambers  of 
the  heart.  The  root  from  the  right  chamber  (Fig.  93) 
remains  connected  with  the  fifth  pair  of  arches.  The 
root  from  the  left  ventricle  is  connected  with  the  third 
and  fourth  pairs  of  arches. 

The  lower  part  of  the  body  still  receives  blood  from 
both  the  right  and  left  ventricles,  since  the  blood  which 
enters  the  fifth  arch  still  flows  into  the  common  dorsal 
aorta.  As  the  lungs  however  increase  in  size,  a  com- 
munication is  set  up  between  them  and  the  fifth  pair  of 


294 


THE  SIXTH  DAY. 


[chap. 


Fig.  93. 


CCA 


R.S.C 


Ls.c 


Diagram  of  the  Condition  of  the  Arches  of  the  Aorta 

TOWARDS   the   ClOSE   OF   InCUBATION. 

I,  2,  3,  4,  5.  the  several  aortic  arches.  E.G. A.  external  carotid. 
I.G.A.  internal  carotid.  CCA.  common  carotid.  Ka.  ver- 
tebral artery.  R.sc.  right  subclavian.  L.sc.  left  subclavian. 
R.P.,  L.F.  right  and  left  pulmonary  arteries.  R.FA.  right 
arterial  root  or  division  of  the  bulbus  arteriosus,  or  pul- 
monary artery ;  the  left  root  or  division,  constituting  the 
aorta,  is  seen  by  its  side.  The  system  of  the  fifth  arch  is 
in  hghter  shading.  The  dotted  lines  shew  the  portions  of 
the  arches  which  have  been  obhterated. 


arches  in  the  shape  of  two  vessels  which,  springing  one 
from  the  arch  of  each  side,  grow  downwards  towards  the 
lungs.  At  first  small  and  narrow,  these  pulmonary- 
arteries,  for  such  they  are,  grow  rapidly  larger  and 
larger,  so  that  more  and  more  of  the  blood  from  the 
right  ventricle  is  carried  to  the  lungs. 

At  the  same  time  the  connection  between  the  third 
and  fourth  pairs  of  arches  on  each  side  grows  weaker ;  so 


IX.]  THE   CAKOTID   ARTEKIES.  295 

that  less  and  less  of  tlie  blood  whicli  flows  along  the 
third  pair  of  arches  is  able  to  pass  backwards  to  the 
hind  end  of  the  body. 

The  fourth  arch  of  the  right  side  now  becomes  the 
most  important  of  all  the  arches ;  and  nearly  the  whole 
of  the  blood  supplying  the  hinder  parts  of  the  body 
passes  through  it.  It  is  this  arch  which  remains  as 
the  permanent  aortic  arch  of  the  adult ;  and  it  is  im- 
portant to  notice  that  the  arch  which  forms  the  great 
dorsal  aorta  in  birds  is  the  fourth  on  the  right  side,  and 
not  as  in  mammals  the  fourth  on  the  left  side.  The 
fourth  arch  of  the  left  side  in  birds,  after  giving  off  the 
subclavian,  is  continued  as  an  exceedingly  small  and 
unimportant  vessel  to  join  the  fourth  right  arch.  It  is 
soon  obliterated. 

In  consequence  of  these  changes  the  condition  of 
the  aortiof  arches  during  the  latter  days  of  incubation, 
before  respiration  by  the  lungs  has  commenced,  is  as 
follows  (Fig.  93). 

The  first  and  second  arches  are  completely  ob- 
literated. The  third  arch  on  each  side  is  continued  at 
its  dorsal  end  as  the  internal  carotid,  I.G.A,  the  con- 
nection between  it  and  the  fourth  arch  having  become 
entirely  obliterated.  From  its  ventral  end  as  the  direct 
continuation  of  the  trunk  which  originally  supplied  the 
first  and  second  arches  the  external  carotid,  E.  G.A.,  is 
given  off.  Each  pair  of  carotids  arises  therefore  from  a 
common  trunk — the  common  carotid  {CO. A).  Each 
of  these  trunks  gives  off  near  its  proximal  end  a  branch, 
the  vertebral  artery  (Y.a). 

The  common  carotid  on  the  right  side  comes  off 
from  the  fourth  arch  of  the  right  side  (the  arch  of  the 


296  THE   SIXTH   DAY.  [CHAP. 

dorsal  aorta),  and  is  not  as  yet  connected  with  the  right 
subclavian,  B.sc.  The  common  carotid  of  the  left  side 
comes  off  from  the  fourth  arch  of  the  left  side ;  but  since 
this  arch  becomes  the  left  subclavian,  L.sc.  (the  connec- 
tion between  the  fourth  and  fifth  left  arches  being- 
obliterated),  the  portion  of  the  trunk  between  the  fourth 
arch  and  the  bulbus  arteriosus  (or  as  it  must  now  be 
called  the  common  aortic  root)  is  called  the  left 
innominate  artery. 

The  fourth  arch  of  the  right  side  forms  the  com- 
mencement of  the  great  dorsal  aorta,  and  gives  off  the 
right  subclavian  (R.sc.)  just  before  it  is  joined  by  the 
fifth  arch. 

The  fifth  arch  of  each  side  gives  off  branches  (B.P.^ 
L.P.)  to  the  lungs ;  their  distal  continuations,  by  which 
these  arches  are  connected  with  the  systemic  circulation,, 
though  much  reduced,  are  not  obliterated. 

The  final  changes  undergone  by  the  arterial  system 
after  the  commencement  of  the  pulmonary  respiration 
consist  chiefly  in  the  complete  separation  of  the  pul- 
monary and  systemic  circulations.  As  the  branches  to 
the  lungs  become  stronger  and  stronger,  less  and  less- 
blood  from  the  right  ventricle  enters  into  the  dorsal 
aorta ;  and  the  connecting  vessels  become  smaller  and 
smaller. 

Each  of  these  fifth  arches  from  the  right  ventricle 
may  therefore  be  considered  at  about  the  sixteenth  or 
eighteenth  day  as  divided  into  two  parts,  an  inner  part 
which  connects  the  heart  with  the  lung,  and  an  outer 
part  which'  still  connects  the  arch  with  the  main  dorsal 
aorta.  As  these  outer  parts  become  smaller  they  re- 
ceive the  name  of  the  '  ductus  or  canales  Botalli '  or 


IX.]  SUMMARY.  297 

'ductus  arteriosi.'  The  one  on  the  right  side  is  short; 
that  on  the  left  side  is  much  longer  and  narrower. 

When  respiration  commences  the  blood  ceases  to 
pass  through  these  canals,  which  either  remain  as  mere 
ligaments  or  else  become  absorbed  altogether.  By  this 
means,  the  foramen  ovale  becoming  at  the  same  time 
closed,  a  complete  double  circulation  is  established.  All 
the  blood  from  the  right  ventricle  passes  into  the  lungs, 
and  all  that  from  the  left  ventricle  into  the  body  at 
large. 

Two  other  changes  take  place  about  the  same  time 
in  the  aortic  branches.  That  portion  of  the  right  fourth 
or  aortic  arch  which  lies  between  the  origin  of  the  right 
subclavian  and  the  common  carotid  becomes  shortened, 
and  is  finally  swallowed  up  in  such  a  fashion  that  the 
right  subclavian  (Fig.  94,  R.  sc.)  comes  off  from  the 
right  common  carotid,  a  very  short  trunk  being  formed 
by  the  union  of  the  two  to  serve  as  the  right  innomi- 
nate artery. 

At  the  same  time,  corresponding  to  the  increase  in 
the  length  of  the  neck,  the  common  carotids  are  very 
greatly  lengthened.  They  lie  close  together  in  the 
neck,  and  in  many  birds  actually  unite  to  form  a  com- 
mon trunk. 

It  will  of  course  be  understood  that  with  the  dis- 
appearance of  the  allantois  and  the  absorption  of  the 
yolk,  the  allantoic  and  vitelline  arteries  also  disappear. 

It  may  perhaps  be  of  advantage  to  the  reader  if  we 
here  briefly  summarize  the  condition  of  the  circulation 
at  its  four  most  important  epochs;  viz.  on  the  third 
day,  on  the  fifth  day,  during  the  later  days  of  incu- 
bation before  respiration  by  the  lungs  has  commenced. 


298 


THE  SIXTH  DAY. 


[chap. 


CCA- 


B.sc 


•  mes 


'-^i^: 


.fern 


caw 

Diagram  of  the  Arterial  System  of  the  Adult  Fowl. 

F.A.  root  of  pulmonary  artery.  L.in.  left  innominate  artery. 
B.A.  dorsal  aorta.  Coe.  cseliac  arteries,  mes.  mesenteric 
artery,  ar.r.  renal  arteries,  fern,  femoral  arteries.  Is. 
ischiatic  arteries,  hyp.  hypogastric  arteries,  cau.  caudal 
artery.     The  other  letters  as  in  Fig.  93. 

and   after   the   chick   has   begun    to    breathe   by  the 
lungs. 

On  the  third  day  the  circulation  is  of  an  exceed- 
ingly simple  character. 


IX.]  SUMMARY.  299 

The  heart  is  to  all  intents  and  purposes  a  simple 
twisted  tube  marked  off  by  constrictions  into  a  series  of 
three  consecutive  chambers.  The  blood  coming  from 
the  venous  radicles  passes  through  the  heart  and  then 
through  the  three  pairs  of  arterial  arches. 

From  these  it  is  collected  into  the  great  dorsal 
aorta.  Upon  this  dividing  into  two  branches,  the  stream 
of  blood  passes  down  on  each  side  of  the  notochord 
along  the  body,  and  thence  out  by  the  vitelline  arteries, 
which  distribute  it  to  the  yolk-sac. 

In  the  yolk-sac  it  partly  passes  into  the  sinus  termi- 
nalis  and  so  into  the  fore  and  aft  trunks,  partly  directly 
into  the  lateral  trunks,  of  the  vitelline  veins.  In  both 
cases  it  is  brought  back  to  the  two  venous  radicles  and 
so  to  the  heart. 

On  this  day  the  blood  is  aerated  in  the  capillaries  of 
the  yolk-sac. 

On  the  fifth  or  sixth  day  the  two  auricles  are 
present  though  having  a  common  cavity.  The  septum 
of  the  ventricles  is  nearly  complete,  so  that  the  blood 
on  entering  the  ventricles  from  the  auricles  is  divided 
into  two  streams.  These  two  streams  pass  respectively 
from  the  right  and  left  chambers  of  the  heart  into  the 
two  divisions  of  the  bulbus  arteriosus.  The  blood  from 
the  right  ventricle  passes  into  the  fifth  pair  of  arches 
and  that  from  the  left  ventricle  into  the  third  and 
fourth  pairs  of  arches. 

From  the  anterior  parts  the  blood  is  brought  back 
by  the  anterior  cardinal  or  jugular  veins;  from  the 
hinder  parts  of  the  body,  chiefly  by  the  cardinal  veins, 
but  also  in  part  by  the  now  commencing  vena  cava 
inferior. 


300  THE   SIXTH   DAY.  [CHAP. 

The  blood  from  the  yolk-sac  and  allantois,  together 
with  a  small  quantity  from  the  intestine,  is  collected 
into  the  portal  vein,  and  by  that  vessel  carried  to  the 
liver.  Here  it  becomes  divided  into  two  streams,  part 
flowing  directly  by  the  ductus  venosus  into  the  sinus 
venosus,  and  the  remainder  passing  through  the  capil- 
laries of  the  liver,  being  brought  back  to  the  ductus 
venosus  by  the  hepatic  veins. 

During  this  period  the  blood  is  aerated  both  by  the 
allantois  and  yolk-sac,  but  as  yet  chiefly  by  the  latter. 

At  a  somewhat  late  period  of  incubation  the 
blood  from  the  ventricles  passes  into  two  entirely  dis- 
tinct roots.  The  one  of  these,  that  from  the  right 
chamber,  sends  the  blood  to  the  fifth  pair  of  arches; 
passing  through  which  the  greater  part  of  the  blood 
flows  into  the  dorsal  aorta,  a  small  portion  only  finding 
its  way  into  the  lungs  through  the  as  yet  unimportant 
pulmonary  arteries. 

Through  the  other  aortic  root,  viz.  that  from  the 
left  ventricle,  the  blood  flows  into  the  third  and  fourth 
pairs  of  arches.  That  part  of  the  blood  which  flows 
into  the  third  pair,  passes  almost  'entirely  to  the  head 
and  upper  extremities  by  the  external  and  internal 
carotids ;  that  which  flows  into  the  right  arch  of 
the  fourth  pair  is  chiefly  brought  to  the  dorsal  aorta, 
but  some  of  it  passes  to  the  right  wing ;  that,  on  the 
contrary,  which  goes  into  the  left  fourth  arch  is  for  the 
most  part  sent  to  the  left  wing,  a  small  part  only  reach- 
ing the  dorsal  aorta.  There  is  still  a  mixture  of  the 
blood  from  the  two  chambers  of  the  heart,  so  that  the 
blood  in  the  dorsal  aorta  is  composed  partly  of  blood 
from   the   left,  and   partly  from   the   right   chambers. 


IX.]  SUMMARY.  301 

The  blood  of  the  upper  (anterior)  end  of  the  body- 
comes  entirely  from  the  left  ventricle. 

The  blood  of  the  dorsal  aorta  passes  to  the  yolk- 
sac  and  allantois,  and  to  all  the  hinder  parts  of  the 
body.  It  is  brought  back  from  the  yolk-sac,  from  the 
allantois,  and  to  a  certain  extent  from  the  intestines,  by 
the  portal  vein,  part  of  the  blood  from  which  passes  to 
the  inferior  vena  cava  by  the  direct  course  (ductus 
venosus),  and  part  indirectly  by  the  more  circuitous 
course  of  the  capillaries  of  the  liver  and  hepatic  veins. 

The  blood  from  the  generative  and  urinary  organs, 
and  from  the  hinder  extremities,  is  brought  back  to  the 
heart  by  the  vena  cava  inferior ;  that  from  the  upper 
extremities  and  head  by  the  jugular,  vertebral  and 
wing  veins  into  the  two  venae  cavse  of  the  right  and 
left  side,  and  so  to  the  heart.  Of  these  three  vense 
cavse,  the  right  superior  and  the  inferior  join  the 
auricle  by  a  common  entrance,  but  the  left  superior 
has  an  entrance  of  its  own.  All  of  these  open  into 
the  cavity  of  the  right  auricle,  but  the  opening  of 
the  inferior  vena  cava  is  so  directed  (vide  Chap.  viii. 
p.  263)  that  the  blood  carried  by  this  vessel  flows 
chiefly  through  the  foramen  ovale  into  the  left  auricle. 
The  blood  from  the  two  superior  vense  cavse  enters  the 
right  auricle  only.  Now  the  blood  of  the  inferior 
vena  cava  has  been  partly  aerated  by  the  allantois; 
and,  since  it  is  this  blood  which  passing  through  the 
left  auricle  and  ventricle  is  distributed  to  the  third 
aortic  arch,  unmixed  by  any  blood  from  the  right  ven- 
tricle (the  mixture  with  the  blood  from  the  fifth  arch 
Teaching  only  as  far  as  the  fourth  arch),  it  happens 
that  the  blood  which  flows  to  the  anterior  extremities 


302  THE   SIXTH  DAY.  [CHAP. 

and  head  is  more  aerated  than  that  in  any  other  part 
of  the  body. 

From  the  anterior  extremities  the  blood  is  to  a 
great  extent  returned  by  the  left  superior  cava,  and 
goes  into  the  right  auricle,  whence,  by  the  right  ven- 
tricle, it  is  distributed  through  the  fifth  pair  of  arches 
over  the  body,  after  joining  the  more  aerated  blood 
passing  through  the  fourth  pair  of  arches. 

The  blood  from  the  lungs  is  brought  back  by  two 
small  veins  into  the  left  auricle. 

The  characteristics  of  the  circulation  at  this  time  are 
that  the  blood  is  aerated  by  the  allantois,  and  that  there 
is  a  partial  double  circulation.    (Yide  Chap.  viii.  p.  263.) 

As  soon  as  respiration  commences  the  canals 
leading  to  the  dorsal  aorta  from  the  fifth  pair  of  arches, 
which  communicate  only  with  the  right  ventricle,  be- 
come closed.  The  blood  passing  along  the  fifth  arch 
now  flows  only  into  the  lungs,  through  the  pulmonary 
arteries.  The  blood  from  the  left  ventricle  owing  to 
the  cessation  of  the  circulation  of  the  yolk-sac  and  of  the 
allantois  is  distributed  exclusively  to  the  body  of  the 
chick,  from  whence  it  is  all  brought  back  into  the  right 
auricle  by  the  three  now  independently  opening  venae 
cavse. 

The  portal  veins  henceforward  receive  blood  from 
the  intestines  only,  and  the  ductus  venosus  is  ob- 
literated, so  that  all  the  blood  of  the  portal  vein  passes 
through  the  capillaries  of  the  liver. 

The  partition  between  the  auricles  is  rendered  com- 
plete by  the  closure  of  the  foramen  ovale;  into  the 
right  auricle  the  veins  of  the  body  enter,  and  into  the 
left  the  pulmonary  veins. 


IX.]  HATCHING.  303 

There  is  thus  a  completely  double  circulation  formed, 
in  which  all  the  blood  of  the  left  ventricle  is  arterial, 
and  all  the  blood  of  the  right  ventricle  venous,  and 
there  is  at  no  part  of  the  circulation  a  mixture  of  venous 
and  arterial  blood. 

As  early  as  the  sixth  day  movements,  as  we  have 
said,  may  be  seen  in  the  limbs  of  the  embryo  upon 
opening  the  egg.  We  may  conclude  that  after  this 
epoch  spontaneous  movements  occur  from  time  to  time 
in  the  unopened  egg.  They  cannot  however  be  of  any 
great  extent  until  the  fourteenth  day,  for  up  to  this 
time  the  embryo  retains  the  position  in  which  it  was 
first  formed,  viz.  with  its  body  at  right  angles  to  the 
long  axis  of  the  egg. 

On  the  fourteenth  day  a  definite  change  of  position 
takes  place ;  the  chick  moves  so  as  to  lie  lengthways  in 
the  egg,  with  its  beak  touching  the  chorion  and  shell 
membrane  where  they  form  the  inner  wall  of  the 
rapidly  increasing  air-chamber  at  the  broad  end  (Chap. 
I.  p.  3). 

On  the  twentieth  day  or  thereabouts  the  beak  is 
thrust  through  these  membranes,  and  the  bird  begins 
to  breathe  the  air  contained  in  the  chamber.  There- 
upon the  pulmonary  circulation  becomes  functionally 
active,  and  at  the  same  time  blood  ceases  to  flow 
through  the  umbilical  arteries.  The  allantois  shrivels 
up,  the  umbilicus  becomes  completely  closed,  and  the 
chick  piercing  the  shell  at  the  broad  end  of  the  egg 
with  repeated  blows  of  its  beak,  casts  off  the  dried  re- 
mains of  allantois,  amnion  and  chorion,  and  steps  out 
into  the  world. 


PAET  11. 

THE    HISTORY    OF    THE    MAMMALIAN 
EMBRYO. 


F.&B.  20 


INTRODUCTION. 


The  most  important  difference  between  tlie  de- 
velopment of  Mammalia  and  Aves  depends  upon  the 
amount  and  distribution  of  the  food-yolk  in  the  ovum. 
In  birds,  as  we  have  seen  (Ch,  I.),  the  ovum  is  large  and 
the  greater  part  of  it  so  heavily  charged  with  food-yolk 
that  it  is  unable  to  segment.  The  segmentation  is  con- 
fined to  one  small  portion,  the  germinal  disc,  the  pro- 
toplasm of  which  is  less  burdened  with  food-yolk  than 
that  of  the  remainder  of  the  ovum.  Such  partial  seg- 
mentation is  known  as  merohlastic. 

In  Mammals,  on  the  other  hand,  the  ovum  is  smalP, 
and  contains  but  a  slight  amount  of  food-yolk ;  the  little 
there  is  being  distributed  uniformly  throughout.  In  con- 
sequence of  this  the  whole  ovum  is  able  to  segment ;  the 
segmentation  therefore  belongs  to  the  Jioloblastic  type. 
This  fundamental  difference  in  the  constitution  of  the 
ovum  of  Birds  and  Mammals  is  accompanied  not  only  by 
differences  in  the  segmentation  but  also  by  impoifcant 
differences,  as  we  shall  see,  in  the  stages  of  development 
which   immediately   follow  segmentation.      Finally,  in 

^  The  human  ovarian  ovum  is  yl-g-  to  ^|^  of  an  inch  in  diameter. 

20—2 


308  INTRODUCTION. 

birds,  as  we  have  seen,  the  nutrition  of  the  developing 
embryo  is  entirely  effected  at  the  expense  of  the  fbod- 
yolk  and  albumen  with  which  the  ovum  was  charged 
in  the  ovary  and  oviduct  respectively,  and  the  eggs 
leave  the  parent  very  soon  after  the  close  of  segmenta- 
tion. In  the  Mammalia  the  absence  of  sufficient  food- 
yolk  necessitates  the  existence  of  some  other  source  of 
nutriment  for  the  embryo,  and  that  source  is  mainly  the 
maternal  blood. 

The  development  of  Mammalia  may  be  divided  into 
two  periods  :  1.  the  development  within  the  uterus ;  2. 
the  development  after  birth. 

In  all  the  higher  Mammalia  the  second  period  is  very 
unimportant,  as  compared  with  the  first ;  for  the  young 
are  born  in  a  condition  closely  resembling  that  of  the 
adult  of  the  species  to  which  they  belong.  The  de- 
velopment during  the  first  period  takes  place  in  the 
uterus  of  the  mother,  and  nutriment  passes  from  the 
maternal  blood  to  that  of  the  embryo  by  means  of  a 
structure,  to  be  described  in  detail  hereafter,  known  as 
the  placenta.  This  difference  between  the  development 
of  Birds  and  Mammals  may  be  briefly  expressed  by  saying 
that  the  former  are  oviparous,  while  the  latter  are  vivi- 
parous. 

The  source  of  nutriment  during  the  second  period 
is  the  Mammary  glands.  In  certain  of  the  lower  Mam- 
malia (Marsupials)  the  young  are  born  in  a  very  im- 
mature condition,  and  become  attached  by  their  mouths 
to  the  nipples  of  these  glands.  They  are  carried 
about,  usually  in  a  special  pouch  (marsupium)  by  the 
mother,  and  undergo  in  this  position  the  greater  part  of 
the  remainder  of  their  development. 


CHAPTER  X. 

GENERAL  DEVELOPMENT  OF  THE  EMBRYO. 

There  is  a  close  agreement  in  the  history  of  the 
development  of  the  emhryo  of  the  various  kinds  of 
Mammals.  We  may  therefore  take  one,  the  Rabbit,  as 
a  type.  There  are  without  doubt  considerable  varia- 
tions to  be  met  with  in  the  early  development  even  of 
species  nearly  allied  to  the  Rabbit,  but  at  present  the 
true  value  of  these  variations  is  not  understood,  and 
they  need  not  concern  us  here. 

The  ovarian  ovum.  Mammals  possess  two  ovaries 
situated  in  the  body  cavity,  one  on  either  side  of  the 
vertebral  column  immediately  posterior  to  the  kidneys. 
They  are  somewhat  flattened  irregularly  oval  bodies,  a 
portion  of  the  surface  being  generally  raised  into  pro- 
tuberances due  to  projecting  follicles. 

In  an  early  stage  of  development  the  follicle  in  the 
mammalian  ovary  is  similar  to  that  of  the  fowl,  and  is 
formed  of  flat  cells  derived  from  the  germinal  cells  ad- 
joining the  ovum.  As  development  proceeds  however 
it  becomes  remarkably  modified.  These  flat  cells  sur- 
rounding the  ovum  become  columnar  and  then  one  or 
two  layers  deep.  Later  they  become  thicker  on  one 
side  of  the  ovum  than  on  the  other,  and  there  appears 


310  THE  MAMMALIAN   EMBRYO.  [CHAP. 

in  the  thickened  mass  a  cavity  which  gradually  becomes 
more  and  more  distended  and  filled  with  an  albuminous 
fluid. 

As  the  cavity  enlarges,  the  ovum,  around  which  are 
several  layers -of  cells,  forms  a  prominence  projecting 
into  it.  The  follicle  cells  are  known  as  the  membrana 
granulosa,  and  the  projection  in  which  the  ovum  lies  as 
the  discus  or  cumulus  proligerus.  The  whole  structure 
with  its  tunic  is  known  as  the  Graafian  follicle. 

If  the  ovary  of  a  mature  female  during  the  breeding 
season  be  examined,  certain  of  the  protuberances  on  its 
surface  may  be  seen  to  be  considerably  larger  than  others; 
they  are  more  transparent  than  their  fellows  and  their 
outer  covering  appears  more  tense ;  these  are  Graafian 
follicles  containing  nearly  or  quite  ripe  ova.  Upon  pierc- 
ing one  of  these  follicles  with  a  needle-point  the  ovum 
contained  therein  spirts  forth  together  with  a  not  incon- 
siderable amount  of  clear  fluid. 

Egg  Membranes.  The  ovum  is  surrounded  by  a 
radiately  striated  membrane,  the  zona  radiata,  internal 
to  which  in  the  nearly  ripe  egg  a  delicate  membrane 
has  been  shown,  by  Ed.  v.  Beneden,  to  exist.  The  cells 
of  the  discus  are  supported  upon  an  irregular  granular 
membrane  external  to  the  zona  radiata.  This  mem- 
brane is  more  or  less  distinctly  separated  from  the  zona, 
and  the  mode  of  its  development  renders  it  probable 
that  it  is  the  remnant  of  the  first  formed  membrane 
in  the  young  ovum  and  is  therefore  the  vitelline  mem- 
brane. 

Maturation  and  impregnation  of  the  ovum.  As 
the  ovum  placed  in  the  Graafian  follicle  approaches 
maturity   the   germinal   vesicle   assumes   an   excentric 


X.]  IMPEEGNATION.  311 

position  and  undergoes  a  series  of  changes  which  have 
not  been  fully  worked  out,  but  which  probably  are  of 
the  same  nature  as  those  which  have  been  observed  in 
other  types  (p.  17).  The  result  of  the  changes  is  the 
formation  of  one  or  more  polar  bodies,  and  the  nucleus 
of  the  mature  ovum  (female  pronucleus). 

At  certain  periods  one  or  more  follicles  containing  a 
ripe  ovum  bursty  and  their  contents  are  received  by 
the  fimbriated  extremity  of  the  Fallopian  tube  which 
appears  according  to  Hensen  to  clasp  the  ovary  at  the 
time.  The  follicle  after  the  exit  of  the  ovum  becomes 
filled  with  blood  and  remains  as  a  conspicuous  object  on 
the  surface  of  the  ovary  for  some  days.  It  becomes 
eventually  a  corpus  luteum.  The  ovum  travels  slowly 
down  the  Fallopian  tube.  It  is  still  invested  by  the 
zona  radiata,  and  in  the  rabbit  an  albuminous  envelope 
is  formed  around  it  in  its  passage  downwards.  Im- 
pregnation takes  place  in  the  upper  part  of  the  Fallo- 
pian tube,  and  is  shortly  followed  by  the  segmentation, 
which  is  remarkable  amongst  the  Amniota  for  being 
complete^. 

The  entrance  of  the  spermatozoon  into  the  ovum 
and  its  subsequent  fate  have  not  been  observed.  Van 
Beneden  describes  in  the  rabbit  the  formation  of  the 
first  segmentation  nucleus  (i.  e.  the  nucleus  of  the  ovum 
after  fertilization)  from  two  nuclei,  one  peripheral  and 
the  other  ventral,  and  deduces  from  his  observations 

1  So  far  as  is  known  there  is  no  relation  between  the  bursting  of 
the  follicle  and  the  act  of  coition. 

^  It  is  stated  by  Bischoff  that  shortly  after  impregnation,  and 
before  the  commencement  of  the  segmentation,  the  ova  of  the  rabbit 
and  guinea-pig  are  covered  with  cilia  and  exhibit  the  phenomenon  of 
rotation.     This  has  not  been  noticed  by  other  observers. 


312 


THE  MAMMALIAN   EMBRYO. 


[chap, 


that  the  peripheral  nucleus  was  derived  from  the  sper- 
matic element. 

Segmentation.  The  process  of  segmentation  oc- 
cupies in  the  rabbit  about  72  hours;  but  the  time  of 
this  and  all  other  stages  of  development  varies  con- 
siderably in  different  animals. 

The  details  of  segmentation  in  the  rabbit  are  differ- 
ently described  by  various  observers ;  but  at  the  close  of 
segmentation  the  ovum  appears  undoubtedly  to  be 
composed  of  an  outer  layer  of  cubical  hyaline  cells, 
almost  entirely  surrounding  an  inner  mass  of  highly 
granular  rounded  or  polygonal  cells. 

Fig.  95. 


Optical  Sections    of    a    Rabbit's    Ovum  at   two    Stages 

CLOSELY  following  UPON  THE  SEGMENTATION. 

(After  E.  van  Beneden.) 

ep.  outer  layer ;  hy.  inner  mass  ;  hjp.  Van  Beneden's  blastopore. 

The  shading  of  the  outer  and  inner  layers  is  diagrammatic. 

In  a  small  circular  area  however  the  inner  mass  of 
cells  remains  exposed  at  the  surface  (Fig.  95,  A).     This 


X.]  SEGMENTATION.  313 

exposed  spot  may  for  convenience  be  called  with  v.  Bene- 
den  the  blastopore,  thongb,  as  will  be  seen  by  the  ac- 
count given  of  the  subsequent  development,  it  in  no 
way  corresponds  with  the  blastopore  of  other  vertebrate 
ova. 

In  the  following  account  of  the  segmentation  of  the  rabbit's 
ovum,  v.  Beneden's  description  is  followed  as  far  as  the  details 
are  concerned,  his  nomenclature  is  however  not  adhered  to^. 

According  to  v.  Beneden  the  ovum  first  divides  into  two 
nearly  equal  spheres,  of  which  one  is  slightly  larger  and  more 
transparent  than  the  other.  The  larger  sphere  and  its  products 
wiU  be  spoken  of  as  the  outer  spheres,  and  the  smaller  one 
and  its  products  as  the  inner  spheres,  in  accordance  with  their 
different  destinations. 

Both  the  spheres  are  soon  divided  into  two,  and  each  of  the 
four  so  formed  into  two  again  ;  and  thus  a  stage  with  eight 
spheres  ensues.  At  the  moment  of  their  first  separation  these 
spheres  are  spherical,  and  arranged  in  two  layers,  one  of  them 
formed  of  the  four  outer,  and  the  other  of  the  four  inner  spheres. 
This  position  is  not  long  retained,  for  one  of  the  inner  spheres 
passes  to  the  centre ;  and  the  whole  ovum  again  takes  a  spherical 
form. 

In  the  next  phase  of  segmentation  each  of  the  four  outer 
spheres  divides  into  two,  and  the  ovum  thus  becomes  constituted 
of  twelve  spheres,  eight  outer  and  four  inner.  The  outer  spheres 
have  now  become  markedly  smaller  than  the  inner. 

The  four  inner  spheres  next  divide  giving  rise,  together  with 
the  eight  outer  spheres,  to  sixteen  spheres  in  all ;  which  are 
nearly  uniform  in  size.  Of  the  eight  inner  spheres  four  soon 
pass  to  the  centre,  while  the  eight  now  superficial  outer  spheres 
form  a  kind  of  cup  partially  enclosing  the  inner  spheres.  The 
outer  spheres  now  divide  in  their  turn,  giving  rise  to  sixteen 

1  The  cells  spoken  of  as  the  outer  layer  correspond  to  Van  Beneden's 
epiblast,  whilst  those  cells  spoken  of  as  the  inner  correspond  to  his 
primitive  hypoblast. 


314  THE   MAMMALIAN    EMBRYO.  [CHAP. 

spheres  which  largely  enclose  the  inner  spheres.  The  segmenta- 
tion of  both  outer  and  inner  spheres  continues,  and  in  the  course 
of  it  the  outer  spheres  spread  further  and  further  over  the  inner, 
so  that  at  the  close  of  segmentation  the  inner  spheres  constitute  a 
central  solid  mass  almost  entirely  surrounded  by  the  outer 
spheres.  In  a  small  circular  area  however  the  inner  mass  of 
spheres  remain  for  some  time  exposed  at  the  surface  (Fig.  95  A). 

The  blastodermic  vesicle.  After  its  segmentation 
the  ovum  passes  into  the  uterus.  The  outer  cells  soon 
grow  over  the  blastopore  and  thus  form  a  complete 
superficial  layer.  A  series  of  changes  next  take  place 
which  result  in  tbe  formation  of  what  has  been  called 
the  blastodermic  vesicle. 

These  changes  commence  with  the  appearance  of  a 
narrow  cavity  between  the  outer  and  inner  layers,  which 
extends  so  as  completely  to  separate  tbem  except  in  the 
region  adjoining  the  original  site  of  the  blastopore  (Fig. 
95  B)^.  The  cavity  so  formed  rapidly  enlarges,  and 
with  it  the  ovum  also ;  so  that  this  soon  takes  the  form 
of  a  thin  walled  vesicle  with  a  large  central  cavity. 
This  vesicle  is  the  blastodermic  vesicle.  The  greater 
part  of  its  walls  are  formed  of  a  single  row  of  flattened 
outer  layer  cells;  while  the  inner  mass  of  cells  forms 
a  small  lens-shaped  mass  attached  to  the  inner  side  of 
the  outer  layer  (Fig.  96). 

Although  by  this  stage,  which  occurs  in  the  rabbit 
between  seventy  and  ninety  hours  after  impregnation, 
the  blastodermic  vesicle  has  by  no  means  attained  its 
greatest   dimensions,  it   has   nevertheless   grown   from 

1  Van  Beneden  regards  it  as  probable  that  the  blastopore  is 
situated  somewhat  excentrically  in  relation  to  the  area  of  attachment 
of  the  inner  mass  to  the  outer  layer. 


X.] 


BLASTODEEMIC   VESICLE. 


315 


about  0'09  mm. — the  size  of  the  ovum  at  the  close 
segmentation — to  about  0"28  in  diameter.  It  is  en- 
closed by  the  zona  radiata  and  the  albuminous  layer 


Fig.  96. 


Eabbit's  Ovum  between  70 — 90  Hours  after  Impregnation. 
(After  E.  van  Beneden.) 

hv.  cavity   of  blastodermic   vesicle   (jolk-sac) ;   ep.  outer  layer ; 
hy.  inner  mass  ;  Zp.  albuminous  envelope. 


around  it.  The  blastodermic  vesicle  continues  to 
enlarge  rapidly,  and  during  the  process  the  inner  mass 
undergoes  important  changes.  It  spreads  out  on  the 
inner  side  of  the  outer  layer  and  at  the  same  time  loses 
its  lens-like  form  and  becomes  flattened.     The  central 


316  THE  MAMMALIAN   EMBRYO.  [CHAP. 

part  of  it  remains  however  thicker,  and  is  constituted 
of  two  rows  of  cells,  while  the  peripheral  part,  the  outer 
boundary  of  which  is  irregular,  is  formed  of  an  imperfect 
layer  of  amoeboid  cells  which  continually  spread  further 
and  further  beneath  the  outer  layer.  The  central  thick- 
ening of  the  inner  layer  forms  an  opaque  circular  spot 
on  the  blastoderm,  which  constitutes  the  commencement 
of  the  embryonic  area. 

The  formation  of  the  layers.  The  history  of  the 
stages  immediately  following,  from  about  the  com- 
mencement of  the  fifth  day  to  the  seventh  day,  when  a 
primitive  streak  makes  its  appearance,  is  not  perfectly 
understood,  and  has  been  interpreted  very  differently  by 
various  observers.  The  following  account  must  there- 
fore be  considered  as  a  tentative  one. 

About  five  days  after  impregnation  the  cells  of  the 
inner  mass  in  the  embryonic  area  become  divided  into 
two  distinct  strata,  an  upper  stratum  of  rounded  cells 
adjoining  the  flattened  outer  layer  and  a  lower  stratum 
of  flattened  cells.  This  lower  stratum  is  the  true  hypo- 
blast (Fig.  97).  At  the  edge  of  the  embryonic  area  the 
hjrpoblast  is  continuous  with  a  peripheral  ring  of  the 
amoeboid  cells  of  the  earlier  stage,  which  now  form, 
except  at  the  edge  of  the  ring,  a  continuous  layer  of 
flattened  cells  in  contact  with  the  outer  layer.  During 
the  sixth  day  the  middle  layer  becomes  fused  with  the 
outer  layer,  and  gives  rise  to  a  layer  of  cells  which  are 
columnar  and  are  arranged  in  the  rabbit  in  a  single 
row  (Fig.  98).  They  form  together  the  true  epiblast  of 
the  embryonic  area. 

At  this  stage  therefore  the  embryonic  area,  which  is 
circular,  is  formed  throughout  of  two  single  layers  of 


X.] 


FORMATION   OF   THE   LAYERS. 


817 


cells,  a  columnar  epiblast  and  a  layer  of  flattened  hypo- 
blast. 

Fig.  97. 


Section  through  the  nearly  Circular  Embryonic  Area  of 

A  Rabbit  Ovum  of  Six  Days. 

(From  Allen  Thomson,  after  E.  van  Beneden.) 

ect.  upper  layer ;  mes.  middle  layer ;  ent.  true  hypoblast. 

Fig.  98. 


Section  through    the    Blastoderm  of   a   Rabbit  on   the 
Seventh    Day  :    taken    in    front    of    the    Primitive 

Streak.  . 

Half  of  the  area  is  represented. 


Towards  the  end  of  the  sixth  day  the  embryonic 
area  of  the  rabbit,  which  has  hitherto  been  round,  be- 
comes oval. 

A  diagrammatic  view  of  the  whole  blastodermic 
vesicle  at  about  the  beginning  of  the  seventh  day  is 
given  in  Fig.  99.  The  embryonic  area  is  represented  in 
white.  The  line  ge  in  B  shows  the  extension  of  the 
hypoblast  round  the  inside  of  the  vesicle.     The  bias- 


318 


THE   MAMMALIAN   EMBRYO. 
Fig.  99. 


[chap. 


Views  of  tiee  Blastodermic  Vesicle  of  a  Kabbit  on  the 
Seventh  Day  without  the  Zona.  A.  from  above,  B. 
from  the  side.     (From  KoUiker.) 

ag.  embryonic  area  ;  ge.  boundary  of  the  hypoblast. 


X.]  PKIMITIVE   STREAK.  319 

todermic  vesicle  is  therefore  formed  of  three  areas, 
(1)  the  embryonic  area  with  two  layers,  a  columnar 
epiblast  and  flat  hypoblast;  (2)  the  region  around  the 
embryonic  area  where  the  walls  of  the  vesicle  are  formed 
of  flattened  epiblast^  and  of  hypoblast ;  (3)  the  area 
beyond  this  again  where  the  vesicle  is  formed  of  flat- 
tened epiblast^  only. 

The  changes  which  next  take  place  begin  with  the 
formation  of  a  primitive  streak,  homologous  with,  and  in 
most  respects  similar  to,  the  primitive  streak  in  Birds. 

EiG.  100. 


Embryonic  Area  of  an  Eight  Days'  Eabbit. 

(After  KoUiker.) 

arg.  embryonic  area  ;  pr.  primitive  streak. 

The  formation  of  the  streak  is  preceded  by  that  of  a 
dark  spot  near  the  middle  of  the  blastoderm,  forming 
the  nodal  point  of  Hensen.  This  spot  subsequently 
constitutes  the  front  end  of  the  primitive  streak. 

Early  on  the  seventh  day  the  embryonic  area  be- 
comes pyriform,  and  at  its  posterior  and  narrower  end 

1  The  epiblast  of  the  blastodermic  vesicle  beyond  the  embryonio 
area  is  formed  of  the  outer  layer  only. 


320  THE  MAMMALIAN   EMBKYO.  [CHAP. 

the  primitive  streak  makes  its  appearance ;  it  is  due  to 
a  proliferation  of  rounded  cells  from  the  epiblast. 
Fig.  101. 


pr 


^.P 


jm 


Section  through   an   Oval    Blastoderm   op   a   Rabbit  on 
THE  Seventh    Day.    The    Length   ob^    the    Area    was 

ABOUT  1*2  MM.  AND  ITS  BrBADTH  ABOUT  '86  MM. 

Through  the  front  part  of  the  primitive  streak ;   ep.  epiblast ; 
m.  mesoblast ;  hy.  hypoblast ;  pr.  primitive  streak. 

These  cells  give  rise  to  a  part  of  the  mesoblastic 
layer  of  the  embryo,  and  may  be  termed  from  their 
origin  the  primitive  streak  mesoblast. 

During  the  seventh  day  the  primitive  streak  be- 
comes a  more  pronounced  structure  (Fig.  101),  the 
mesoblast  in  its  neighbourhood  increases  in  quantity, 
while  an  axial  groove  (Fig.  100) — the  primitive  groove 
— is  formed  on  its  upper  surface. 

The  formation  of  the  medullary  groove.  In  the 
part  of  the  embryonic  area  in  front  of  the  primitive 
streak  there  arise  during  the  eighth  day  two  folds 
bounding  a  shallow  median  groove,  which  meet  in  front, 
but  diverge  behind,  and  enclose  between  them  the 
foremost  end  of  the  primitive  streak  (Fig.  103).  These 
folds  are  the  medullary  folds  and  they  constitute  the 
first  definite  traces  of  the  embryo.  The  medullary  plate 
bounded  by  them  rapidly  grows  in  length,  the  primitive 
streak  always  remaining  at  its  hinder  end.     While  the 


X.] 


THE   MESOBLAST. 
Fig.   102. 


321 


Two  Transveese  Sections  through  the  Embryonic  Area 
OF  AN  Embryo  Rabbit  of  Seven  Days. 

The  embryo  has  nearly  the  appearance  represented  in  Fig.  100. 

A.  is  taken  through  the  anterior  part  of  the  embryonic  area. 
It  represents  about  half  the  breadth  of  the  area,  and  there  is  no 
trace  of  a  medullary  groove  or  of  the  mesoblast. 

B.  is  taken  through  the  posterior  part  of  the  primitive 
streak. 

ep.  epiblast ;  hy.  hypoblast. 

lateral  epiblast  is  formed  of  several  rows  of  cells,  that  of 
the  medullary  plate  is  at  first  formed  of  but  a  single 
row  (Fig.  104,  mg). 

The  mesoblast  and  notochord.  The  mesoblast  in 
mammalia  has,  as  in  the  chick,  a  double  origin,  and  the 
details  of  its  development  appear  to  resemble  essentially 
those  in  the  chick.  It  arises  (1)  from  the  epiblast  of 
the  primitive  streak ;  this  has  been  already  described ; 
(2)  from  the  primitive  hypoblast  in  front  and  at  the 
sides  of  the  primitive  streak.  The  latter  is  known  as 
bypoblastic  mesoblast,  and  as  in  the  chick  appears  to 
originate  as  two  lateral  plates  split  off  from  the  primi- 
tive hypoblast.  These  two  plates  are  at  first  continuous 
F.  &B.  21 


322 


THE   MAMMALIAN   EMBRYO. 

Fig.  103. 


[chap. 


Embryonic  Area   of  a  Seven  Days'  Embryo  Eabbit. 
(From  Kolliker.) 

o.  place  of  future  area  vasculosa  ;  r/  medullary  groove  ;  pr.  pri- 
mitive streak  ;  ag.  embryonic  area. 

In  the  region  o.  a  layer  of  mesoblast  has  already  grown  ;  there 
are  however  as  yet  no  signs  of  blood-vessels  in  it. 

This  mesoblast  is  derived  from  the  mesoblast  of  the  primitive 
streak  (Kolliker). 

in  the  axial  line  with  the  primitive  hypoblast.  When 
the  medullary  groove  is  formed  the  lateral  bands  of 
mesoblast  become  sepai'ate  from  the  axial  hypoblast  and 
give  rise  to  two  independent  lateral  plates  of  mesoblast 


X.]  THE   PRIMITIVE   STREAK.  323 

(Fig.   104).     The   axial   band  of  hypoblast  eventually 
gives  rise  to  the  notochord. 

Fm.  104. 


Transverse  Section  through  an  Embryo  Eabbit  of  Eight 

Days. 

e]p.  epiblast ;  me.  mesoblast ;    hy,  hypoblast ;  mg.  medullary 
groove. 

The  mesoblastic  elements  from  these  two  sources, 
though  at  first  characterised  by  the  difference  in  the 
appearance  of  their  cells  (Fig.  102,  B),  those  of  the 
primitive  streak  mesoblast  being  more  rounded,  soon 
become  blended  and  indistinguishable  from  one  another; 
so  that  it  is  difficult  to  say  to  wha,t  parts  of  the  fully 
formed  mesoblast  they  severally  contribute. 

In  tracing  the  changes  which  take  place  in  the  rela- 
tions of  the  layers,  while  passing  from  the  region  of  the 
embryo  to  that  of  the  primitive  streak,  it  will  be  con- 
venient to  follow  the  account  given  by  Schafer  fpr  the 
guinea-pig,  which  on  this  point  is  far  fuller  and  more 
satisfactory  than  that  of  other  observers.  In  doing  so 
we  shall  leave  out  of  consideration  the  fact  that  the 
layers  in  the  guinea-pig  are  inverted.  Fig.  105  repre- 
sents a  series  of  sections  through  this  part  in  the  guinea- 
pig.  The  anterior  section  (D)  passes  through  the  medul- 
lary groove  near  its  hinder  end.  The  commencement  of 
the  primitive  streak  is  marked  by  a  slight  prominence  on 
the  floor  of  the  medullary  groove  between  the  two  diverg- 

21—2 


324 


THE   MAMMALIAN   EMBKYO. 


[chap. 


ing  medullary  folds  (Fig.  105  C,ae).    Where  this  promi- 
nence becomes  first  apparent  the  epiblast  and  hypoblast 


Fm.  105. 


A  Series  of  Transverse  Sections  through  the  Junction 
OF  THE  Primitive  Streak  and  Medullary  Groove  of 
A  Young  Guinea-Pig.     (After  Schafer.) 

A.  is  the  posterior  section. 

e.  epiblast ;  m.  mesoblast ;  h.  hypoblast ;  ae.  axial  epiblast  of 
the  primitive  streak  ;  ah.  axial  hypoblast  attached  in  B.  and 
C.  to  the  epiblast  at  tlie  rudimentary  blastopore  ;  ng.  me- 
dullary groove  ;  /.  rudimentary  blastopore. 


X.]  THE   NOTOCHORD.  325 

are  united  together.  The  mesoblast  plates  at  the  two 
sides  remain  in  the  meantime  quite  free.  Slightly 
further  back,  but  before  the  primitive  groove  is  reached, 
the  epiblast  and  hypoblast  are  connected  together  by  a 
cord  of  cells  (Fig.  105  B,/),  which  in  the  section  next 
following  becomes  detached  from  the  hypoblast  and 
forms  a  solid  keel  projecting  from  the  epiblast.  In  the 
following  section  the  hitherto  independent  mesoblast 
plates  become  united  with  this  keel  (Fig.  105  A) ;  and 
in  the  posterior  sections,  through  the  part  of  the  primi- 
tive streak  with  the  primitive  groove,  the  epiblast  and 
mesoblast  continue  to  be  united  in  the  axial  line,  but 
the  hypoblast  remains  distinct.  These  peculiar  relations 
may  shortly  be  described  by  saying  that  in  the  axial 
line  the  hypoblast  becomes  united  with  the  epiblast  at 
the  posterior  end  of  the  emhi^yo ;  and  that  the  cells 
which  connect  the  hypoblast  and  epiblast  are  posteriorly 
continuous  with  the  fused  epiblast  and  mesoblast  of 
the  primitive  streak,  the  hypoblast  in  the  region  of  the 
primitive  streak  having  become  distinct  from  the  other 
layers. 

The  notochord.  The  thickened  axial  portion  of  the 
hypoblast  in  the  region  of  the  embryo  becomes  sepa- 
rated, as  we  have  already  pointed  out,  from  the  lateral 
parts  as  the  notochord. 

Very  shortly  after  the  formation  of  the  notochord, 
the  hypoblast  grows  in  from  the  two  sides,  and  becomes 
quite  continuous  across  the  middle  line.  The  formation 
of  the  notochord  takes  place  from  before  backwards; 
and  at  the  hinder  end  of  the  embryo  it  is  continued 
into  the  mass  of  cells  which  forms  the  axis  of  the  primi- 
tive streak,  becoming  therefore  at  this  point  continuous 


826  THE   MAMMALIAN   EMBRYO.  [CHAP. 

with  the  epiblast.  The  notochord  in  fact  behaves  exactly 
as  did  the  axial  hypoblast  in  the  earlier  stage. 

The  peculiar  relations  just  mentioned  are  precisely  similar  to 
those  we  have  already  described  in  the  chick  (p.  60).  They 
receive  their  explanation  by  comparison  with  the  lower  types. 

The  cells  which  form  the  junction  between  the  epiblast  and 
the  axial  hypoblast  constitute  in  the  lower  types  the  front  wall  of 
a  passage  perforating  the  blastoderm  and  leading  from  the  ex- 
terior into  the  alimentary  canal.  This  passage  is  the  vertebrate 
blastopore. 

In  the  chick  we  have  seen  (p.  72)  this  passage  is  present  at  a 
certain  stage  of  development  as  the  neurenteric  canal ;  and  in  the 
duck  at  a  still  earlier  stage.  It  is  also  present  at  an  early  stage 
in  the  mole. 

The  presence  of  this  blastopore  renders  it  clear  that  the  blas- 
topore discovered  by  Ed.  van  Beneden  cannot  have  the  meaning 
he  assigned  to  it  in  comparing  it  with  the  blastopore  of  the 
frog. 

To  recapitiilate.  At  the  stage  we  have  now  reached 
the  three  layers  are  definitely  established. 

The  epiblast  is  derived  partly  from  the  outer  layer 
of  segmentation  spheres  and  partly  from  the  larger  pro- 
portion of  those  segmentation  spheres  which  constitute 
the  inner  mass.  The  hypoblast  arises  from  the  few 
remaining  cells  of  the  inner  mass ;  while  the  mesoblast 
has  its  origin  partially  from  the  epiblast  of  the  primitive 
streak  and  partially  from  the  hypoblast  cells  anterior  to 
the  primitive  streak. 

During  the  period  in  which  these  changes  have  been  taking 
place,  the  rudiments  of  a  vascular  area  become  formed,  and  while 
as  KoUiker  has  shewn,  the  mesoblast  of  this  portion  is  to  some 
extent  derived  from  the  mesoblast  of  the  primitive  streak,  it  is 
possible  that  a  portion  of  it  owes  its  origin  to  hypoblastic  meso- 
blast. 


X.]  THE   MEDULLARY   PLATE.  327 

General  growth  of  the  embryo.  We  Lave  seen 
that  the  blastodermic  vesicle  becomes  divided  at  an 
early  stage  of  development  into  an  embryonic  area,  and 
a  non-embryonic  portion.  The  embryonic  area  gives 
rise  to  the  whole  of  the  body  of  the  embryo,  while  the 
non-embryonic  part  forms  an  appendage  known  as  the 
umbilical  vesicle,  which  becomes  gradually  folded  off 
from  the  embryo,  and  has  precisely  the  relations  of  the 
yolk-sac  of  the  chick.  It  is  almost  certain  that  the 
Mammalia  are  descended  from  ancestors,  the  embryos 
of  which  had  large  yolk-sacs,  but  that  the  yolk  has 
become  reduced  in  quantity  owing  to  the  nutriment 
received  from  the  wall  of  the  uterus  taking  the  place 
of  that  originally  supplied  by  the  yolk.  A  rudiment  of 
the  yolk-sac  being  thus  retained  in  the  umbilical  vesi- 
cle, this  structure  may  be  called  indifferently  umbilical 
vesicle  or  yolk-sac. 

The  yolk  which  fills  the  yolk-sac  m  Birds  is  re- 
placed in  Mammals  by  a  coagulable  fluid;  while  the 
gradual  extension  of  the  hypoblast  round  the  wall  of 
the  blastodermic  vesicle,  which  has  already  been  de- 
scribed, is  of  the  same  nature  as  the  growth  of  the  hy- 
poblast round  the  yolk-sac  in  Birds. 

The  whole  embryonic  area  would  seem  to  be  em- 
ployed in  the  formation  of  the  body  of  the  embryo.  Its 
long  axis  has  no  very  definite  relation  to  that  of  the 
blastodermic  vesicle.  The  first  external  trace  of  the 
embryo  to  appear  is  the  medullary  plate,  bounded  by 
the  medullary  folds,  and  occupying  at  first  the  anterior 
half  of  the  embryonic  area  (Fig.  103).  The  two  me- 
dullary folds  diverge  behind  and  enclose  the  front  end 
of  the  primitive  streak.     As  the  embryo  elongates  the 


328  THE   MAMMALIAN   EMBRYO.  [CHAP. 

medullary  folds  nearly  meet  behind  and  so  cut  off  the 
front  portion  of  the  primitive  streak,  which  then  ap- 
pears as  a  projection  in  the  hind  end  of  the  medullary 
groove.  At  the  hind  end  of  the  medullary  groove 
(mole)  a  deep  pit  perforates  its  floor  and  enters  the 
mass  of  mesoblast  cells  lying  below.  The  pit  is  a  rudi- 
ment of  the  blastopore  (described  on  p.  326)  which  has 
been  enclosed  by  the  medullary  folds. 

Henceforward  the  general  course  of  development  is 
very  similar  to  that  in  the  chick  and  so  will  be  only  briefly 
described.  The  special  features  in  the  development  of 
particular  organs  will  be  described  later.  In  an  embryo 
rabbit,  eight  days  after  impregnation,  the  medullary 
groove  is  about  1*80  mm.  in  length.  At  this  stage  a 
division  may  be  clearly  seen  in  the  lateral  plates  of 
mesoblast  into  a  vertebral  zone  adjoining  the  embryo 
and  a  more  peripheral  lateral  zone ;  and  in  the  verte- 
bral zone  indications  of  two  somites,  about  0*37  mm. 
from  the  hinder  end  of  the  embryo,  become  apparent. 
The  foremost  of  these  somites  marks  the  junction,  or 
very  nearly  so,  of  the  cephalic  region  and  trunk.  The 
small  size  of  the  latter  as  compared  with  the  former  is 
very  striking,  but  is  characteristic  of  Vertebrates  gene- 
rally. The  trunk  gradually  elongates  relatively  to  the 
head,  by  the  addition  behind  of  fresh  somites.  The 
embryo  has  not  yet  begun  to  be  folded  off  from  the 
yolk-sac. 

In  a  slightly  older  embryo  of  nine  days  there  appears 
(Hensen,  Kolliker)  round  the  embryonic  area  a  delicate 
clear  ring  which  is  narrower  in  front  than  behind  (Fig. 
106  A.  ap).  This  ring  is  regarded  by  these  authors  as 
representing  the  peripheral  part  of  the  area  pellucida  of 


X.]  THE   CEREBRAL  VESICLES.  329 

Birds,  which  does  not  become  converted  into  the  body 
of  the  embryo.  Outside  the  area  pellucida,  an  area 
vasculosa  has  become  very  well  defined.  In  the  em- 
bryo itself  (Fig.  106  A)  the  disproportion  between  head 
and  trunk  is  less  marked  than  before;  the  medullary 
plate  dilates  anteriorly  to  form  a  spatula-shaped  ce- 
phalic enlargement;  and  three  or  four  somites  are 
established.  In  the  lateral  parts  of  the  mesoblast  of 
the  head  there  may  be  seen  on  each  side  a  tube-like 
structure  Qiz).  Each  of  these  is  part  of  the  heart,  which 
arises  as  two  independent  tubes.  The  remains  of  the 
primitive  streak  (pr)  are  still  present  behind  the  me- 
dullary groove. 

In  somewhat  older  embryos  (Fig.  106  B)  with  about 
eight  somites,  in  which  the  trunk  considerably  exceeds 
the  head  in  length,  the  first  distinct  traces  of  the 
folding  off  of  the  head  end  of  the  embryo  become  ap- 
parent, and  somewhat  later  a  fold  also  appears  at  the 
hind  end.  In  the  formation  of  the  hind  end  of  the 
embryo  the  primitive  streak  gives  rise  to  a  tail  swelling 
and  to  part  of  the  ventral  wall  of  the  post-anal  gut.  In 
the  region  of  the  head  the  rudiments  of  the  heart  Qi) 
are  far  more  definite.  The  medullary  groove  is  still 
open  for  its  whole  length,  but  in  the  head  it  exhibits  a 
series  of  well-marked  dilatations.  The  foremost  of 
these  ivTi)  is  the  rudiment  of  the  fore-brain  from  the 
sides  of  which  there  project  the  two  optic  vesicles  {ah) ; 
the  next  is  the  mid-brain  [mh)  and  the  last  is  the  hind- 
brain  {hli),  which  is  again  divided  into  smaller  lobes  by 
successive  constrictions.  The  medullary  groove  behind 
the  region  of  the  somites  dilates  into  an  embryonic 
sinus  rhomboidalis  like  that  of  the  bird.     Traces  of  the 


330 


THE   MAMMALIAN   EMBRYO. 


[chap. 


Fig.  106. 


yi:,fl||||iliOT"R 


§. ,,,||ri?lipif— ^^ 


Embryo  Eabbits  of  about  Nine  Days  from  the  Dorsal  Side. 

(From  KoUiker.] 

A.  magnified  22  times,  and  B.  21  times. 

ap.  area  pellucida  ;  rf.  medullary  groove  ;  h\  medullary  plate  in 
the  region  of  the  future  fore-brain  ;  h".  medullary  plate  in 
the  region  of  the  future  mid-brain  ;  vh.  fore-brain  ;  ab.  optic 
vesicle  ;  mh.  mid-brain  ;  hh.  and  Jf.  hind-brain  ;  uw.  meso- 
blastic  somite  ;  stz.  vertebral  zone  ;  pz.  lateral  zone  ;  hz.  and 
h.  heart ;  ph.  pericardial  section  of  body-cavity ;  vo.  vitelline 
vein  ;  af.  amnion  fold. 


X.]  GENERAL  DEVELOPMENT.  331 

amnion  {af)  are  now  apparent  both  in  front  of  and 
behind  the  embryo. 

The  structure  of  the  head  and  the  formation  of  the 
heart  at  this  age  are  illustrated  in  Fig.  107.  The 
widely  open  medullary  groove  {rf)  is  shewn  in  the 
centre.  Below  it  the  hypoblast  is  thickened  to  form 
the  notochord  dd' ',  and  at  the  sides  are  seen  the  two 
tubes,  which,  on  the  folding-in  of  the  fore-gut,  give  rise 
to  the  unpaired  heart  ^.  Each  of  these  is  formed  of 
an  outer  muscular  tube  of  splanchnic  mesoblast  (ahh), 
not  quite  closed  towards  the  hypoblast,  and  an  inner 
epithelioid  layer  (ihh);  and  is  placed  in  a  special  section 
of  the  body  cavity  (ph),  which  afterwards  forms  the 
pericardial  cavity. 

Before  the  ninth  day  is  completed  great  external 
changes  are  usually  effected.  The  medullary  groove 
becomes  closed  for  its  whole  length  with  the  exception 
of  a  small  posterior  portion.  The  closure  commences, 
as  in  Birds,  in  the  region  of  the  mid-brain.  Anteriorly 
the  folding-off  of  the  embryo  proceeds  so  far  that  the 
head  becomes  quite  free,  and  a  considerable  portion  of 
the  throat,  ending  blindly  in  front,  becomes  established. 
In  the  course  of  this  folding  the,  at  first  widely  sepa- 
rated, halves  of  the  heart  are  brought  together,  coalesce 
on  the  ventral  side  of  the  throat,  and  so  give  rise  to  a 
median  undivided  heart.  The  fold  at  the  tail  end  of 
the  embryo  progresses  considerably,  and  during  its  ad- 
vance the  allantois  is  formed  in  the  same  way  as  in 
Birds.  The  somites  increase  in  number  to  about  twelve. 
The  amniotic  folds  nearly  meet  above  the  embryo. 

1  The  details  of  the  development  of  the  heart  are  described  below 
(ch.  XII.). 


832 


THE  MAMMALIAN   EMBRYO. 
Fig.  107. 


[chap. 


Transverse  Section  through  the  Head  of  a  Babbit  of 
THE  SAME  age  AS  FiG.  106  B.     (From  KoUiker.) 

B.  is  a  more  higMy  magnified  representation  of  part  of  A. 

rf.  medullary  groove  ;  mp.  medullary  plate  ;  rw.  medullary  fold ; 
h.  epiblast ;  dd.  hypoblast ;  dd! .  notochordal  thickening  of 
hypoblast ;  8-p.  undivided  mesoblast ;  lip.  somatic  mesoblast ; 


X.]  THE  CRANIAL  FLEXURE.  333 

dfp.  splanchnic  mesoblast;  'ph.  pericardial  section  of  bodj- 
cavity ;  ahh.  muscular  wall  of  liea.rt ;  ihh.  epithelioid  layer  of 
heart ;  mes.  lateral  undivided  mesoblast ;  sw.  fold  of  hypo- 
blast which  will  form  the  ventral  wall  of  the  pharynx ;  sr. 
commencing  throat. 

The  later  stages  in  the  development  proceed  in  the 
main  in  the  same  manner  as  in  the  Bird.  The  cranial 
flexure  soon  becomes  very  marked,  the  mid-brain  form- 
ing the  end  of  the  long  axis  of  the  embryo  (Fig.  108). 
The  sense  organs  have  the  usual  development.  Under 
the  fore-brain  appears  an  epiblastic  involution  giving 


Fig.  108. 


mS 


Advanced  Embryo  of  a  Rabbit  (about  Twelve  Days)\ 

mh.  mid-brain  ;  th,  thalamencephalon  ;  ce.  cerebral  hemisphere ; 
ojp.  eye  ;  iv.v.  fourth  ventricle  ;  moc.  maxillary  process  ;  md. 
mandibular  arch ;  hy.  hyoid  arch  ;  fl.  fore-limb  ;  hi,  hind- 
limb  ;  um.  umbilical  stalk. 

1  This  figure  was  drawn  by  Mr  Weldon. 


334  THE   MAMMALIAN   EMBRYO.  [CHAP. 

rise  both  to  the  mouth  and  to  the  pituitary  body.  Be- 
hind the  mouth  are  three  well  marked  pairs  of  visceral 
arches.  The  first  of  these  is  the  mandibular  arch 
(Fig.  108  md),  which  meets  its  fellow  in  the  middle 
line,  and  forms  the  posterior  boundary  of  the  mouth. 
It  sends  forward  on  each  side  a  superior  maxillary  pro- 
cess (mx)  which  partially  forms  the  anterior  margin  of 
the  mouth.  Behind  the  mandibular  arch  are  present  a 
well-developed  hyoid  Qiy)  and  a  first  branchial  arch 
(not  shewn  in  Fig.  108).  There  are  four  clefts,  as  in 
the  chick,  but  the  fourth  is  not  bounded  behind  by  a 
definite  arch.  Only  the  first  of  these  clefts  persists  as 
the  tympanic  cavity  and  Eustachian  tube. 

At  the  time  when  the  cranial  flexure  appears,  the 
body  also  develops  a  sharp  flexure  immediately  behind 
the  head,  which  is  thus  bent  forwards  upon  the  pos- 
terior straight  part  of  the  body  (Fig.  108).  The  amount 
of  this  flexure  varies  somewhat  in  different  forms.  It 
is  very  marked  in  the  dog  (Bischoff).  At  a  later  period, 
and  in  some  species  even  before  the  stage  figured,  the 
tail  end  of  the  body  also  becomes  bent  (Fig.  108),  so 
that  the  whole  dorsal  side  assumes  a  convex  curvature, 
and  the  head  and  tail  become  closely  approximated.  In 
most  cases  the  embryo,  on  the  development  of  the  tail, 
assumes  a  more  or  less  definite  spiral  curvature  (Fig. 
108).  With  the  more  complete  development  of  the 
lower  wall  of  the  body  the  ventral  flexure  partially  dis- 
appears, but  remains  more  or  less  persistent  till  near 
the  close  of  intra-uterine  life.  The  limbs  are  formed  as 
simple  buds  in  the  same  manner  as  in  Birds.  The  buds 
of  the  hind-limbs  are  directed  somewhat  forwards,  and 
those  of  the  fore-limb  backwards. 


X.]  THE  HUMAN   EMBRYO.  335 

The  human  embryo.  Our  knowledge  as  to  the 
early  development  of  the  human  embryo  is  in  an  un- 
satisfactory state.  The  positive  facts  v^e  know  are  com- 
paratively few,  and  it  is  not  possible  to  construct  from 
them  a  history  of  the  development  which  is  capable  of 
satisfactory  comparison  with  that  in  other  forms,  unless 
all  the  early  embryos  known  are  to  be  regarded  as 
abnormal.  The  most  remarkable  feature  in  the  develop- 
ment, which  was  first  clearly  brought  to  light  by  Allen 
Thomson  in  1839,  is  the  very  early  appearance  of 
branched  villi.  In  the  last  few  years  several  ova,  even 
younger  than  those  described  by  Allen  Thomson,  have 
been  met  with,  which  exhibit  this  peculiarity. 

The  best  preserved  of  these  ova  is  one  described  by 
Reichert\  This  ovum,  though  probably  not  more  than 
thirteen  days  old,  was  completely  enclosed  by  a  decidua 
reflexa.  It  had  (Fig.  109  A  and  B)  a  flattened  oval 
form,  measuring  in  its  two  diameters  5'5  mm.  and 
3*5  mm.  The  edge  was  covered  with  branched  villi, 
while  in  the  centre  of  each  of  the  flattened  surfaces 
there  was  a  spot  free  from  villi.  On  the  surface  ad- 
joining the  uterine  wall  was  a  darker  area  (e)  formed  of 
two  layers  of  cells.  Nothing  certain  has  been  made  out 
about  the  structure  of  ova  of  this  age. 

The  villi,  which  at  first  leave  the  flattened  poles 
free,  seem  soon  to  extend  first  over  one  of  the  flat  sides 
and  finally  over  the  whole  ovum  (Fig.  109  C). 

Unless  the  two-layered  region  of  Reichert's  ovum  is 
the  embryonic  area,  nothing  which  can  clearly  be 
identified    as    an  embryo  has  been   detected  in  these 

1  Abhandlnngen  der  Konigl.  Akad.  d.  Wiss.  zu  Berlin,  1873. 


336 


THE  MAMMALIAN   EMBRYO. 


[chap. 


The  Human  Ova  during  early  stages  of  development. 
(From  Quain's  Anatomy^ 

A.  and  B.  Front  and  side  view  of  an  ovum  figured  by  Eeichert, 
supposed  to  be  about  thirteen  days,  e.  embryonic  area. 
An  ovum  of  about  four  or  five  weeks  shewing  the  general 
structure  of  the  ovum  before  the  formation  of  the  placenta. 
Part  of  the  wall  of  the  ovum  is  removed  to  shew  the  embryo 
in  situ.     (After  Allen  Thomson.) 


G 


early  ova.  In  an  ovum  described  by  Breus,  and  in  one 
described  long  ago  by  Wharton-Jones,  a  mass  found  in 
the  interior  of  the  ovum  may  perhaps  be  interpreted 
(His)  as  the  remains  of  the  yolk.  It  is,  however,  very 
probable  that  all  the  early  ova  so  far  obtained  are 
more  or  less  pathological. 

The  youngest  ovum  with  a  distinct  embryo  is  one 
described  by  His.  This  ovum,  which  is  diagrammati- 
cally  represented  in  Fig.  Ill  in  longitudinal  section, 
had  the  form  of  an  oval  vesicle  completely  covered  by 
villi,  being  about  8'5  mm.  and  5*5  mm.  in  its  two 
diameters,  and  flatter  on  one  side  than  on  the  other. 
An  embryo  with  a  yolk-sac  was  attached  to  the  inner 
side  of  the  flatter  wall  of  the  vesicle  by  a  stalk,  which 
must  be  regarded  as  the  allantoic  stalk;  the  embryo 


X.] 


THE  HUMAN   EMBRYO. 

Fig.  110. 


337 


cJi-- 


u7m 


Three  Early  Human  Embryos.    (Copied  from  His.) 

A.  Side  view  of  an  early  embryo  described  by  His. 

B.  Embryo  of  about  12 — 14  days  described  by  Allen  Thom- 
son. 

C.  Young  embryo  described  by  His. 

am.  amnion ;    md.   medullary  groove ;    um.   umbilical  vesicle ; 
ch.  chorion,  to  which  the  embryo  is  attached  by  a  stalk. 

and  yolk-sac   filled  up  but  a  very  small   part  of  the 
whole  cavity  of  the  vesicle. 

The  embryo,  which  was  probably  not  quite  normal 
(Fig.  110  A),  was  very  imperfectly  developed;  a  me- 
dullary plate  was  hardly  indicated,  and,  though  the 
mesoblast  was  unsegmented,  the  head  fold,  separating 
the  embryo  from  the  yolk-sac  {uwu),  was  already  in- 
F.  &  B.  22 


338  THE  MAMMALIAN   EMBRYO.  [CHAP. 


Diagrammatic    Longitudinal    Section    of    the   Ovum    to 

WHICH  THE  Embryo  (Fig.  110  a.)  belonged.     (After  His.) 

am.  amnion ;   Nh.  umbilical  vesicle. 

dicated.  The  amnion  {am)  v^as  completely  formed,  and 
vitelline  vessels  had  made  their  appearance. 

Two  embryos  described  by  Allen  Thomson  are  but 
slightly  older  than  the  above  embryo  of  His.  Both  of 
them  probably  belong  to  the  first  fortnight  of  preg- 
nancy. In  both  cases  the  embryo  was  more  or  less 
folded  off  from  the  yolk-sac,  and  in  one  of  them  the 
medullary  groove  was  still  widely  open,  except  in  the 
region  of  the  neck  (Fig.  110  B).  The  allantoic  stalk,  if 
present,  was  not  clearly  made  out,  and  the  condition  of 
the  amnion  was  also  not  fully  studied.  The  smaller  of 
the  two  ova  was  just  6  mm.  in  its  largest  diameter,  and 
was  nearly  completely  covered  with  simple  villi,  more 
developed  on  one  side  than  on  the  other. 

In  a  somewhat  later  period,  about  the  stage  of  a 
chick  at  the  end  of  the  second  day,  the  medullary  folds 
are  completely  closed,  the  region  of  the  brain  already 
marked,  and  the  cranial  flexure  commencing.  The 
mesoblast  is  divided  up  into  numerous  somites,  and  the 
mandibular  and  first  two  branchial  arches  are  indicated. 


X.] 


THE  HUMAN  EMBRYO. 


339 


The  embryo  is  still  but  incompletely  folded  off  from 
the  yolk-sac  below. 

In  a  still  older  stage  the  cranial  flexure  becomes 
still  more  pronounced,  placing  the  mid-brain  at  the  end 
of  the  long  axis  of  the  body.  The  body  also  begins  to 
be  ventrally  curved  (Fig.  110  C). 

Externally  human  embryos  at  this  age  are  charac- 
terized by  the  small  size  of  the  anterior  end  of  the 
head. 

The  flexure  goes  on  gradually  increasing,  and  in  the 
third  week  of  pregnancy  in  embryos  of  about  4  mm.  the 
limbs  make  their  appearance. 

The  embryo  at  this  stage  (Fig.  112),  which  is  about 

Fm.  112. 


Two  VIEWS  OF  A  Human   Embryo   of  between  the   Third 
AND  Fourth  Week. 

A.  Side  view.  (From  Kolliker ;  after  Allen  Thomson.)  a. 
amnion ;  h.  umbilical  vesicle ;  c.  mandibular  arch ;  e.  hyoid 
arch;  /.  commencing  anterior  limb;  g.  j)rimitive  auditory 
vesicle ;  h.  eye ;  i.  heart. 

B.  Dorsal  view  to  shew  the  attachment  of  the  dilated  allantoic 
stalk  to  the  chorion.  (From  a  sketch  by  Allen  Thomson.) 
am.  amnion ;  all.  allantois  ;  ys.  yolk-sac. 

22—2 


340 


THE  MAMMALIAN   EMBRYO. 


[chap. 


equivalent  to  that  of  a  chick  on  the  fourth  day,  re- 
sembles in  almost  every  respect  the  normal  embryos  of 
the  Amniota.  The  cranial  flexure  is  as  pronounced  as 
usual,  and  the  cerebral  region  has  now  fully  the  normal 
size.  The  whole  body  soon  becomes  flexed  ventrally, 
and  also  somewhat  spirally.  The  yolk-sac  (B ;  ys)  forms  a 
small  spherical  appendage  with  a  long  wide  stalk,  and 
the  embryo  is  attached  by  an  allantoic  stalk  with  a 
slight  swelling,  probably  indicating  the  presence  of  a 
small  hypoblastic  diverticulum,  to  the  inner  face  of  the 
chorion. 

A  detailed  history  of  the  further  development  of 
the  human  embryo  does  not  fall  within  the  province  of 

Fig.  113. 


Figures  shewing  the  Early  Changes  in  the  form  of  the 
Human  Head.     (From  Quain's^naiomy.) 

A.  Head  of   an   embryo  of   about    four  weeks.     (After 

Allen  Thomson.) 

B.  Head  of  an  embryo  of  about  six  weeks.     (After  Ecker.) 

C.  Head  of  an  embryo  of  about  nine  weeks. 

1.  mandibular  arch  ;  1'.  persistent  part  of  hyomandibular  cleft ; 
a.  auditory  vesicle. 


X.]  INVERSION   OF  THE  LAYERS.  341 

this  work;  while  the  later  changes  in  the  embryonic 
membranes  will  be  dealt  with  in  the  next  chapter.  For 
the  changes  which  take  place  on  the  formation  of  the 
face  we  may  refer  the  reader  to  Fig.  113.  For  a  full  dis- 
cussion as  to  the  relation  between  the  human  embryos 
just  described  and  those  of  other  Mammals,  we  refer  the 
reader  to  the  Comj:^.  Embryology,  Vol.  ii.  p.  224  et  seq. 
The  guinea  pig",  rat  and  mouse  present  a  pe- 
culiar method  of  development,  the  details  of  which  are 
not  entirely  understood,  and  we  do  not  propose  to 
examine  them  here.  Suffice  it  to  say  that  the  mode  of 
development  gives  rise  to  the  so-called  inversion  of  the 
layers;  so  called  because  the  outer  layer  of  the  em- 
bryonic vesicle  appeared  to  the  older  observers  to  be 
formed  of  hypoblast  and  the  embryonic  epiblast  to  be 
enclosed  within. 


CHAPTER  XI. 

EMBRYONIC  MEMBRANES  AND  YOLK-SAC. 

In  the  Mammalia  the  early  stages  in  the  develop- 
ment of  the  embryonic  membranes  are  nearly  the  same 
as  in  Aves;  but  during  the  later  stages  the  allantois 
enters  into  peculiar  relations  with  the  uterine  walls, 
and  the  two,  together  with  the  interposed  portion  of 
the  subzonal  membrane  or  false  amnion  (the  nature  of 
which  will  be  presently  described),  give  rise  to  a  very 
characteristic  Mammalian  organ — the  placenta — into 
the  structure  of  which  it  mil  be  necessary  to  enter 
at  some  length.  The  embryonic  membranes  vary  so 
considerably  in  the  different  forms  that  it  will  be  ad- 
vantageous to  commence  with  a  description  of  their 
development  in  an  ideal  case. 

We  may  commence  with  a  blastodermic  vesicle  closely 
invested  by  the  delicate  remnant  of  the  zona  radiata  at 
the  stage  in  which  the  medullary  groove  is  already 
established.  Around  the  embryonic  area  a  layer  of 
mesoblast  would  have  extended  for  a  certain  distance ; 
so  as  to  give  rise  to  an  area  vasculosa,  in  which  how- 
ever the  blood-vessels  would  not  have  become  definitely 


CHAP.  XI.]  MEMBRANES   OF   RABBIT.  343 

established.  Such  a  vesicle  is  represented  diagram- 
matically  in  Fig.  114,  i.  Somewhat  later  the  embryo 
begins  to  be  folded  off  first  in  front  and  then  behind 
(Fig.  114,  2).  These  folds  result  in  a  constriction  sepa- 
rating the  embryo  and  the  yolk-sac  (ds),  or  as  it  is 
called  in  Mammalian  embryology,  the  umbilical  vesicle. 
The  splitting  of  the  mesoblast  into  a  splanchnic  and  a 
somatic  layer  has  taken  place,  and  at  the  front  and 
hind  end  of  the  embryo  a  fold  (hs)  of  the  somatic  meso- 
blast and  epiblast  begins  to  rise  up  and  grow  over  the 
head  and  tail  of  the  embryo.  These  two  folds  form  the 
commencement  of  the  amnion.  The  head  and  tail  folds 
of  the  amnion  are  continued  round  the  two  sides  of  the 
embryo  till  they  meet  and  unite  into  a  continuous  fold. 
This  fold  grows  gradually  upwards,  but  before  it  has 
completely  enveloped  the  embryo  the  blood-vessels  of 
the  area  vasculosa  become  fully  developed.  They  are 
arranged  in  a  manner  not  very  different  from  that  in 
the  chick. 

The  following  is  a  brief  account  of  their  arrange- 
ment in  the  rabbit : — 

The  outer  boundary  of  tlie  area,  which  is  continually  extend- 
ing further  and  further  round  the  umbilical  vesicle,  is  marked  by 
a  venous  sinus  terminalis  (Fig.  114,  st).  The  area  is  not,  as  in 
the  chick,  a  nearly  complete  circle,  but  is  in  front  divided  by  a 
deep  indentation  extending  inwards  to  the  level  of  the  heart.  In 
consequence  of  this  indentation  the  sinus  terminalis  ends  in 
front  in  two  branches,  which  bend  inwards  and  fall  directly  into 
the  main  vitelline  veins.  The  blood  is  brought  from  the  dorsal 
aortse  by  a  series  of  lateral  vitelline  arteries,  and  not  by  a  single 
pair  as  in  the  chick.  These  arteries  break  up  into  a  more  deeply 
situated  arterial  network,  from  which  the  blood  is  continued 
partly  into  the  sinus  terminalis,  and  partly  into  a  superficial  venous 


844!        EMBRYONIC  MEMBRANES  AND  YOLK-SAC.     [CHAP. 
Fig.  114. 


XT.]  EMBRYONIC  MEMBRANES.  345 


Five  Diagrammatic  Figures  illustrating,  the  Formation 
OP  THE  Foetal  Membranes  of  a  Mammal.  (From  Kolli- 
ker.) 

In  1,  2,  3,  4  the  embryo  is  represented  in  longitudinal  section. 

1.  Ovum  with  zona  pellucida,  blastodermic  vesicle,  and 
embryonic  area. 

2.  Ovum  with  commencing  formation  of  umbilical  vesicle 
and  amnion. 

3.  Ovum  with  amnion  about  to  close,  and  commencing 
allantois. 

4.  Ovum  with  villous  subzonal  membrane,  larger  allantois, 
and  mouth  and  anus. 

5.  Ovum  in  which  the  mesoblast  of  the  allantois  has  ex- 
tended round  the  inner  sm-face  of  the  subzonal  membrane  and 
united  with  it  to  form  the  chorion.  The  cavity  of  the  allantois 
is  aborted.     This  fig.  is  a  diagram  of  an  early  human  ovum. 

d.  zona  radiata ;  d  and  sz.  processes  of  zona ;  sh.  subzonal  mem- 
brane, outer  fold  of  amnion,  false  amnion ;  ch.  chorion ;  ch.  z. 
chorionic  villi ;  am.  amnion ;  ks.  head-fold  of  amnion ;  ss.  tail- 
fold  of  amnion ;  a.  epiblast  of  embryo ;  a.  epiblast  of  non-em- 
bryonic part  of  the  blastodermic  vesicle ;  m.  embryonic  meso- 
blast ;  m'.  non-embryonic  mesoblast ;  df.  area  vasculosa  ;  st. 
sinus  terminalis;  dd.  embryonic  hypoblast ;  ^.  non-embryo- 
nic hypoblast ;  Ich.  cavity  of  blastodermic  vesicle,  the  greater 
part  of  which  becomes  the  cavity  of  umbilical  vesicle  ds. ; 
dg.  stalk  of  umbilical  vesicle ;  al.  allantois ;  e.  embryo  ;  r. 
space  between  chorion  and  amnion  containing  albuminous 
fluid  ;  vl.  ventral  body  wall ;  hh.  pericardial  cavity. 


346   EMBRYONIC  MEMBRANES  AND  YOLK-SAC.  [CH^.P. 

network.  The  hinder  end  of  the  heart  is  continued  into  two 
vitelline  veins,  each  of  which  divides  into  an  anterior  and  a 
posterior  branch.  The  anterior  branch  is  a  limb  of  the  sinus 
terminalis,  and  the  posterior  and  smaller  branch  is  continued 
towards  the  hind  part  of  the  sinus,  near  which  it  ends.  On  its 
way  it  receives,  on  its  outer  side,  numerous  branches  from  the 
venous  network.  The  venous  network  connects  by  its  anasto- 
moses, the  posterior  branch  of  the  vitelline  vein  and  the  sinus 
terminalis. 

Shortly  after  the  establishment  of  the  circulation  of 
the  yolk-sac  the  folds  of  the  amnion  meet  and  coalesce 
above  the  embryo  (Fig.  114,  3  and  4,  am).  After  this  the 
inner  or  true  amnion  becomes  severed  from  the  outer 
or  false  amnion,  though  the  two  sometimes  remain  con-, 
nected  by  a  narrow  stalk.  The  space  between  the  true 
and  false  amnion  is  a  continuation  of  the  body  cavity. 
The  true  amnion  consists  of  a  layer  of  epiblastic  epi- 
thelium and  generally  also  of  somatic  mesoblast,  while 
the  false  amnion  consists  as  a  rule  of  epiblast  only; 
though  it  is  possible  that  in  some  cases  (the  rabbit  ?) 
the  mesoblast  may  be  continued  along  its  inner 
face. 

Before  the  two  limbs  of  the  amnion  are  completely 
severed  the  epiblast  of  the  umbilical  vesicle  becomes  sepa- 
rated from  the  subjacent  mesoblast  and  hypoblast  of  the 
vesicle  (Fig.  114,  3),  and,  together  with  the  false  am- 
nion {sh)  with  which  it  is  continuous,  forms  a  complete 
lining  for  the  inner  face  of  the  zona  radiata.  The  space 
between  this  membrane  and  the  umbilical  vesicle  with 
the  attached  embryo  is  obviously  continuous  with  the 
body  cavity  (vide  Figs.  114,  4  and  115).  To  this  mem- 
brane Turner  has  given  the  appropriate  name  of  sub- 
zonal  membi'ane :  by  Von  Baer  it  was  called  the  serous 


XI.]  ATTACHMENT   OF  THE  OVUM.  347 

envelope.     It  soon  fuses  with  the  zona  radiata,  or  at 
any  rate  the  zona  ceases  to  be  distinguishable. 

While  the  above  changes  have  been  taking  place 
the  whole  blastodermic  vesicle,  still  enclosed  in  the 
zona,  has  become  attached  to  the  walls  of  the  uterus. 
In  the  case  of  the  typical  uterus  with  two  tubular 
horns,  the  position  of  each  embryo,  when  there  are 
several,  is  marked  by  a  swelling  in  the  walls  of  the 
uterus,  preparatory  to  the  changes  in  the  wall  which 
take  place  on  the  formation  of  the  placenta.  In  the 
region  of  each  swellino^  the  zona  around  the  blasto- 
dermic  vesicle  is  closely  embraced  in  a  ring-like  fashion 
by  the  epithelium  of  the  uterine  wall.  The  whole 
vesicle  assumes  an  oval  form,  and  it  lies  in  the  uterus 
with  its  two  ends  free.  The  embryonic  area  is  placed 
close  to  the  mesometric  attachment  of  the  uterus.  In 
many  cases  peculiar  processes  or  villi  grow  out  from 
the  ovum  (Fig.  114,  4,  sz)  which  fit  into  the  folds  of 
the  uterine  epithelium,  The  nature  of  these  processes 
requires  further  elucidation,  but  in  some  instances 
they  appear  to  proceed  from  the  zona  (rabbit)  and  in 
other  instances  from  the  subzonal  membrane  (dog). 
In  any  case  the  attachment  between  the  blastodermic 
vesicle  and  the  uterine  wall  becomes  so  close  at  the 
time  when  the  body  of  the  embryo  is  first  formed  out 
of  the  embryonic  area,  that  it  is  hardly  possible  to 
separate  them  without  laceration ;  and  at  this  period — 
from  the  8th  to  the  9th  day  in  the  rabbit — it  requires 
the  greatest  care  to  remove  the  ovum  from  the  uterus 
without  injury.  It  will  be  understood  of  course  that 
the  attachment  above  described  is  at  first  purely  super- 
ficial and  not  vascular. 


848       EMBRYONIC   MEMBRANES  AND  YOLK-SAC.     [CHAP. 

During  the  changes  above  described  as  taking  place 
in  the  amnion,  the  allantois  grows  out  from  the  hind- 
gut  as  a  vesicle   lined  by  hypoblast,  but  covered  ex- 
ternally by  a  layer  of  splanchnic  mesoblast  (Fig.  114,  3 
and  4,  aV)'^.     It  soon  becomes  a  flat  sac,  projecting  into 
the  now  largely  developed  space  between  the  subzonal 
membrane  and  the  amnion,  on  the  dorsal  side  of  the 
embryo  (Fig.  115,  ALG).     In  some  cases  it  extends  so 
as  to  cover  the  whole  inner  surface  of  the  subzonal 
membrane ;  in  other  cases  again  its  extension  is  much 
more  limited.     Its  lumen  may  be  retained  or  may  be- 
come nearly  or  wholly  aborted.     A  fusion  takes  place 
between   the   subzonal   membrane   and   the   adjoining 
mesoblastic  wall  of  the  allantois,  and  the  two  together 
give  rise  to  a  secondary  membrane  round  the  ovum 
known  as  the  chorion.      Since  however   the   allantois 
does  not  always  come  in  contact  with  the  whole  inner 
surface  of  the  subzonal  membrane  the  term  chorion  is 
apt  to  be  somewhat  vague ;  in  the  rabbit,  for  instance, 
a  considerable  part  of  the  so-called  chorion  is  formed 
by  a  fusion  of  the  wall  of  the  yolk-sac  with  the  sub- 
zonal  membrane  (Fig.  116).     The  region  of  the  chorion 
which  gives  rise  to  the  placenta  may  in  such  cases  be 
distinguished  as  the  true  chorion  from  the  remaining 
part  which  will  be  called  the  false  chorion. 

The  mesoblast  of  the  allantois,  especially  that  part 
of  it  which  assists  in  forming  the  chorion,  becomes 
highly  vascular ;  the  blood  being  brought  to  it  by  two 
allantoic  arteries  continued  from  the   terminal   bifur- 

1  The  hypoblastic  element  in  the  allantois  is  sometimes  very  much 
reduced,  so  that  the  allantois  maybe  mainly  formed  of  a  vascular  layer 
of  mesoblast. 


XL] 


THE  CHORION. 
Fig.  115. 


349 


Diagram  of  the  Fcetal  Membranes  of  a  Mammal.  (From 
Turner.) 

Structures  which  either  are  or  have  been  at  an  earlier  period 
of  development  continuous  with  each  other  are  represented  by 
the  same  character  of  shading. 


pc. 


zona  with  villi ;  sz.  subzonal  membrane ;  E.  epiblast  of 
embryo;  am.  amnion;  AC.  amniotic  cavity;  M.  mesoblast 
of  embryo  ;  H.  hypoblast  of  embryo  ;  UV.  umbihcal  vesicle  ; 
at.  allantois ;  ALC.  allantoic  cavity. 


cation  of  the  dorsal  aorta,  and  returned  to  the  body 
by  one,  or  rarely  tv^o,  allantoic  veins,  which  join  the 
vitelline  veins  from  the  yolk-sac.  From  the  outer  sur- 
face of  the  true  chorion  (Fig.  114,  5,  cA.  ^,  116)  villi  grow 
out  and  fit  into  crypts  or  depressions  which  have  in  the 


350       EMBEYONIC   MEMBRANES   AND   YOLK-SAC.     [CHAP. 

meantime  made  their  appearance  in  the  walls  of  the 
uterus  \  The  villi  of  the  chorion  are  covered  by  an 
epithelium  derived  from  the  subzonal  membrane,  and 
are  provided  with  a  connective-tissue  core  containing 
an  arterj^  and  vein  and  a  capillary  plexus  connecting 
them.  In  most  cases  they  assume  a  more  or  less  ar- 
borescent form,  and  have  a  distribution  on  the  surface 
of  the  chorion  varying  characteristically  in  different 
species.  The  walls  of  the  crypts  into  which  the  villi 
are  fitted  also  become  highly  vascular,  and  a  nutritive 
fluid  passes  from  the  maternal  vessels  of  the  placenta 
to  the  foetal  vessels  by  a  process  of  diffusion;  while 
there  is  probably  also  a  secretion  by  the  epithelial 
lining  of  the  walls  of  the  crypts,  which  becomes  ab- 
sorbed by  the  vessels  of  the  foetal  villi.  The  above 
maternal  and  foetal  structures  constitute  together  the 
organ  known  as  the  placenta.  The  maternal  portion 
consists  essentially  of  the  vascular  crypts  in  the 
uterine  walls,  and  the  foetal  portion  of  more  or  less 
arborescent  villi  of  the  true  chorion  fitting  into  these 
crypts. 

While  the  placenta  is  being  developed  the  folding 
off  of  the  embryo  from  the  yolk-sac  becomes  more 
complete;  and  the  yolk-sac  remains  connected  with  the 
ileal  region  of  the  intestine  by  a  narrow  stalk,  the  vi- 
telline duct  (Fig.  114,  4  and  5  and  Fig.  115),  consisting 
of  the  same  tissues  as  the  yolk-sac,  viz.  hypoblast  and 
splanchnic  mesoblast.     While  the  true  splanchnic  stalk 

1  These  crypts  have  no  connection  with  the  openings  of  glands  in 
the  walls  of  the  uterus.  They  are  believed  by  Ercolani  to  be  formed 
to  a  large  extent  by  a  regeneration  of  the  lining  tissue  of  the  uterine 
walls. 


XI.]  THE  PLACENTA,  851 

of  the  yolk-sac  is  becoming  narrow,  a  somatic  stalk 
connecting  the  amnion  with  the  walls  of  the  embryo  is 
also  formed,  and  closely  envelopes  the  stalk  both  of  the 
allantois  and  the  yolk-sac.  The  somatic  stalk  together 
with  its  contents  is  known  as  the  umbilical  cord.  The 
mesoblast  of  the  somatopleuric  layer  of  the  cord  de- 
velops into  a  kind  of  gelatinous  tissue  which  cements 
too"ether  the  whole  of  the  contents.  The  allantoic  ar- 
teries  in  the  cord  wind  in  a  spiral  manner  round  the 
allantoic  vein.  The  yolk-sac  in  many  cases  atrophies 
completely  before  the  close  of  intra-uterine  life,  but  in 
other  cases  it,  like  the  other  embryonic  membranes,  is 
not  removed  till  birth.  The  intra-embryonic  portion  of 
the  allantoic  stalk  gives  rise  to  two  structures,  viz.  to 
(1)  the  urinary  bladder  formed  by  a  dilatation  of  its 
proximal  extremity,  and  to  (2)  a  cord  known  as  the 
urachus  connecting  the  bladder  with  the  wall  of  the 
body  at  the  nmbilicus.  The  nrachus,  in  cases  where 
the  cavity  of  the  allantois  persists  till  birth,  remains  as 
an  open  passage  connecting  the  intra-  and  extra-em- 
bryonic parts  of  the  allantois.  In  other  cases  it  gradually 
closes,  and  becomes  nearly  solid  before  birth,  though  a 
delicate  but  interrupted  lumen  would  appear  to  persist 
in  it.  It  eventually  gives  rise  to  the  ligamentum  vesicae 
medium. 

At  birth  the  foetal  membranes,  including  the  foetal 
portion  of  the  placenta,  are  shed ;  but  in  many  forms 
the  interlocking  of  the  foetal  villi  with  the  uterine 
crypts  is  so  close  that  the  uterine  mucous  membrane  is 
carried  away  with  the  foetal  part  of  the  placenta.  It 
thus  comes  about  that  in  some  placentae  the  maternal 
and  foetal  parts  simply  separate  from  each  other  at  birth, 


852        EMBRYONIC  MEMBRANES  AND  YOLK-SAC.     [CHAP. 

and  that  in  others  the  two  remain  intimately  locked 
together,  and  both  are  shed  together  as  the  after-birth. 
These  two  forms  of  placenta  are  distinguished  as  non- 
deciduate  and  deciduate,  but  no  sharp  line  can  be  drawn 
between  the  two  types.  Moreover,  a  larger  part  of  the 
uterine  mucous  membrane  than  that  actually  entering 
into  the  maternal  part  of  the  placenta  is  often  shed  in 
the  deciduate  Mammalia,  and  in  the  non-deciduate 
Mammalia  it  is  probable  that  the  mucous  membrane 
(not  including  vascular  pai'ts)  of  the  maternal  placenta 
is  either  shed  or  absorbed. 


Comparative  history  of  the  Mammalian  foetal 
.  membranes. 

Two  groups  of  Mammalia — the  Monotremata  and 
the  Marsupialia — are  believed  not  to  be  provided  with 
a  true  placenta.  Nothing  is  known  of  the  arrangement 
of  the  foetal  membranes  in  the  former  group  of  animals 
(Monotremata).  In  the  latter  (Marsupialia)  the  yolk- 
sac  is  large  and  vascular,  and  is,  according  to  Owen, 
attached  to  the  subzonal  membrane.  The  allantois  on 
the  other  hand  is  but  small,  and  is  not  attached  to  the 
subzonal  membrane;  it  possesses  however  a  vascular 
supply. 

Observations  have  hitherto  been  very  limited  with 
regard  to  the  foetal  membranes  of  this  group  of  animals, 
but  it  appears  highly  probable  that  both  the  yolk-sac 
and  the  allantois  receive  nutriment  from  the  walls  of 
the  uterus. 

All  Mammalia  other  than  the  Monotremata  and 
Marsupialia  have  a  true  allantoic  placenta.     The  pla- 


XI.]  DISCOIDAL  PLACENTA.  353 

centa  presents  a  great  variety  of  forms,  and  we  propose 
first  to  treat  the  most  important  of  these  in  succession, 
and  then  to  give  a  general  exposition  of  their  mutual 
afiSnities. 

The  discoidal  placenta  is  found  in  the  Kodentia, 
Insectivora,  and  Cheiroptera.  The  Eabbit  may  be 
taken  as  an  example  of  this  type  of  placenta. 

The  Rabbit.  In  the  pregnant  female  Eabbit  several  ova  are 
generally  found  in  each  horn  of  the  uterus.  The  general  condi- 
tion of  the  foetal-membranes  at  the  time  of  their  full  development 
is  shewn  in  Fig.  116. 

The  embryo  is  surrounded  by  the  amnion,  which  is  compara- 
tively small.  The  yolk-sac  {ds)  is  large  and  attached  to  the 
embryo  by  a  long  stalk.  It  has  the  form  of  a  flattened  sac 
closely  applied  to  about  two-thirds  of  the  surface  of  the  subzonal 
membrane.  The  outer  wall  of  this  sac,  adjoining  the  subzonal 
membrane,  is  formed  of  hypoblast  only ;  but  the  inner  waU  is 
covered  by  the  mesoblast  of  the  area  vasculosa,  as  indicated  by 
the  thick  black  Hne  {fd).  The  vascular  area  is  bordered  by 
the  sinus  terminalis  {st).  In  an  earlier  stage  of  development  the 
yolk-sac  had  not  the  compressed  form  represented  in  the  figure. 
It  is,  however,  remarkable  that  the  vascular  area  never  extends 
over  the  whole  yolk-sac  ;  but  the  inner  vascular  wall  of  the  yolk- 
sac  fuses  with  the  outer  wall,  and  with  the  subzonal  membrane, 
and  so  forms  a  false  chorion,  which  receives  its  blood  supply 
from  the  yolk-sac.  This  part  of  the  chorion  does  not  develop 
vascular  villi. 

The  allantois  {al)  is  a  simple  vascular  sac  with  a  large  cavity. 
Part  of  its  wall  is  applied  to  the  subzonal  membrane,  and  gives  rise 
to  the  true  chorion  from  which  there  project  numerous  vascular 
vilh.  These  fit  into  corresponding  uterine  crypts.  It  seems  pro- 
bable, from  Bischoffs  and  KoUiker's  observations,  that  the  sub- 
zonal  membrane  in  the  area  of  the  placenta  becomes  attached, 
by  means  of  villi,  to  the  uterine  wall  even  before  its  fusion  with 
the  allantois.  In  the  later  periods  of  gestation  the  intermingling 
of  the  maternal  and  foetal  parts  of  the  placenta  becomes  very 

r.  &  B.  23 


354        EMBRYONIC    MEMBRANES   AND   YOLK-SAC.      [CHAP. 

close,  and  the  placenta  is  truly  decidiiate.  The  cavity  of  the 
allantois  persists  till  birth.  Between  the  yolk-sac,  the  allantois, 
and  the  embryo,  there  is  left  a  large  cavity  filled  with  an  albumi- 
nous fluid. 

Fig.  116. 


Diagrammatic  Longitudinal  Section  of  a  Rabbit's  Ovum 
AT  AN  Advanced  Stage  of  Pregnancy.  (From  Kolliker 
after  Bischoflf.) 

e.  embryo ;  a.  amnion ;  a.  urachus  ;  al.  allantois  with  blood- 
vessels ;  sh.  sub-zonal  membrane ;  pi.  placental  villi ;  fd. 
vascular  layer  of  yolk-sac;  ed.  hypoblastic  layer  of  yolk- 
sac  ;  ed'.  inner  portion  of  hypoblast,  and  ed".  outer  portion 
of  hypoblast  lining  the  compressed  cavity  of  the  yolk-sac ; 
ds.  cavity  of  yolk-sac ;  st.  sinus  terminahs ;  r.  space  filled 
with  fluid  between  the  amnion,  the  allantois  and  the  yolk- 


The  metadiscoidal  type  of  placenta  is  found  in 
Man  and  the  Apes.  The  placenta  of  Man  may  be  con- 
veniently taken  as  an  example  of  this  type. 


XI.]  METADISCOIDAL   PLACENTA.  355 

Man.  The  early  stages  in  the  development  of  the  foetal 
membranes  in  the  human  embryo  have  not  been  satisfactorily 
observed ;  but  it  is  known  that  the  ovum,  shortly  after  its 
entrance  into  the  uterus,  becomes  attached  to  the  uterine  wall, 
which  in  the  meantime  has  undergone  considerable  preparatory 
changes.  A  fold  of  the  uterine  wall  appears  to  grow  round  the 
blastodermic  vesicle,  and  to  form  a  complete  capsule  for  it,  but 
the  exact  mode  of  formation  of  this  capsale  is  a  matter  of  infer- 
ence and  not  of  observation.  During  the  first  fortnight  of  preg- 
nancy villi  grow  out,  over  the  whole  surface  of  the  ovum.  The 
further  history  of  the  early  stages  is  extremely  obscure :  what 
is  known  with  reference  to  it  will  be  found  on  p.  335  et  seq. ;  we 
will  here  take  up  the  history  at  about  the  fourth  week. 

At  this  stage  a  complete  chorion  has  become  formed,  and  is 
probably  derived  from  a  growth  of  the  mesoblast  of  the  allantois 
(unaccompanied  by  the  hypoblast)  round  the  whole  inner  surface 
of  the  subzonal  membrane.  From  the  whole  surface  of  the 
chorion  there  project  branched  vascular  processes,  covered  by 
an  epithelium.  The  allantois  is  without  a  cavity,  but  a  hypo- 
blastic  epithelium  is  present  in  the  allantoic  stalk,  though 
not  forming  a  continuous  tube.  The  blood-vessels  of  the 
chorion  are  derived  from  the  usual  allantoic  arteries  and  vein. 
The  general  condition  of  the  embryo  and  of  its  membranes  at 
this  period  is  shewn  diagrammatically  in  Fig.  114,  5.  Around 
the  embryo  is  seen  the  amnion,  already  separated  by  a  consider- 
able interval  from  the  embryo.  The  yolk-sac  is  shewn  at  ds. 
Eelatively  to  the  other  parts  it  is  considerably  smaller  than 
it  was  at  an  earher  stage.  The  allantoic  stalk  is  shewn  at  al. 
Both  it  and  the  stalk  of  the  yolk-sac  are  enveloped  by  the 
amnion,  am.  The  chorion  with  its  vascular  processes  surrounds 
the  whole  embryo. 

It  may  be  noted  that  the  condition  of  the  chorion  at  this 
stage  is  very  similar  to  that  of  the  normal  diffused  type  of  pla- 
centa, described  in  the  sequel. 

While  the  above  changes  are  taking  place  in  the  embryonic 
membranes,  the  blastodermic  vesicle  greatly  increases  in  size,  and 
forms  a  considerable  projection  from  the  upper  wall  of  the 
uterus.     Three  regions  of  the  uterine  wall,   in  relation  to   the 

23—2 


356        EMBRYONIC   MEMBRANES   AND   YOLK-SAC.     [CHAP. 

blastodermic  vesicle,  are  usually  distinguished;  and  since  the- 
superficial  parts  of  all  of  these  are  thrown  offwith  the  after- birth, 
each  of  them  is  called  a  decidua.  They  are  represented  at  a 
somewhat  later  stage  in  Fig.  117.  There  is  (1)  the  part  of  the 
wall  reflected  over  the  blastodermic  vesicle,  called  the  decidua 
reflexa  {dr) ;  (2)  the  part  of  the  wall  forming  the  area  round 
which  the  reflexa  is  inserted,  called  the  decidua  serotina  (ds) ;  (3) 
the  general  wall  of  the  uterus,  not  related  to  the  embryo,  called 
the  decidua  vera  {du). 

The  decidua  reflexa  and  serotina  together  envelop  the  chorion 
(Fig.  114.  5),  the  processes  of  which  fit  into  crypts  in  them. 
At  this  period  both  of  them  are  highly  and  nearly  uniformly 
vascular.  The  general  cavity  of  the  uterus  is  to  a  large  extent 
obliterated  by  the  ovum,  but  still  persists  as  a  space  filled  with 
mucus,  between  the  decidua  reflexa  and  the  decidua  vera. 

The  changes  which  ensue  from  this  period  onwards  are  fully 
known.  The  amnion  continues  to  dilate  (its  cavity  being  tensely 
fiUed  with  amniotic  fluid)  till  it  comes  very  close  to  the  chorion 
(Fig.  117,  am)',  from  which,  however,  it  remains  separated  by  a 
layer  of  gelatinous  tissue.  The  villi  of  the  chorion  in  the  region 
covered  by  the  decidua  reflexa,  gradually  cease  to  be  vascular, 
and  partially  atrophy,  but  in  the  region  in  contact  with  the- 
decidua  serotina  increase  and  become  more  vascular  and  more 
arborescent  (Fig.  117,  z).  The  former  region  becomes  known  as 
the  chorion  l(Bve,  and  the  latter  as  the  chorion  frondosum.  The 
chorion  frondosum,  together  with  the  decidua  serotina,  gives  rise 
to  the  placenta. 

The  umbilical  vesicle  (Fig.  117,  nh),  although  it  becomes 
greatly  reduced  in  size  and  flattened,  persists  in  a  recognisable 
form  till  the  time  of  birth. 

The  decidua  reflexa,  by  the  disappearance  of  the  vessels  in  the 
chorion  Iseve,  becomes  non-vascular.  Its  tissue  and  that  of  the 
decidua  vera  undergo  changes  which  we  do  not  propose  to 
describe  here  ;  it  ultimately  fuses  on  the  one  hand  with  the 
chorion,  and  on  the  other  with  the  decidua  vera.  The  mem- 
brane resulting  from  its  fusion  with  the  latter  structure  becomes 
thinner  and  thinner  as  pregnancy  advances,  and  is  reduced  to  a 
thin  layer  at  the  time  of  birth. 


XL] 


THE   CHORION. 

Fig.  117. 


357 


Diagrammatic  Section  of  Pregnant   Human  Uterus  with 
CONTAINED  FcETUS.     (From  Huxley  after  Longet.) 

<il.  allantoic  stalk ;  nh.  umbilical  vesicle ;  am.  amnion ;  ch.  cho- 
rion ;  ds.  decidua  serotina ;  du.  decidua  vera ;  dr.  decidua 
reflexa ;  I.  fallopian  tube  ;  c.  cervix  uteri ;  u.  uterus ;  z.  foetal 
villi  of  true  placenta;  /.  villi  of  non-placental  part  of 
chorion. 

The  placenta  has  a  somewhat  discoidal  form,  with  a  slightly 
convex  uterine  surface  and  a  concave  embryonic  surface.  At  its 
edge  it  is  continuous  both  with  the  decidua  reflexa  and  decidua 
vera.  Near  the  centre  of  the  embryonic  surface  is  implanted  the 
umbilical  cord.  As  has  already  been  mentioned,  the  placenta  is 
formed  of  the  decidua  serotina  and  the  foetal  villi  of  the  chorion 
frondosum.  The  foetal  and  maternal  tissues  are  far  more  closely 
united  than  in  the  placenta  of  the  rabbit.  The  villi  of  the 
chorion,  which  were  originally  comparatively  simple,  become 
more  and  more  complicated,  and  assume  an  extremely  arborescent 
form.     At  birth  the  whole  placenta,  together  with  the  fused  de- 


358        EMBRYONIC   MEMBRANES   AND   YOLK-SAC.      [CHAP. 

cidua  vera,  and  reflexa,  with  which  it  is  continuous,  is  shed ;  and 
the  blood-vessels  thus  ruptured  are  closed  by  the  contraction  of 
the  uterine  walls. 

The  metadiscoidal  placenta  of  Man  and  Apes  and  the  discoidal 
placenta  of  the  Eabbit  are  usually  classified  by  anatomists  as 
discoidal  placentse,  but  it  must  be  borne  in  mind  that  they  differ 
very  widely. 

In  the  Eabbit  there  is  a  dorsal  placenta,  which  is  co-extensive 
with  the  area  of  contact  between  the  allantois  and  the  subzonal 
membrane,  while  the  yolk-sac  adheres  to  a  large  part  of  the 
subzonal  membrane.  In  Apes  and  Man  the  allantois  spreads 
over  the  whole  inner  surface  of  the  subzonal  membrane  ;  the 
placenta  is  on  the  ventral  side  of  the  embryo,  and  occupies  only  a 
small  part  of  the  surface  of  the  aUantois. 

Zonary  placenta.  Another  form  of  deciduate  pla- 
centa is  known  as  the  zonary.  This  form  of  placenta 
occupies  a  broad  zone  of  the  chorion,  leaving  the  two 
poles  free.  It  is  found  in  the  Carnivora,  Hyrax,  Elephas, 
and  Orycteropus. 

In  the  Dog,  which  may  be  taken  as  a  type,  there  is  a  large 
vascular  yolk-sac  formed  in  the  usual  way,  which  does  not  how- 
ever fuse  with  the  chorion.  It  has  at  first  an  oval  shape,  and 
persists  till  birth.  The  allantois  first  grows  out  on  the  dorsal 
side  of  the  embryo,  where  it  coalesces  with  the  subzonal  mem- 
brane, over  a  small  discoidal  area,  and  there  is  thus  formed  a 
rudimentary  discoidal  placenta  closely  resembling  that  of  the 
Eabbit. 

The  area  of  adhesion  between  the  outer  part  of  the  allantois 
and  subzonal  membrane  gradually  spreads  over  the  whole  inte- 
rior of  the  subzonal  membrane,  and  vascular  viUi  are  formed  over 
the  whole  area  of  adhesion  except  at  the  two  extreme  poles  of  the 
ovum. 

With  the  full  growth  of  the  allantois  there  is  formed  a  broad 
placental  zone,  with  numerous  branched  villi  fitting  into  corre- 
sponding pita  which  are  not  true  glands  but  special  develop- 


XI.]  NON-DECIDUATE   PLACENTA.  359 

ments  of  the  uterine  surface.  The  maternal  and  foetal  structures 
become  closely  interlocked  and  highly  vascular ;  and  at  birth  a 
large  part  of  the  maternal  part  is  carried  away  with  the  placenta ; 
some  of  it  however  still  remains  attached  to  the  muscular  wall  of 
the  uterus.  The  zone  of  the  placenta  diminishes  greatly  in  pro- 
portion to  the  chorion  as  the  latter  elongates,  and  at  the  full 
time  the  breadth  of  the  zone  is  not  more  than  about  one-fifth  of 
the  whole  length  of  the  chorion. 

At  the  edge  of  the  placental  zone  there  is  a  very  small  portion 
of  the  uterine  mucous  membrane  reflected  over  the  non-placental 
part  of  the  chorion,  so  as  to  form  a  small  reflexa  analogous  with 
the  reflexa  in  Man. 

The  most  important  of  the  remaining  types  of  pla- 
centa are  the  diJBPase  and  the  polycotyledonary,  and 
these  placentae  are  for  the  most  part  non-deciduate.  In 
the  diffuse  placenta,  found  in  the  Horse,  Pig,  Le- 
murs, etc.,  the  allantois  completely  envelopes  the  em- 
bryo, and  villi  are  formed  on  all  parts  of  the  chorion, 
excepting  over  a  small  area  at  the  two  poles. 

In  the  polycotyledonary  placenta,  which  is  charac- 
teristic of  the  Ruminantia,  the  allantois  grows  round  the 
whole  inner  surface  of  the  subzonal  membrane  ;  the 
placental  villi  are  however  not  uniformly  distributed, 
but  collected  into  patches  or  cotyledons,  which  form  as 
it  were  so  many  small  placentae.  The  foetal  villi  of 
these  patches  fit  into  corresponding  pits  in  thickened 
patches  of  the  wall  of  the  uterus. 

Comparative  histology  of  the  Placenta. 

It  does  not  fall  within  the  province  of  this  work  to 
treat  from  a  histological  standpoint  the  changes  which 
take  place  in  the  uterine  walls  during  pregnancy.  It 
will,  however,  be  convenient  to  place  before  the  reader 


360        EMBEYONIC  MEMBRANES  AND  YOLK-SAC.     [CHAP. 

a  short  statement  of  the  relations  between  the  maternal 
and  foetal  tissues  in  the  different  varieties  of  placenta. 

The  simplest  known  condition  of  the  placenta  is 
that  found  in  the  pig  (Fig.  118  II.).  The  papilla-like 
foetal  villi  fit  into  the  maternal  crypts.  The  villi  (v)  are 
formed  of  a  connective  tissue  core  with  capillaries,  and 
are  covered  by  a  layer  of  very  flat  epithelium  (e)  de- 
rived from  the  subzonal  menibrane.  The  maternal 
crypts  are  lined  by  the  uterine  epithelium  (e),  imme- 
diately below  which  is  a  capillary  plexus.  The  maternal 
and  foetal  vessels  are  here  separated  by  a  double  epi- 
thelial layer.  The  same  general  arrangement  holds 
good  in  the  diffused  placentae  of  other  forms,  and  in  the 
polycotyledonary  placenta  of  the  Ruminantia,  but  the 
foetal  villi  in  the  latter  (III.)  acquire  an  arborescent  form. 
The  maternal  vessels  retain  the  form  of  capillaries. 

In  the  deciduate  placenta  a  much  more  compli- 
cated arrangement  is  usually  found.  In  the  typical 
zonary  placenta  of  the  fox  and  cat  (IV.  and  V.),  the 
maternal  tissue  is  broken  up  into  a  complete  trabecular 
meshwork,  and  in  the  interior  of  the  trabeculse  there 
run  dilated  maternal  capillaries  (d').  The  trabeculae 
are  covered  by  a  more  or  less  columnar  uterine  epi- 
thelium (e),  and  are  in  contact  on  every  side  with  foetal 
villi.  The  capillaries  of  the  foetal  villi  preserve  their 
normal  size,  and  the  villi  are  covered  by  a  flat  epithelial 
layer  (e). 

In  the  Sloth  (VI.)  which  has  a  discoidal  placenta  the 
maternal  capillaries  become  still  more  dilated,  and  the 
epithelium  covering  them  is  formed  of  very  flat  poly- 
gonal cells. 


XL] 


HISTOLOGY  OF  THE  PLACENTA. 


361 


Fig.  118. 


II. 


III. 


lY. 


862        EMBRYONIC   MEMBRANES   AND   YOLK-SAC.      [CHAP 

yi. 

e'  id ... 


V. 


3f 


X.]  HISTOLOGY   OF   THE    PLACENTA.  368 

Diagrammatic  Eepresentations  of  the   Minute  Structure 
OF  the  Placenta.     (From  Turner.) 

F.  the  foetal ;  M.  the  maternal  placenta ;  e.  epithelium  of  cho- 
rion ;    e'.  epithehum  of  maternal  placenta ;  d.  foetal  blood- 
ed', maternal  blood-vessels ;  v.  villus. 


I.  Placenta  in  its  most  generalized  form.  II.  Structure  of 
placenta  of  a  Pig.  III.  Of  a  Cow.  IV.  Of  a  Fox.  V.  Of  a 
Cat. 

VI.  Structure  of  placenta  of  a  Sloth.  On  the  right  side  of 
the  figure  the  flat  maternal  epithehal  cells  are  shewn  in  situ. 
On  the  left  side  they  are  removed,  and  the  dilated  maternal  vessel 
with  its  blood-corpuscles  is  exposed. 

VII.  Structm-e  of  Human  placenta.  In  addition  to  the  let- 
ters already  referred  to,  ds^  ds.  represents  the  decidua  serotina  of 
the  placenta  ;  t,  t.  trabeculae  of  serotina  passing  to  the  foetal  villi ; 
ca.  curling  artery  ;  up.  utero-placental  vein  ;  x.  a  prolongation  of 
maternal  tissue  on  the  exterior  of  the  villus  outside  the  cellular 
layer  e',  which  may  represent  either  the  endothelium  of  the 
maternal  blood-vessel  or  delicate  connective  tissue  belonging  to 
the  serotina,  or  both.  The  layer  e'  represents  maternal  cells 
derived  from  the  serotina.  The  layer  of  foetal  epithelium  cannot 
be  seen  on  the  vilh  of  the  fully-formed  human  placenta. 

In  the  human  placenta  (VII.)>  ^-s  in  that  of  Apes,, 
the  greatest  modification  is  found.  Here  the  maternal 
vessels  have  completely  lost  their  capillary  form,  and 
have  become  expanded  into  large  freely  communicating 
sinuses  (d').  In  these  sinuses  the  foetal  villi  hang  for 
the  most  part  freely,  though  occasionally  attached  to 
their  walls  by  strands  of  tissue  (t).  In  the  late  stages 
of  foetal  life  there  is  only  one  epithelial  layer  (e)  be- 
tween the  maternal  and  foetal  vessels,  which  closely 
invests  the  foetal  villi,  but  is  part  of  the  uterine  tissue. 
In  the  foetal  villi  the  vessels  retain  their  capillary  form. 


S6-t    EMBRYONIC  MEMBRANES  AND  YOLK-SAC.    [CHAP.  XI. 

Evolution  of  the  placenta.  Excluding  the  mar- 
supials whose  placentation  is  not  really  known,  the 
arrangement  of  the  foetal  membranes  of  the  Babbit  is 
the  most  primitive  observed.  In  this  type  the  allantois 
and  yolk-sac  both  function  in  obtaining  nutriment 
from  the  mother ;  and  the  former  occupies  only  a  small 
discoidal  area  of  the  subzonal  membrane.  In  all  higher 
types  the  allantois  gradually  spreads  out  over  the  whole 
inner  surface  of  the  subzonal  membrane  and  its  im- 
portance increases ;  while  that  of  the  yolk-sac  as  a  nu- 
tritive organ  decreases.  In  the  diffuse  type  of  placenta 
simple  villi  are  present  over  nearly  the  whole  surface  of 
the  chorion.  In  the  remaining  types  the  villi  become 
more  complicated  and  restricted  to  a  smaller  area 
{meta-discoidal,  zonary,  &c.)  of  the  chorion ;  though  in 
the  early  stages  they  are  more  scattered  and  simpler, 
in  some  cases  occupying  nearly  the  whole  surface  of  the 
chorion.  It  therefore  seems  probable  that  the  placenta 
of  Man  has  been  derived  not  directly  from  the  discoidal 
placenta  of  the  Kabbit,  but  from  the  diffuse  placenta 
such  as  is  seen  in  the  Lemurs,  etc.,  and  that  generally 
the  zonary,  cotyledonary,  &c.  types  of  placenta  have 
been  derived  from  the  diffuse  by  a  concentration  and 
increase  in  the  complexity  of  the  foetal  villi. 


CHAPTER   XII. 

THE  DEVELOPMENT   OF   THE   ORGANS   IN   MAMMALIA. 

In  chap.  X.  we  have  described  the  early  stages  and 
general  development  of  the  mammalian  embryo.  In 
the  present  chapter  we  propose  to  examine  the  for- 
mation of  such  mammalian  organs  as  differ  in  their 
development  from  those  of  the  chick.  This  will  not  be 
a  work  of  any  considerable  extent,  as  in  all  essential 
points  the  development  of  the  organs  in  the  two  groups 
is  the  same.  They  will  be  classified  according  to  the 
germinal  layers  from  which  they  originate. 

The  organs  derived  from  the  epiblast. 

Hairs  are  formed  in  solid  processes  of  the  deep 
(Malpighian)  layer  of  the  epidermis,  which  project  into 
the  subjacent  dermis.  The  hair  itself  arises  from  a 
comification  of  the  cells  of  the  axis  of  one  of  the  above 
processes ;  and  is  invested  by  a  sheath  similarly  formed 
from  the  more  superficial  epidermic  cells.  A  small 
papilla  of  the  dermis  grows  into  the  inner  end  of  the 
epidermic  process  when  the  hair  is  first  formed.     The 


^66      DEVELOPMENT   OF   ORGANS   IN   MAMMALIA.    [CHAP. 

first  trace  of  the  hair  appears  close  to  this  papilla,  but 
soon  increases  in  length,  and  when  the  end  of  the  hair 
projects  from  the  surface,  the  original  solid  process  of 
the  epidermis  becomes  converted  into  an  open  pit,  the 
lumen  of  which  is  filled  by  the  root  of  the  hair. 

The  development  of  nails  has  been  already  described 
on  p.  283. 

Glands.  The  secretory  part  of  the  various  glandular 
structures  belonging  to  the  skin  is  invariably  formed 
from  the  epidermis.  In  Mammalia  it  appears  that 
these  glands  are  always  formed  as  solid  ingrowths  of  the 
Malpighian  layer.  The  ends  of  these  ingrowths  dilate 
to  form  the  true  glandular  part  of  the  organs,  while  the 
stalks  connecting  the  glandular  portions  with  the  sur- 
face form  the  ducts.  In  the  case  of  the  sweat-glands 
the  lumen  of  the  duct  becomes  first  established ;  its 
formation  is  inaugurated  by  the  appearance  of  the 
cuticle,  and  appears  first  at  the  inner  end  of  the  duct 
and  thence  extends  outwards.  In  the  sebaceous  glands 
the  first  secretion  is  formed  by  a  fatty  modification  of 
the  whole  of  the  central  cells  of  the  gland. 

The  muscular  layer  of  the  secreting  part  of  the 
sweat-glands  is  said  to  be  formed  from  a  modification  of 
the  deeper  layer  of  the  epidermic  cells. 

The  mammary  glands  arise  in  essentially  the  same 
manner  as  the  other  glands  of  the  skin.  The  glands  of 
each  side  are  formed  as  a  solid  bud  of  the  Malpighian 
layer  of  the  epidermis.  From  this  bud  processes  sprout 
out,  each  of  which  gives  rise  to  one  of  the  numerous 
glands  of  which  the  whole  organ  is  formed. 


XII.]  THE   HIND   BRAIN.  367 

The  central  nervous  system. 

The  development  of  the  spinal  cord  in  Mammals 
differs  in  no  important  respects  from  that  of  the  chick, 
and  we  have  nothing  to  add  to  the  account  we  have 
already  given  of  its  general  development  and  histoge- 
nesis in  that  animal.  The  development  of  the  brain 
however  will  be  described  at  greater  length,  and  some 
additional  facts  relative  to  the  development  of  the 
Avian  brain  will  be  mentioned. 

The  first  differentiation  of  the  brain  takes  place  in 
Mammalia  before  the  closure  of  the  medullary  folds, 
and  results  as  in  the  chick  in  the  formation  of  the  three 
cerebral  vesicles,  the  fore-,  mid-  and  hind-brain  (Fig. 
106,  B).  A  cranial  flexure  precisely  resembling  that  of 
the  chick  soon  makes  its  appearance. 

The  hind  brain  early  becomes  divided  into  two 
regions,  the  rudimentary  medulla  oblongata  and  cere- 
bellum. 

The  posterior  section,  the  medulla,  undergoes  changes 
of  a  somewhat  complicated  character.  In  the  first  place 
its  roof  becomes  very  much  extended  and  thinned 
out.  At  the  raphe,  where  the  two  lateral  halves 
of  the  brain  originally  united,  a  separation,  as  it  were, 
takes  place,  and  the  two  sides  of  the  brain  become 
]3ushed  apart,  remaining  united  by  only  a  very  thin 
layer  of  nervous  matter,  consisting  of  a  single  row  of 
flattened  cells  (Fig.  40).  As  a  result  of  this  peculiar 
growth  in  the  brain,  the  roots  of  the  nerves  of  the  two 
sides,  which  were  originally  in  contact  at  the  dorsal 
summit  of  the  brain,  become  carried  away  from  one 
another,  and  appear  to  rise  at  the  sides  of  the  brain. 


368      DEVELOPMENT   OF   ORGANS   IN   MAMMALIA.    [CHAP. 

The  thin  roof  of  the  fourth  ventricle  thus  formed 
is  somewhat  rhomboidal  in  shape. 

At  a  later  period  the  blood-vessels  of  the  pia 
mater  form  a  rich  plexus  over  the  anterior  part  of 
this  thin  roof  which  becomes  at  the  same  time  some- 
what folded.  The  whole  structure  is  known  as  the 
tela  vasculosa  or  choroid  plexus  of  the  fourth  ventricle 
(Fig.  119,  chd  4).  The  floor  of  the  whole  hind-brain 
becomes  thickened,  and  there  very  soon  appears  on  its 
outer  surface  a  layer  of  longitudinal  non-medullated 
nerve-fibres,  similar  to  those  which  first  appear  on  the 
spinal  cord  (p.  252).  They  are  continuous  with  a  similar 
layer  of  fibres  on  the  floor  of  the  mid-brain,  where 
they  constitute  the  crura  cerebri.  On  the  ventral  floor 
of  the  fourth  ventricle  is  a  shallow  continuation  of  the 
anterior  fissure  of  the  spinal  cord. 

Subsequently  to  the  longitudinal  fibres  already  spoken  of^ 
there  develope  first  the  olivary  bodies  of  the  ventral  side  of  the 
medulla,  and  at  a  still  later  period  the  pyramids.  The  fasciculi 
teretes  in  the  cavity  of  the  fourth  ventricle  are  developed  shortly 
before  the  pyramids. 

When  the  hind-brain  becomes  divided  into  two 
regions  the  roof  of  the  anterior  part  does  not  become 
thinned  out  like  that  of  the  posterior,  but  on  the  con- 
trary, becomes  somewhat  thickened  and  forms  a  band- 
like structure  roofing  over  the  anterior  part  of  the 
fourth  ventricle  (Fig.  39  ch). 

This  is  a  rudiment  of  the  cerebellum,  and  in  all 
Craniate  Vertebrates  it  at  first  presents  this  simple 
structure  and  insignificant  size. 

In  Birds  the  cerebellum  attains  a  very  considerable 
development  (Fig.  119  cbl),  consisting  of  a  folded  central 


XII.]  THE  HIND-BRAIN.  369 

lobe  with  an  arbor  vitse,  into  which  the  fourth  ventricle 
is  prolonged.  There  are  two  small  lateral  lobes,  ap- 
parently equivalent  to  the  flocculi. 

In  Mammalia  the  cerebellum  attains  a  still  greater 
development.     The  median  lobe  or  vermiform  process 


Longitudinal  Section  through  the  Brain  of  a   Chick  of 
Ten  Days.     (After  Mihalkovics.) 

hms.  cerebral  hemispheres  ;  alf.  olfactory  lobe ;  alfi,  olfactory. 
.  nerve ;  ggt.  corpus  striatum  ;  OTna.  anterior  commissure  ; 
chd  3.  choroid  plexus  of  the  third  ventricle ;  pin.  pineal 
gland ;  cmp.  posterior  commissure  ;  trm.  lamina  terminahs ; 
dim.  optic  chiasma  ;  inf.  infundibulum  ;  hph.  pituitary  body  ; 
hgm.  commissure  of  Sylvius  (roof  of  iter  a  tertio  ad  quartum 
ventriculum) ;  vma.  velum  medullee  anterius  (valve  of  Vieus- 
sens) ;  cbl.  cerebellum  ;  chd  4.  choroid  plexus  of  the  fourth 
ventricle ;  oU  4.  roof  of  fourth  ventricle  ;  ohl.  medulla  oblon- 
gata ;  pns.  commissural  part  of  medulla ;  inv.  sheath  of 
brain  ;  his.  basilar  artery  ;  crts.  internal  carotid. 

F.  &  B.  24 


370      DEVELOPMENT   OF   ORGANS   IN   MAMMALIA.    [CHAP. 

is  first  developed.  In  the  higher  Manamalia  the  lateral 
parts  constituting  the  hemispheres  of  the  cerebellum 
become  formed  as  swellings  at  the  sides  at  a  consider- 
ably later  period :  these  are  hardly  developed  in  the 
Monotremata  and  Marsupialia. 

The  cerebellum  is  connected  with  the  roof  of  the  mid-brain  in 
front  and  with  the  choroid  plexus  of  the  fourth  ventricle  behind 
by  delicate  membranous  structures,  known  as  the  velum  me- 
duUse  anterius  (valve  of  Vieussens)  (Fig.  119  vmd)  and  the  velum 
meduUee  posterius. 

The  pons  "Varolii  is  formed  on  the  ventral  side  of  the  floor  of 
the  cerebellar  region  as  a  bundle  of  transverse  fibres  at  about  the 
same  time  as  the  olivary  bodies.  It  is  represented  in  Birds  by 
a  small  number  of  transverse  fibres  on  the  floor  of  the  hind-brain 
immediately  below  the  cerebellum. 

The  mid-brain.  The  changes  undergone  by  the 
mid-brain  are  simpler  than  those  of  any  other  part  of 
the  brain.  It  forms,  on  the  appearance  of  the  cranial 
flexure,  an  unpaired  vesicle  with  a  vaulted  roof  and 
curved  floor,  at  the  front  end  of  the  long  axis  of  the 
body  (Fig.  67,  MB).  It  is  at  this  period  in  Mammalia 
as  well  as  in  Aves  relatively  much  larger  than  in  the 
adult:  its  cavity  is  known  as  the  iter  a  tertio  ad 
quartum  ventriculum  or  aqueductus  Bylvii. 

The  roof  of  the  mid-brain  is  sharply  constricted 
off  from  the  divisions  of  the  brain  in  front  of  and 
behind  it,  but  these  constrictions  do  not  extend  to  the 
floor. 

In  Mammalia  the  roof  and  sides  give  rise  to  two 
pairs  of  prominences,  the  corpora  quadrigemina. 

These  prominences,  which  are  simply  thickenings 
not  containing  any  prolongations  of  the  iter,  become 


XII.]  THE   FORE-BRAIN.  371 

first  visible  on  the  appearance  of  an  oblique  transverse 
furrow,  by  which  the  whole  mid-brain  is  divided  into  an 
anterior  and  posterior  portion.  The  anterior  portion  is 
further  divided  by  a  longitudinal  furrow  into  the  two 
anterior  tubercles  (nates) ;  but  it  is  not  until  later  on 
that  the  posterior  portion  is  similarly  divided  longitu- 
dinally into  the  two  posterior  tubercles  (testes). 

The  floor  of  the  mid-brain,  bounded  posteriorly  by 
the  pons  Varolii,  becomes  developed  and  thickened  into 
the  crura  cerebri.  The  corpora  geniculata  interna  also 
belong  to  this  division  of  the  brain. 

Fore-brain.  The  early  development  of  the  fore- 
brain  in  Mammals  is  the  same  as  in  the  chick.  It  forms 
at  first  a  single  vesicle  without  a  trace  of  separate 
divisions,  but  very  early  buds  off  the  optic  vesicles, 
whose  history  is  described  with  that  of  the  eye.  The 
anterior  part  becomes  prolonged  and  at  the  same  time 
somewhat  dilated.  At  first  there  is  no  sharp  boundary 
between  the  primitive  fore-brain  and  its  anterior 
prolongation,  but  there  shortly  appears  a  constriction 
which  passes  from  above  obliquely  forwards  and  down- 
wards. 

Of  these  two  divisions  the  posterior  becomes  the 
thalamencephalon,  while  the  anterior  and  larger  division 
forms  the  rudiment  of  the  cerebral  hemispheres  (Fig. 
39  cer)  and  olfactory  lobes.  For  a  considerable  period 
this  rudiment  remains  perfectly  simple,  and  exhibits  no 
signs,  either  externally  or  internally,  of  a  longitudinal 
constriction  dividing  it  into  two  lobes. 

The  thalamencephalon  forms  at  first  a  simple 
vesicle,  the  walls  of  which  are  of  a  nearly  uniform  thick- 
ness and  formed  of  the  usual  spindle-shaped  cells. 

24—2 


372      DEVELOPMENT   OF    OEGANS   IN   MAMMALIA.    [CHAP. 

The  cavity  it  contains  is  known  as  the  third  ventricle. 
Anteriorly  it  opens  widely  into  the  cerebral  rudiment, 
and  posteriorly  into  the  ventricle  of  the  mid-brain. 
The  opening  into  the  cerebral  rudiment  becomes  the 
foramen  of  Monro. 

For  convenience  of  description  we  may  divide  the 
thalamencephalon  into  three  regions,  viz.  (1)  the  floor, 
(2)  the  sides,  and  (3)  the  roof. 

The  floor  becomes  divided  into  two  parts:  an  an- 
terior part,  giving  origin  to  the  optic  nerves,  in  which  is 
formed  the  optic  chiasma ;  and  a  posterior  part,  which 
becomes  produced  into  a  prominence  at  first  incon- 
spicuous— the  rudiment  of  the  infundibulum  (Fig.  39  In). 
This  comes  in  contact  with  the  involution  from  the 
mouth  which  gives  rise  to  the  pituitary  body  (Fig. 
39  yt). 

In  Birds,  although  there  is  a  close  connection  be- 
tween the  pituitary  body  and  the  infundibulum,  there 
is  no  actual  fusion  of  the  two.  In  Mammalia  the  case 
is  different.  The  part  of  the  infundibulum  which  lies 
at  the  hinder  end  of  the  pituitary  body  is  at  first  a 
simple  finger-like  process  of  the  brain  (Fig.  120  inf)\ 
but  its  end  becomes  swollen,  and  the  lumen  in  this 
part  becomes  obliterated.  Its  cells,  originally  similar  to- 
those  of  the  other  parts  of  the  nervous  system,  and  even 
containing  differentiated  nerve-fibres,  partly  atrophy 
and  partly  assume  an  indifferent  form,  while  at  the 
same  time  there  grow  in  amongst  them  numerous 
vascular  and  connective-tissue  elements.  The  process 
of  the  infundibulum  thus  metamorphosed  becomes  in- 
separably connected  with  the  true  pituitary  body,  of 
which  it  is  usually  described  as  the  posterior  lobe. 


XII.]  THE   THALAMENCEPHALON.  373 

In  the  later  stages  of  development  the  unchanged 
portion  of  the  infundibulum  becomes  gradually  pro- 
longed and  forms  an  elongated  diverticulum  of  the 
third  ventricle,  the  apex  of  which  is  in  contact  with 
the  pituitary  body  (Fig.  120  hph). 

The  posterior  part  of  the  primitive  infundibulum  becomes  the 
corpus  albicans,  which  is  double  in  Man  and  the  higher  Apes  ; 
the  ventral  part  of  the  posterior  wall  forms  the  tuber  cinereum. 
Laterally,  at  the  junction  of  the  optic  thalami  and  infundibulum, 
there  are  continued  some  of  the  fibres  of  the  crura  cerebri,  which 
are  probably  derived  from  the  walls  of  the  infundibulum. 

The  sides  of  the  thalamencephalon  become  very 
early  thickened  to  form  the  optic  thalami,  which  con- 
stitute the  most  important  section  of  the  thalamen- 
cephalon. These  are  separated  on  their  inner  aspect 
from  the  infundibular  region  by  a  somewhat  S-shaped 
groove,  known  as  the  sulcus  of  Monro,  which  ends  in 
the  foramen  of  Mom-o.  They  also  become  secondarily 
united  by  a  transverse  commissure,  the  grey  or  middle 
commissure,  which  passes  across  the  cavity  of  the  third 
ventricle. 

The  roof  undergoes  more  complicated  changes.  It 
becomes  divided,  on  the  appearance  of  the  pineal  gland 
as  a  small  papilliform  outgrowth  (the  development  of 
which  is  dealt  with  below),  into  two  regions — a  longer 
anterior  in  front  of  the  pineal  gland,  and  a  shorter  pos- 
terior. The  anterior  region  becomes  at  an  early  period 
excessively  thin,  and  at  a  later  period,  when  the  roof  of 
the  thalamencephalon  is  shortened  by  the  approach  of 
the  cerebral  hemispheres  to  the  mid-brain,  it  becomes 
{vide  Fig.  120  did  3)  considerably  folded,  while  at  the 
same  time  a  vascular  plexus  is  formed  in  the  pia  mater 


374      DEVELOPMENT   OF  OEGANS  IN  MAMMALIA.    [CHAP. 


/oae. 


triru 


ckm/ 


4^     J/ 


prcS 


Longitudinal  Vertical  Section  through  the  Anterior 
Part  of  the  Brain  op  an  Embryo  Rabbit  of  four 
CENTIMETRES.     (After  MihalkoYics.) 

The  section  passes  througli  the  median  line  so  that  the  cere- 
bral hemispheres  are  not  cut ;  their  position  is  however  indicated 
in  outhne. 

spt.  septum  lucidum  formed  by  the  coalescence  of  the  inner  walls 
of  part  of  the  cerebral  hemispheres ;  cma.  anterior  com- 
missure;  frx.  vertical  pillars  of  the  fornix;  cat.  genu  of 
corpus  callosum ;  trm.  lamina  terminalis ;  hms.  cerebral 
hemispheres;  olf.  olfactory  lobes;  act.  artery  of  corpus 
callosum  ;  fmr.  position  of  foramen  of  Monro  ;  cM  3.  choroid 
plexus  of  third  ventricle  ;  pm.  pineal  gland  ;  cmp.  posterior 
commissure;  hgm.  lamina  uniting  the  lobes  of  the  mid- 
brain ;  chm.  optic  chiasma  ;  hph.  pituitary  body  ;  inf.  infun- 
dibulum  ;  'pis.  pons  Varolii ;  fdQ.  cerebral  peduncles ;  agd. 
iter  a  tertio  ad  quartum  ventriculum. 


XII.]  THE   PINEAL   GLAND.  375 

above  it.  On  the  accomplishment  of  these  changes  it 
is  known  as  the  tela  choroidea  of  the  third  ventricle. 

In  the  roof  of  the  third  ventricle  behind  the  pineal 
gland  there  appear  transverse  commissural  fibres,  form- 
ing a  structure  known  as  the  posterior  commissure, 
which  connects  together  the  two  optic  thalami. 

The  most  remarkable  organ  in  the  roof  of  the  thala- 
mencephalon  is  the  pineal  gland,  which  is  developed  as 
a  hollow  papilliform  outgrowth  of  the  roof,  and  is  at 
first  composed  of  cells  similar  to  those  of  the  other 
parts  of  the  central  nervous  system  (Fig.  120  jpin).  It 
is  directed  backwards  over  the  hinder  portion  of  the 
roof  of  the  thalamencephalon. 

In  Birds  (p.  116)  the  primitive  outgrowth  to  form 
the  pineal  gland  becomes  deeply  indented  by  vascular 
connective-tissue  ingrowths,  so  that  it  assumes  a  den- 
dritic structure  (Fig.  119^m).  The  proximal  extremity 
attached  to  the  roof  of  the  thalamencephalon  soon 
becomes  solid  and  forms  a  special  section,  known  as 
the  infra-pineal  process.  The  central  lumen  of  the 
free  part  of  the  gland  finally  atrophies,  but  the  branches 
still  remain  hollow.  The  infra-pineal  process  becomes 
reduced  to  a  narrow  stalk,  connecting  the  branched 
portion  of  the  body  with  the  brain. 

In  Mammalia  the  development  of  the  pineal  gland 
is  generally  similar  to  that  of  Birds.  The  original  out- 
growth becomes  branched,  but  the  follicles  or  lobes  to 
which  the  branching  gives  rise  eventually  become  solid 
(Fig.  120  pin).  An  infra-pineal  process  is  developed 
comparatively  late,  and  is  not  sharply  separated  from 
the  roof  of  the  brain. 

No  satisfactory  suggestions  have  yet  been  offered  as 


376      DEVELOPMENT   OF  ORGANS   IN  MAMMALIA.    [CHAP. 

to  the  nature  of  the  pineal  gland.  It  appears  to  possess 
in  all  forms  an  epithelial  structure,  but,  except  at  the 
base  of  the  stalk  (infra-pineal  process)  in  Mammalia,  in 
the  wall  of  which  there  are  nerve-fibres,  no  nervous 
structures  are  present  in  it  in  the  adult  state. 

The  cerebral  hemispheres.  It  will  be  convenient 
to  treat  separately  the  development  of  the  cerebral 
hemispheres  proper,  and  that  of  the  olfactory  lobes. 

In  the  cerebral  rudiment  two  parts  may  be  dis- 
tinguished, viz.  the  floor  and  the  roof.  The  former  gives 
rise  to  the  ganglia  at  the  base  of  the  hemispheres,  the 
corpora  striata,  the  latter  to  the  hemispheres  proper. 

The  first  change  which  takes  place  consists  in  the 
roof  growing  out  into  two  lobes,  between  which  a  shallow 
median  constriction  makes  its  appearance  (Fig.  121). 


Diagrammatic  Longitudinal  Horizontal  Section   through 
the  fore-brain. 


2.V.  third  ventricle  ;    Iv.  lateral  ventricle  ;  It.  lamina  terminalis  ; 
ce.  cerebral  hemisphere  ;  op.th.  optic  thalamus. 


XII.]  THE   CEfiEBRAL   HEMISPHERES.  377 

The  two  lobes  thus  formed  are  the  rudiments  of  the 
two  hemispheres.  The  cavity  of  each  of  them  opens 
by  a  widish  aperture  into  a  cavity  at  the  base  of  the 
cerebral  rudiment,  which  again  opens  directly  into  the 
cavity  of  the  third  ventricle  (3  v).  The  Y-shaped  aper- 
ture thus  formed,  which  leads  from  the  cerebral  hemi- 
spheres into  the  third  ventricle,  is  the  foramen  of 
Monro.  The  cavity  (Iv)  in  each  of  the  rudimentary 
hemispheres  is  a  lateral  ventricle.  The  part  of  the 
cerebrum  which  lies  between  the  two  hemispheres,  and 
passes  forwards  from  the  roof  of  the  third,  ventricle 
round  the  end  of  the  brain  to  the  optic  chiasma  below, 
is  the  rudiment  of  the  lamina  terminalis  (Figs.  121  It 
and  123  trm).  Up  to  this  point  the  development  of 
the  cerebrum  is  similar  in  all  Yertebrata,  and  in  some 
forms  it  practically  does  not  proceed  much  further. 

The  cerebral  hemispheres  undergo  in  Mammalia  the 
most  complicated  development.  The  primitive  im- 
paired cerebral  rudiment  becomes,  as  in  lower  Yer- 
tebrates,  bilobed,  and  at  the  same  time  divided  by  the 
ingrowth  of  a  septum  of  connective  tissue  into  two 
distinct  hemispheres  (Figs.  125  and  124/  and  122  i). 
From  this  septum  is  formed  the  falx  cerebri  and  other 
parts. 

The  hemispheres  contain  at  first  very  large  cavities, 
communicating  by  a  wide  foramen  of  Monro  with  the 
third  ventricle  (Fig.  124).  They  grow  rapidly  in  size, 
and  extend,  especially  backwards,  and  gradually  cover 
the  thalamencephalon  and  the  mid-brain  (Fig.  122  i,/). 
The  foramen  of  Monro  becomes  very  much  narrowed 
and  reduced  to  a  mere  slit. 

The  walls  are  at  first  nearly  uniformly  thick,  but 


378      DEVELOPMENT   OF   OEGANS   IN   MAMMALIA.    [CHAP. 
Fig.  122. 


Brain  op  a  Three  Months'  Human  Embryo  :  natural  size. 
(From  KoUiker.) 

1.  From  above  with  the  dorsal  part  of  hemispheres  and  mid- 
brain removed  ;  2.  From  below.  /.  anterior  part  of  cut  wall 
of  the  hemisphere  ;  /'.  cornu  ammonis  ;  tlio.  optic  thalamus  ; 
est.  corpus  striatum ;  to.  optic  tract ;  cm.  corpora  mammil- 
laria  ;  jp.  pons  Yarolii. 

the  floor  becomes  thickened  on  each  side,  and  gives  rise 
to  the  corpus  striatum  (Figs.  124  and  125  si).  The 
corpus  striatum  projects  upwards  into  each  lateral  ven- 
tricle, and  gives  to  this  a  somewhat  semilunar  form,  the 
two  horns  of  which  constitute  the  permanent  anterior 
and  descending  cornua  of  the  lateral  ventricles  (Fig.  126 

With  the  further  growth  of  the  hemisphere  the  cor- 
pus striatum  loses  its  primitive  relations  to  the  de- 
scending cornu.  The  reduction  in  size  of  the  foramen 
of  Monro  above  mentioned  is,  to  a  large  extent,  caused 
by  the  growth  of  the  corpora  striata. 

The  corpora  striata  are  united  at  their  posterior 
border  with  the  optic  thalami.  In  the  later  stages  of 
development  the  area  of  contact  between  these  two 
pairs  of  ganglia  increases  to  a  large  extent  (Fig.  125), 


XII.] 


THE   CORPORA   STRIATA. 


37D 


and  the  boundary  between  them  becomes  somewhat 
obscure,  so  that  the  sharp  distinction  which  exists 
in  the  embryo  between  the  thalamencephalon  and 
cerebral  hemispheres  becomes  lost. 


Fig.   123. 


tr/tv    vlr:} 


Transverse  Section  through  the  Brain   of   a   Eabbit   of 

Five  Centimetres.     (After  Mihalkovics.) 

The  section  passes  through  nearly  the  posterior  border  of  the 
septum  luciclum,  immediately  in  front  of  the  foramen  of  Monro. 

hms.  cerebral  hemispheres  ;  cat.  corpus  callosum  ;  amm.  cornu 
ammonis  (hippocampus  major)  ;  cms.  superior  commissure 
of  the  cornua  ammonis  ;  sjDt.  septum  lucidum  \  fTx%  anterior 
pillars  of  the  fornix  ;  cma.  anterior  commissure  ;  trm.  lamina 
terminalis ;  str.  corpus  striatum ;  Itf.  nucleus  lenticularis 
of  corpus  striatum  ;  vtr  1.  lateral  ventricle ;  vtr  3.  third 
ventricle  ;  ijpl.  slit  between  cerebral  hemispheres. 


380      DEVELOPMENT   OF   ORGANS   IN   MAMMALIA.    [CHAP. 

The  outer  wall  of  the  hemispheres  gradually  thick- 
ens, while  the  inner  wall  becomes  thinner.  In  the 
latter,  two  curved  folds,  projecting  towards  the  interior 
of  the  lateral  ventricle,  become  formed.  These  folds 
extend  from  the  foramen  of  Monro  along  nearly  the 
whole  of  what  afterwards  becomes  the  descending  comu 
of  the  lateral  ventricle.  The  upper  fold  becomes  the 
hippocampus  major  (cornu  ammonis)  (Figs.  123  amm, 
124  and  125  h,  and  126  am). 

The  wall  of  the  lower  fold  becomes  very  thin,  and  a 
vascular  plexus,  derived  from  the  connective-tissue 
septum  between  the  hemispheres,  and  similar  to  that  of 
the  roof  of  the  third  ventricle,  is  formed  outside  it.  It 
constitutes  a  fold  projecting  into  the  cavity  of  the 
lateral  ventricle,  and  together  with  the  vascular  con- 
nective tissue  in  it  gives  rise  to  the  choroid  plexus  of 
the  lateral  ventricle  (Figs.  124  and  125  pi). 

It  is  clear  from  the  above  description  that  a  marginal 
fissure  leading  into  the  cavity  of  the  lateral  ventricle 
does  not  exist  in  the  sense  often  implied  in  works  on 
human  anatomy,  since  the  epithelium  covering  the 
choroid  plexus,  and  forming  the  true  wall  of  the  brain, 
is  a  continuous  membrane.  The  epithelium  of  the 
choroid  plexus  of  the  lateral  ventricle  is  quite  inde- 
pendent of  that  of  the  choroid  plexus  of  the  third 
ventricle,  though  at  the  foramen  of  Monro  the  roof  of 
the  third  ventricle  is  of  course  continuous  with  the 
inner  wall  of  the  lateral  ventricle  (Fig.  124  s).  The 
vascular  elements  of  the  two  plexuses  form  however  a 
continuous  structure. 

The  most  characteristic  parts  of  the  Mammalian 
cerebrum   are   the    commissures    connecting    the    two 


XII.]  THE   CEKEBRAL   COMMISSURES.  381 

hemispheres.  These  commissures  are  (1)  the  anterior 
commissure,  (2)  the  fornix,  and  (3)  the  corpus  callosum, 
the  two  latter  being  peculiar  to  Mammalia. 

Fig.  124. 


Teansverse    Section    through  the   Brain    of    a    Sheep's 
Embryo  of  2 -7  cm.  in  length.     (From  Kolliker.) 

The   section  passes   through    the   level   of    the   foramen    of 
Monro. 

St.  corpus  striatum ;  m.  foramen  of  Monro  ;  t.  third  ventricle  ; 
pi.  choroid  plexus  of  lateral  ventricle  ;  /.  falx  cerebri ;  th. 
anterior  part  of  optic  thalamus  ;  ch.  optic  chiasma  ;  o.  optic 
nerve  ;  c.  fibres  of  the  cerebral  peduncles  ;  h.  cornu  am- 
monis ;  p.  pharynx ;  sa.  pre- sphenoid  bone ;  a.  orbito- 
sphenoid  bone  ;  s.  points  to  part  of  the  roof  of  the  brain  at 
the  junction  between  the  roof  of  the  third  ventricle  and 
the  lamina  terminahs  ;  I.  lateral  ventricle. 


382      DEVELOPMENT   OF   ORGANS   IN   MAMMALIA.    [CHAP. 

By  the  fusion  of  the  inner  walls  of  the  hemispheres 
in  front  of  the  lamina  terminalis  a  solid  septum  is 
formed,  continuous  behind  with  the  lamina  terminalis, 


Transverse    Section    through  the    Brain    of   a    Sheep's 
Embryo  of  2-7  cm.  in  length.     (From  KoUiker.) 

The  section  is  taken  a  short  distance  behind  the  section 
represented  in  Fig.  124,  and  passes  through  the  posterior  part  of 
the  hemispheres  and  the  third  ventricle. 

St.  corpus  striatum  ;  th.  optic  thalamus  ;  to.  optic  tract ;  t.  third 
ventricle ;  d.  roof  of  third  ventricle ;  c.  fibres  of  cerebral 
peduncles  ;  c.  divergence  of  these  fibres  into  the  walls  of  the 
hemispheres ;  e.  lateral  ventricle  with  choroid  plexus  pi ; 
h.  cornu  ammonis  ;  /.  primitive  falx ;  am.  alisphenoid  ;  a. 
orbito-sphenoid  ;  sa.  presphenoid  ;  p.  pharynx  ;  mJc.  Meckel's 
cartilage. 


XII.]  THE   COKPUS   CALLOSUM.  383 

and  below  with  the  corpora  striata  (Figs.  120  and  123  spt). 
It  is  by  a  series  of  differentiations  within  this  septum, 
the  greater  part  of  which  gives  rise  to  the  septum  luci- 
dum,  that  the  above  commissures  originate.  In  Man 
there  is  a  closed  cavity  left  in  the  septum  known  as  the 
fifth  ventricle,  which  has  however  no  communication 
with  the  true  ventricles  of  the  brain. 

In  this  septum  there  become  first  formed,  below  and 
behind,  the  transverse  fibres  of  the  anterior  commissure 
(Fig.  120  and  Fig.  123  cma),  while  above  and  behind 
these  the  vertical  fibres  of  the  fornix  are  developed 
(Fig.  120  and  Fig.  1^'^  frx  2).  The  vertical  fibres  meet 
above  the  foramen  of  Monro,  and  thence  diverge  back- 
wards, as  the  posterior  pillars,  to  lose  themselves  in  the 
cornu  ammonis  (Fig.  123  amm).  Ventrally  they  are 
continued,  as  the  descending  or  anterior  pillars  of  the 
fornix,  into  the  corpus  albicans,  and  thence  into  the 
optic  thalami\ 

The  corpus  callosum  is  not  formed  till  after  the 
anterior  commissure  and  fornix.  It  arises  in  the  upper 
j)art  of  the  septum  formed  by  the  fusion  of  the  lateral 
walls  of  the  hemispheres  (Figs.  120  and  123  cal),  and 
at  first  only  its  curved  anterior  portion — the  genu  or 
rostrum — is  developed.  This  portion  is  alone  found 
in  Monotremes  and  Marsupials.  The  posterior  portion,* 
w^hich  is  present  in  all  the  Monodelphia,  is  gradually 
formed  as  the  hemispheres  are  prolonged  further  back- 
wards. 

1  Eecent  observations  tend  to  show  that  the  anterior  pillars  of  the 
fornix  end  in  the  corpus  albicans ;  and  that  the  fibres  running  from 
the  latter  into  the  optic  thalami  are  independent  of  the  anterior 
pillars. 


384      DEVELOPMENT   OF   OEGANS  IN  MAMMALIA.    [CHAP. 

Primitively  the  Mammalian  cerebrum,  like  that  of 
the  lower  Yertebrata,  is  quite  smooth.  In  some  of  the 
Mammalia,  Monotremata,  Insectivora,  etc.,  this  condition 
is  retained  nearly  throughout  life,  while  in  the  majority  of 
Mammalia  a  more  or  less  complicated  system  of  fissures 


Lateral  View  op  the  Brain  of  a  Calf   Embryo   of  5  cm. 
(After  Mihalkovics.) 

The  outer  wall  of  the  hemisphere  is  removed,  so  as  to  give  a 
view  of  the  interior  of  the  left  lateral  ventricle. 

hs.  cut  wall  of  hemisphere ;  si.  corpus  striatum  ;  am.  hippo- 
campus major  (cornu  ammonis)  ;  d.  choroid  plexus  of  lateral 
ventricle ;  fm.  foramen  of  Monro  ;  op.  optic  tract ;  in.  in- 
fundibulum ;  mh.  mid-brain;  c6.  cerebellum ;  IV.V.  roof  of 
fourth  ventricle ;  ps.  pons  Varolii,  close  to  which  is  the  fifth 
nerve  with  Gasserian  ganghon. 

is  developed  on  the  surface.  The  most  important,  and 
first  formed,  of  these  is  the  Sylvian  fissure.  It  arises  at 
the  time  when  the  hemispheres,  owing  to  their  growth 
in  front  of  and  behind  the  corpora  striata  have  assumed 
somewhat  the  form  of  a  bean.  At  the  root  of  the 
hemispheres — the  hilus  of  the  bean — there  is  formed  a 


XIL]  !  HISTOGENESIS.  385 

shallow  depression  whicli  constitates  the  first  trace  of 
the  Sylvian  fissure.  The  part  of  the  brain  lying  in  this 
fissure  is  known  as  the  island  of  Reil. 

Tlie  fissures  of  the  cerebrum  may  be  divided  into  two  classes ; 
(1)  the  primitive,  (2)  the  secondare/  fissures.  The  primitive  fissures 
are  the  first  to  appear  ;  they  owe  their  origin  to  a  folding  of  the 
entire  wall  of  the  cerebral  vesicles.  Many  of  them  are  transient 
structures  and  early  disappear.  The  most  important  of  those 
which  persist  are  the  hippocampal,  the  parieto-occipital,  the 
calcarine  (in  Man  and  Apes)  sulci  and  the  Sylvian  fissures. 
The  secondary  fissures  appear  later,  and  are  due  to  folds  which 
implicate  the  cortex  of  the  hemispheres  only. 

:  The  olfactory  lobes.  The  olfactory  lobes,  or  rhinen- 
cephala,  are  secondary  outgrowths  of  the  cerebral  hemi- 
spheres, and  contain  prolongations  of  the  lateral  ven- 
tricles, which  may  however  be  closed  in  the  adult  state ; 
they  arise  at  a  fairly  early  stage  of  development  from 
the  under  and  anterior  part  of  the  hemispheres  (Fig. 
127). 

Histogenetic  changes.  The  walls  of  the  brain  are 
at  first  very  thin  ar^d,  like  those  of  the  spinal  cord,  are 
formed  of  a  number  of  ranges  of  spindle-shaped  cells. 
In  the  floor  of  the  hindr-  and  n^id-brain  a  superficial 
layer  of  delicate  nerve-fibres  is  formed  at  an  early 
period.  This  layer  appears  at  first  on  the  floor  and. 
sides  of  the  hind-brain,  and  aln^ogt  ipamediately  after- 
wards on  the  floor  and  the  sides  of  the  mid-brain. 
The  cells  internal  to  the  nerve-fibres  become  differen- 
tiated into  an  innermost  epithelial  layer  lining  the 
cavities  of  the  ventricles,  and  an  outer  layer  of  grey 
m,atter. 

The  similarity  of  the  primitive    arrangement  and 
F.  &  B.  25 


386      DEVELOPMENT   OF   ORGANS   IN   MAMMALIA.    [CHAP. 


Section  through  the  Brain  and  Olfactory  Organ   of   an 
Embryo  of  Scyllium. 

ch.  cerebral  hemispheres ;  ol.v.  olfactory  vesicle ;  olf.  olfactory 
pit ;  Sch.  Schneiderian  folds  ;  1.  olfactory  nerve  (the  reference 
line  has  been  accidentally  carried  through  the  nerve  so  as  to 
appear  to  indicate  the  brain) ;  pn.  anterior  prolongation  of 
pineal  gland. 

histological  characters  of  the  parts  of  the  brain  behind 
the  cerebral  hemispheres  to  those  of  the  spinal  cord  is 
very  conclusively  shewn  by  the  examination  of  any  good 
series  of  sections.  In  both  brain  and  spinal  cord  the 
white  matter  forms  a  cap  on  the  ventral  and  lateral 
parts  some  considerable  time  before  it  extends  to  the 
dorsal  surface.  In  the  medulla  oblongata  the  white 
matter  does  not  eventually  extend  to  the  roof  owing  to 
the  peculiar  degeneration  which  that  part  undergoes. 

In  the  case  of  the  fore-brain  the  walls  of  the  hemi- 
spheres become  first  divided  (KoUiker)  into  a  superficial 
thinner  layer  of  rounded  elements,  and  a  deeper  and 
thicker  epithelial  layer,  and  between  these  the  fibres  of 


XIl]  THE   EYE.  387 

the  crura  cerebri  soon  interpose  themselves.  At  a 
slightly  later  period  a  thin  superficial  layer  of  white 
matter,  homologous  with  that  of  the  remainder  of  the 
brain,  becomes  established. 

The  inner  layer,  together  with  the  fibres  from  the 
crura  cerebri,  gives  rise  to  the  major  part  of  the  white 
matter  of  the  hemispheres  and  to  the  epithelium  lining 
the  lateral  ventricles. 

The  outer  layer  of  rounded  cells  becomes  divided 
into  (1)  a  superficial  part  with  comparatively  few  cells, 
which,  together  with  its  coating  of  white  matter,  forms 
the  outer  part  of  the  grey  matter,  and  (2)  a  deeper 
layer  with  numerous  cells,  which  forms  the  main  mass 
of  the  grey  matter  of  the  cortex. 

The  eyes.  The  development  of  the  Mammalian  eye 
is  essentially  similar  to  that  of  the  chick  (ch.  vi.)  There 
are  however  two  features  in  its  development  which  de- 
serve mention.  These  are  (1)  the  immense  foetal  develop- 
ment of  the  blood-vessels  of  the  vitreous  humour  and 
the  presence  in  the  embryo  of  a  vascular  membrane  sur- 
rounding the  lens,  known  as  the  memhrana  capsulo- 
pupillaris,  (2)  the  absence  of  any  structure  comparable 
to  the  pecten,  and  the  presence  of  the  arteria  centralis 
retinae. 

In  the  invagination  of  the  lens  (rabbit)  a  thin 
layer  of  mesoblast  is  carried  before  it,  and  is  thus 
transported  into  the  cavity  of  the  vitreous  humour. 
In  the  folding  in  of  the  optic  vesicle  which  accom- 
panies the  formation  of  the  lens  the  optic  nerve  is 
included,  and  on  the  development  of  the  cavity  of  the 
vitreous  humour  an  artery,  running  in  the  fold  of 
the  optic  nerve,  passes  through  the  choroid  slit  into  the 

25—2 


888      DEVELOPMENT  OF   ORGANS  IN  MAMMALIA.    [CHAR 

cavity  of  the  vitreous  humour  (Fig.  128  acr).  The  sides 
of  the  optic  nerve  subsequently  bend  over,  and  com- 
pletely  envelope    this    artery,   which    then    gives    off 

Fig.  128. 
rt 


Of-T^ 


m—i 


-,7rt  «  ^ 


Section  through  the  Eye  of  a  Rabbit   Embryo   of  about 
Twelve  Days. 

c.  epithelium  of  cornea  :  I.  lens  ;  mec.  mesoblast  growing  in  from 
the  side  to  form  the  cornea  ;  rt.  retina  ;  a.c.r,  arteria  cen- 
traHs  retinae  ;    of.n.  optic  nerve. 

The  figure  shews  (1)  the  absence  at  this  stage  of  mesoblast 
between  the  lens  and  the  epiblast ;  the  interval  between  the 
two  has  however  been  made  too  great ;  (2)  the  arteria  centralis 
retinse  forming  the  vascular  capsule  of  the  lens  and  continuous 
with  vascular  structures  round  the  edges  of  the  optic  cup. 


xil]  membrana  capsulo-pupillaris.  389 

branches  to  the  retina,  and  becomes  known  as  the 
arteria  centralis  retinae.  It  is  homologous  with  the 
arterial  limb  of  the  vascular  loop  projecting  into  the 
vitreous  humour  in  Birds. 

Before  becoming  enveloped  in  the  optic  nerve  this 
artery  is  continued  through  the  vitreous  humour  (Fig. 
128),  and  when  it  comes  in  close  proximity  to  the  lens 
it  divides  into  a  number  of  radiating  branches,  which 
pass  round  the  edge  of  the  lens,  and  form  a  vascular 
sheath  which  is  prolonged  so  as  to  cover  the  anterior 
wall  of  the  lens.  In  front  of  the  lens  they  anastomose 
mth  vessels,  coming  from  the  iris,  many  of  which  are 
venous,  and  the  whole  of  the  blood  from  the  arteria 
centralis  is  carried  away  by  these  veins.  The  vascular 
sheath  surrounding  the  lens  is  the  memhrana  capsulo- 
pupillaris.  The  posterior  part  of  it  is  either  formed 
simply  by  branches  of  the  arteria  centralis,  or  out 
of  the  mesoblast  cells  involuted  with  the  lens.  The 
anterior  part  of  the  vascular  sheath  is  however  enclosed 
in  a  very  delicate  membrane,  the  membrana  pupillaris, 
continuous  at  the  sides  with  the  membrane  of  Descemet. 

The  membrana  capsulo-pupillaris  is  simply  a  pro- 
visional embryonic  structure,  subserving  the  nutrition 
of  the  lens. 

In  many  forms,  in  addition  to  the  vessels  of  the 
vascular  capsule  round  the  lens,  there  arise  from  the 
arteria  centralis  retinae,  just  after  its  exit  from  the  optic 
nerve,  provisional  vascular  branches  which  extend  them- 
selves in  the  posterior  part  of  the  vitreous  humour. 
Near  the  ciliary  end  of  the  vitreous  humour  they  anas- 
tomose with  the  vessels  of  the  membrana  capsulo-pu- 
pillarLs. 


390      DEVELOPMENT    OF   ORGANS   IN    MAMMALIA.    [CHAP. 

The  choroid  slit  closes  very  early,  and  is  not  per- 
forated by  any  structure  homologous  with  the  pecten. 
The  only  part  of  the  slit  which  can  be  said  to  remain 
open  is  that  in  which  the  optic  nerve  is  involved  ;  in  the 
centre  of  the  latter  is  situated  the  arteria  centralis 
retinse  as  explained  above.  From  this  artery  there 
grow  out  the  vessels  to  supply  the  retina,  which  however 
are  distinct  from  the  provisional  vessels  of  the  vitreous 
humour  just  described,  the  blood  being  returned  from 
them  by  veins  accompanying  the  arteries.  On  the 
atrophy  of  the  provisional  vessels  the  whole  of  the  blood 
of  the  arteria  centralis  passes  into  the  retina. 

Of  the  cornea,  aqueous  humour,  eyelids  and  lacrymal 
duct  no  mention  need  here  be  made,  the  account  given  in 
Part  I.  being  applicable  equally  to  mammalian  embryos. 

The  auditory  organ.  In  Mammals,  ^s  we  have 
seen  to  be  the  case  in  the  chick  (chap,  vi.),  the  auditory 
vesicle  is  at  first  nearly  spherical,  and  is  imbedded  in 
the  mesoblast  at  the  side  of  the  hind-brain.  It  soon 
becomes  triangular  in  section,  with  the  apex  of  the  tri- 
angle pointing  inwards  and  downwards.  This  apex 
gradually  elongates  to  form  the  rudiment  of  the  cochlear 
canal  and  sacculus  hemisphericus  (Fig.  129,  CC).  At 
the  same  time  the  recessus  labyrinthi  (R.L)  becomes 
distinctly  marked,  and  the  outer  wall  of  the  main  body 
of  the  vesicle  grows  out  into  two  protuberances,  which 
form  the  rudiments  of  the  vertical  semicircular  canals 
(y,B).  In  the  lower  forms  (Fig.  132)  the  cochlear 
process  hardly  reaches  a  higher  stage  of  development  than 
that  found  at  this  stage  in  Mammalia. 

The  parts  of  the  auditory  labyrinth  thus  established 
soon  increase  in  distinctness  (Fig.  1 30) ;  the  cochlear 


XII.] 


THE   MEMBRANOUS   LABYRINTH. 


391 


Fia.  120. 


\\-cc 


Transverse    Section    of    the    Head    of   a  Foetal   Sheep 

(16  MM,   IN   length)   in   THE   REGION   OP   THE    HiND-BrAIN. 

(After  Bottcher.) 

HB.  the  hind-brain.  The  section  is  somewhat  oblique,  hence 
while  on  the  right  side  the  connections  of  the  recessus  vestibuli 
R.L.,  and  of  the  commencing  vertical  semicircular  canal  V.B., 
and  of  the  ductus  cochlearis  CO.,  with  the  cavity  of  the  primary 
otic  vesicle  are  seen  :  on  the  left  side,  only  the  extreme  end  of  the 
ductus  cochlearis  CO,  and  of  the  semicircular  canal  V.B.  are  shewn. 

Lying  close  to  the  inner  side  of  the  otic  vesicle  is  seen  the 
cochlear  ganglion  GC  ;  on  the  left  side  the  auditory  nerve  G'  and 
its  connection  j^  with  the  hind-brain  are  also  shewn. 

Below  the  otic  vesicle  on  either  side  lies  the  jugular  vein. 


392      DEVELOPMENT   OF   OKGANS   IN   MAMMALIA.    [CHAP. 

canal  (CC)  becomes  longer  and  curved ;  its  inner  and 
concave  surface  being  lined  by  a  thick  layer  of  columnar 
epiblast.  The  recessus  labyrinthi  also  increases  in 
length,  and  just  below  the  point  where  the  bulgings  to 
form  the  vertical  semicircular  canals  are  situated,  there 
is  formed  a  fresh  protuberance  for  the  horizontal  semi- 

FiG.   IBO. 


Section    of    the    Head    of    a    Fcetal    Sheep    20    mm.    in 
LENGTH.     (After  Bottcher.) 

R.V.  recessus  labyrinthi ;  F.  5.  vertical  semicircular  canal ;  HB. 
horizontal  semicircular  canal ;  C.C.  cochlear  canal ;  G,  coch- 
lear ganglion. 


XII.]  THE   MEMBRANOUS   LABYRINTH.  393 

circular  canal.  At  the  same  time  the  central  parts  of 
the  walls  of  the  flat  bulgings  of  the  vertical  canals  grow 
together,  obliterating  this  part  of  the  lumen,  but  leaving 
a  canal  round  the  periphery ;  and,  on  the  absorption  of 
their  central  parts,  each  of  the  original  simple  bulgings 
of  the  wall  of  the  vesicle  becomes  converted  into  a  true 
semicircular  canal,  opening  at  its  two  extremities  into 
the  auditory  vesicle.  The  vertical  canals  are  first  es- 
tablished and  then  the  horizontal  canal. 

Shortly  after  the  formation  of  the  rudiment  of  the 
horizontal  semicircular  canal  a  slight  protuberance  be- 
comes apparent  on  the  inner  commencement  of  the 
cochlear  canal.  A  constriction  arises  on  each  side  of 
the  protuberance,  converting  it  into  a  prominent  hemi- 
spherical projection,  the  sacculus  hemisphericiis  (Fig. 
131  8R). 

The  constrictions  are  so  deep  that  the  sacculus  is 
only  connected  with  the  cochlear  canal  on  the  one  hand, 
and  with  the  general  cavity  of  the  auditory  vesicle  on 
the  other,  by,  in  each  case,  a  narrow  short  canal.  The 
former  of  these  canals  (Fig.  131  b)  is  known  as  the 
canalis  reuniens. 

At  this  stage  we  may  call  the  remaining  cavity  of 
the  original  otic  vesicle,  into  which  all  the  above  parts 
open,  the  utriculus. 

Soon  after  the  formation  of  the  sacculus  hemispheri- 
cus,  the  cochlear  canal  and  the  semicircular  canals 
become  invested  with  cartilage.  The  recessus  labyrinthi 
remains  however  still  enclosed  in  undifferentiated  meso- 
blast. 

Between  the  cartilage  and  the  parts  which  it  sur- 
rounds there  remains  a  certain  amount  of  indifferent 


S94      DEVELOPMENT   OF   ORGANS   IN   MAMMALIA.    [CHAP. 
Fig.  131. 


ch 


Section    through    the    Internal   Ear    of    an    Embryonic 
Sheep  28  mm.  in  length.     (After  Bottcher.) 

T>.M.  dura  mater;  R.V.  recessus  labyrinthi ;  H.V.B.   posterior 
vertical  semicircular  canal ;    U.  utriculus  ;  H.B.  horizontal 


Xll.]  THE   MEMBRANOUS   LABYRINTH.  895 

semicircular  canal ;  h.  canalis  reuniens  ;  a.  constriction  by 
means  of  which  the  sacculus  hemisphericus  S.R.  is  formed  ; 
/.  narrowed  opening  between  sacculus  hemisphericus  and 
utriculus ;  C.C.  cochlea ;  C.C^.  lumen  of  cochlea ;  K.K. 
cartilaginous  capsule  of  cochlea  ;  K.B.  basilar  plate  ;  CL 
notochord. 

connective  tissue,  which  is  more  abundant  around  the 
cochlear  canal  than  around  the  semicircular  canals. 

As  soon  as  they  have  acquired  a  distinct  connective- 
tissue  coat,  the  semicircular  canals  begin  to  be  dilated 
at  one  of  their  terminations  to  form  the  ampuUee.  At 
about  the  same  time  a  constriction  appears  opposite  the 
mouth  of  the  recessus  labyrinthi,  which  causes  its  open- 
ing to  be  divided  into  two  branches — one  towards  the 
utriculus  and  the  other  towards  the  sacculus  hemispheri- 
cus ;  and  the  relations  of  the  parts  become  so  altered 
that  communication  between  the  sacculus  and  utriculus 
can  only  take  place  through  the  mouth  of  the  recessus 
labyrinthi  (Fig.  132). 

When  the  cochlear  canal  has  come  to  consist  of  two 
and  a  half  coils,  the  thickened  epithelium  which  lines 
the  lower  surface  of  the  canal  forms  a  double  ridge 
from  which  the  organ  of  Coy^ti  is  subsequently  de- 
veloped. Above  the  ridge  there  appears  a  delicate 
cuticular  membrane,  the  membrane  of  Corti  or  mem- 
hrana  tectoria. 

The  epithelial  walls  of  the  utricle,  the  saccule,  the 
recessus  labyrinthi,  the  semicircular  canals,  and  the 
cochlear  canal  constitute  together  the  highly  complicated 
product  of  the  original  auditory  vesicle.  The  whole 
structure  forms  a  closed  cavity,  the  various  parts  of 
which  are  in  free   communication.     In  the  adult  the 


396      DEVELOPMENT   OF   ORGANS   IN   MAMMALIA.    [CHAP. 

fluid  present  in  this  cavity  is  known  as  the  endo- 
lymjjh. 

In  the  mesoblast  lying  between  these  parts  and  the 
cartilage,  which  at  this  period  envelopes  them,  lymphatic 
spaces  become  established,  which  are  partially  de- 
veloped in  the  Sauropsida,  but  become  in  Mammals 
very  important  structures. 

They  consist  in  Mammals  partly  of  a  space  sur- 
rounding the  utricle  and  saccule  and  called  the  vestibule, 
into  which  open  spaces  surrounding  the  semicircular 
canals,  and  partly  of  tw^o  very  definite  channels,  which 
largely  embrace  between  them  the  cochlear  canal.  The 
latter  channels  form  the  scala  vestihuli  on  the  upper  side 
of  the  cochlear  canal  and  the  scala  tympani  on  the  lower. 
The  scala  vestibuli  is  in  free  communication  with  the 
lymphatic  cavity  surrounding  the  utricle  and  saccule, 
and  opens  at  the  apex  of  the  cochlea  into  the  scala  tym- 
pani.     The  latter  ends  blindly  at  the  fenestra  rotunda. 

The  fluid  contained  in  the  two  scalse,  and  in  the 
remaining  lymphatic  cavities  of  the  auditory  labyrinth, 
is  known  as  perilymph. 

The  cavities  just  spoken  of  are  formed  by  an  absorp- 
tion of  parts  of  the  embryonic  mucous  tissue  between 
the  perichondrium  and  the  walls  of  the  membranous 
labyrinth. 

The  scala  vestibuli  is  formed  before  the  scala  tympa,ni, 
and  both  scalse  begin  to  be  developed  at  the  basal  end 
of  the  cochlea :  the  cavity  of  each  is  continually  being 
carried  forwards  towards  the  apex  of  the  cochlear  canal 
by  a  progressive  absorption  of  the  mesoblast.  At  first 
both  scalse  are  somewhat  narrow^,  but  they  soon  increase 
in  size  and  distinctness. 


XII.]  THE   COCHLEA.  397 

The  cochlear  canal,  which  is  often  known  as  the 
scala  media  of  the  cochlea,  becomes  compressed  on  the 
formation  of  the  scalse  so  as  to  be  triangular  in  section, 
with  the  base  of  the  triangle  outwards.  This  base  is 
only  separated  from  the  surrounding  cartilage  by  a 
narrow  strip  of  firm  mesoblast,  which  becomes  the  stria 
vascularis,  etc.  At  the  angle  opposite  the  base  the  coch- 
lear canal  is  joined  to  the  cartilage  by  a  narrow  isthmus 
of  firm  material,  which  contains  nerves  and  vessels.  This 
isthmus  subsequently  forms  the  lamina  spiralis,  separ- 
ating the  scala  vestibuli  from  the  scala  tympani. 

The  scala  vestibuli  lies  on  the  upper  border  of  the 
cochlear  canal,  and  is  separated  from  it  by  a  very  thin 
layer  of  mesoblast,  bordered  on  the  cochlear  aspect  by 
flat  epiblast  cells.  This  membrane  is  called  the  mem- 
brane  of  Reissner.  The  scala  tympani  is  separated  from 
the  cochlear  canal  by  a  thicker  sheet  of  mesoblast,  called 
the  basilar  membrane,  which  supports  the  organ  of 
Corti  and  the  epithelium  adjoining  it.  The  upper  ex- 
tremity of  the  cochlear  canal  ends  in  a  blind  extremity 
called  the  cupola,  to  which  the  two  scalse  do  not  for 
some  time  extend.  This  condition  is  permanent  in 
Birds,  where  the  cupola  is  represented  by  a  structure 
known  as  the  lagena  (Fig.  132,  II.  L).  Subsequently 
the  two  scalse  join  at  the  extremity  of  the  cochlear 
canal ;  the  point  of  the  cupola  still  however  remains  in 
contact  with  the  bone,  which  has  now  replaced  the 
cartilage,  but  at  a  still  later  period  the  scala  vestibuli, 
growing  further  round,  separates  the  cupola  from  the 
adjoining  osseous  tissue. 

Accessory  auditory  structures.  The  development 
of   the    Eustachian    tube,    tympanic   cavity,   tympanic 


398      DEVELOPMENT   OF   ORGANS   IN   MAMMALIA.    [CHAP. 
Fig.   132. 


4f  , 


c- 


~--izs 


' — cr 


Diagrams  of   the   Membranous   Labyrinth.    (From  Gegen- 

baur.) 

I.     Fish.  II.     Bird.  III.     MammaL 

U.  utriculus ;  JS.  sacculus ;  US.  utriculus  and  sacculus  ;  Cr. 
canalis  reuniens ;  E.  recessus  labyrinthi ;  UC.  commence- 
ment of  cochlea ;  C.  cochlear  canal ;  L.  lagena  ;  K.  cupola 
at  apex  of  cochlear  canal ;  V.  caecal  sac  of  the  vestibulum  of 
the  cochlear  canal. 

membrane  and  external  auditory  meatus  resembles  that 
in  Birds  (p.  166).  As  in  Birds  two  membranous  fenestrse, 
the  fenestra  ovalis  and  rotunda,  in  the  bony  inner  wall  of 
the  tympanic  cavity  are  formed.  The  fenestra  ovalis 
opens  into  the  vestibule,  and  is  in  immediate  contiguity 
with  the  walls  of  the  utricle,  while  the  fenestra  rotunda 
adjoins  the  scala  tympani.  In  place  of  the  columella  of 
Birds,  three  ossicles,  the  malleus,  incus  and  stapes  reach 
across  the  tympanic  cavity  from  the  tympanic  membrane 


XII.] 


THE   NASAL   ORGAN. 


399 


to  the  fenestra  ovalis.  These  ossicles,  which  arise 
mainly  from  the  mandibular  and  hyoid  arches  (vide 
p.  403),  are  at  first  imbedded  in  the  connective  tissue  in 
the  neighbourhood  of  the  tympanic  cavity,  but  on  the 
full  development  of  this  cavity,  become  apparently 
placed  within  it,  though  really  enveloped  in  the  mucous 
membrane  lining  it. 

Nasal  organ.  In  Mammalia  the  general  formation 
of  the  anterior  and  posterior  nares  is  the  same  as  in 
Birds;  but  an  outgrowth  from  the  inner  side  of  the 
canal  between  the  two  openings  arises  at  an  early  period  ; 
and  becoming  separate  from  the  posterior  nares  and 
provided  with  a  special  opening  into  the  mouth,  forms 
the  organ  of  Jacobson.  The  general  relations  of  this 
organ  when  fully  formed  are  shewn  in  Fig.  133. 


Fig.  133. 


Section  through  the  Nasal  Cavity  and  Jacobson's  Organ. 

(From  Gegenbaur.) 

sn.  septum  nasi ;  en,  nasal  cavity  ;  J.  Jacobson's  organ  ;  d.  edge 

of  upper  jaw. 


400      DEVELOPMENT   OF   ORGANS   IN   MAMMALIA.    [CHAP. 

The  development  of  the  cranial  and  spinal 
nerves  in  Mammals  is  as  far  as  is  known  essentially 
the  same  as  in  the  chick,  for  an  account  of  which  see 
p.  123  et  seq. 

Sympathetic  nervous  system.  The  development 
of  the  sympathetic  system  of  both  Aves  and  Mammalia 
has  not  been  thoroughly  worked  out.  There  is  how- 
ever but  little  doubt  that  in  Mammalia  the  main  por- 
tion arises  in  continuity  with  the  posterior  spinal 
ganglia. 

The  later  history  of  the  sympathetic  system  is  inti- 
mately bound  up  with  that  of  the  so-called  supra-renal 
bodies,  the  medullary  part  of  which  is,  as  we  shall  see 
below,  derived  from  the  peripheral  part  of  the  sympa- 
thetic system. 

THE  ORGANS  DERIVED  FROM  MESOBLAST. 

The  vertebral  column.  The  early  development  of 
the  perichordal  cartilaginous  tube  and  rudimentary 
neural  arches  is  almost  the  same  in  Mammals  as  in 
Birds.  The  differentiation  into  vertebral  and  inter- 
vertebral regions  is  the  same  in  both  groups;  but  instead 
of  becoming  divided  as  in  Birds  into  two  segments 
attached  to  two  adjoining  vertebrae,  the  intervertebral 
regions  become  in  Mammals  wholly  converted  into  the 
intervertebral  ligaments  (Fig.  135  U).  There  are  three 
centres  of  ossification  for  each  vertebra,  two  in  the  arch 
and  one  in  the  centrum. 

The  fate  of  the  notochord  is  in  important  respects 
different  from  that  in  Birds.  It  is  first  constricted  in 
the  centres  of  the  vertebrae  (Fig.  134)  and  disappears 
there  shortly  after  the  beginning  of  ossification  ;  while  in 


XII.] 


THE   SKULL. 


401 


the  intervertebral  regions  it  remains  relatively  uncon- 
stricted  (Figs.  134  and  135  c)  and  after  undergoing 
certain  histological  changes  remains  through  life  as  part 
of  the  nucleus  pulposus  in  the  axis  of  the  intervertebral 
ligaments.  There  is  also  a  slight  swelling  of  the  noto- 
chord  near  the  two  extremities  of  each  vertebra  (Fig. 
135  d  and  c"). 

In  the  persistent  vertebral  constriction  of  the  notochord 
Mammals  retain  a  more  primitive  and  piscine  mode  of  formation 
of  the  vertebral  column  than  the  majority  either  of  the  Reptilia 
or  Amphibia. 

Fig.  134. 


Longitudinal  Section  through  the  Vertebral  Column 
OP  AN  Eight  Weeks'  Human  Embryo  in  the  Tho- 
racic Region.     (From  Kolhker.) 

V.   cartilaginous  vertebral    body ;     li.  intervertebral  ligament ; 
ch.  notochord. 

The  skuU.  Excepting  in  the  absence  of  the  inter- 
orbital  plate,  the  early  development  of  the  Mamma- 
lian cranium  resembles  in  all  essential  points  that  of 
Aves,  to  our  account  of  which  on  p.  235  et  seq.  we  refer 
the  reader. 

F.  &  B.  26 


402      DEVELOPMENT  OF   ORGANS  IN  MAMMALIA.    [CHAP, 


Longitudinal  Section  through  the  Intervertebral  Liga- 
ment AND  ADJACENT  PaRTS  OF  TwO  VeRTEBR^  FROM  THE 

Thoracic  Eegion  of  an  advanced  Embryo  of  a  Sheep. 
(From  KoUiker.) 

la.  ligamentum  longitudinale  anterius  ;  Ip.  ligamentum  long,  pos- 
terius  ;  li.  ligamentum  intervertebrale  ;  h,  k'.  epiphysis  of 
vertebra  ;  w.  and  w'.  anterior  and  posterior  vertebrae  ;  c.  in- 
tervertebral dilatation  of  notochord  ;  c'  and  c".  vertebral  di- 
latation of  notochord. 


The  early  changes  in  the  development  of  the  visceral 
arches  and  clefts  have  already  been  described,  but  the 
later  changes  undergone  by  the  skeletal  elements  of  the 
first  two  visceral  arches  are  sufficiently  striking  to  need 
a  special  description. 


XII.]  MANDIBULAR   AND   HYOID   ARCHES.  403 

The  skeletal  bars  of  both  the  hyoid  and  mandibular 
arches  develop  at  first  more  completely  than  in  any 
of  the  other  types  above  Fishes ;  they  are  articulated  to 
each  other  above,  while  the  pterygo-palatine  bar  is 
quite  distinct. 

The  main  features  of  the  subsequent  development 
are  undisputed,  with  the  exception  of  that  of  the  upper 
end  of  the  hyoid,  which  is  still  controverted.  The 
following  is  Parker's  account  for  the  Pig. 

The  mandibular  and  hyoid  arches  are  at  first  very 
similar,  their  dorsal  ends  being  somewhat  incurved,  and 
articulating  together. 

In  a  somewhat  later  stage  (Fig.  136)  the  upper  end 
of  the  mandibular  bar  (mh),  without  becoming  segmented 

Fig.  136. 


Ilk/      \;, 

Embryo  Pig,  an  inch  and  a  third  long  ;  Side  View  of 
Mandibular  and  Hyoid  Arches.  The  Main  Hyoid 
Arch  is  seen  as  displaced  backwards  after  Segmen- 
tation from  the   Incus.     (From  Parker.) 

tg.  tongue  ;  mJc.  Meckelian  cartilage  ;  ml.  body  of  malleus  ;  mh. 
manubrium  or  handle  of  the  malleus  ;  t.ty.  tegmen  tympani ; 
I.  incus  ;  st.  stapes  ;  i.hy.  interhyal  ligament ;  st.h.  stylohyal 
cartilage  ;  h.h.  hypohyal ;  b.h.  basibranchial ;  th.h.  rudiment 
of  first  branchial  arch  ;  la.  facial  nerve. 

26—2 


404      DEVELOPMENT   OF   ORGANS   IN   MAMMALIA.    [CHAP. 

from  the  ventral  part,  becomes  distinctly  swollen,  and 
clearly  corresponds  to  the  quadrate  region  of  other  types. 
The  ventral  part  of  the  bar  constitutes  Meckel's  carti- 
lage {mk). 

The  hyoid  arch  has  in  the  meantime  become  seg- 
mented into  two  parts,  an  upper  part  {i),  which  eventually 
becomes  one  of  the  small  bones  of  the  ear — the  incus — 
and  a  lower  part  which  remains  as  the  anter^ior  cornu 
of  the  hyoid  (st.h).  The  two  parts  continue  to  be  con- 
nected by  a  ligament. 

The  incus  is  articulated  with  the  quadrate  end  of 
the  mandibular  arch,  and  its  rounded  head  comes  in 
contact  with  the  stapes  (Fig.  136,  st)  which  is  segmented 
from  the  fenestra  ovalis. 

According  to  some  authors  the  stapes  is  independently  formed 
from  mesoblast  cells  surrounding  a  branch  of  the  internal  carotid 
artery. 

The  main  arch  of  the  hyoid  becomes  divided  into 
a  hypohyal  (h.h)  below  and  a  stjdohyal  (sth)  above,  and 
also  becomes  articulated  with  the  basal  element  of  the 
arch  behind  (bh). 

In  the  course  of  further  development  the  Meckelian 
part  of  the  mandibular  arch  becomes  enveloped  in  a 
superficial  ossification  forming  the  dentary.  Its  upper 
end,  adjoining  the  quadrate  region,  becomes  calcified 
and  then  absorbed,  and  its  lower,  with  the  exception  of 
the  extreme  point,  is  ossified  and  subsequently  incorpo- 
rated in  the  dentary. 

The  quadrate  region  remains  relatively  stationary  in 
growth  as  compared  with  the  adjacent  parts  of  the  skull, 
and  finally  ossifies  to  form  the  malleus.     The  processus 


XII.]  THE  AUDITORY   OSSICLES.  40o 

gi'acilis  of  the  malleus  is  the  primitive  contimiation  into 
Meckel's  cartilage. 

The  malleus  and  incus  are  at  first  embedded  in  the 
connective  tissue  adjoining  the  tympanic  cavity,  which 
with  the  Eustachian  tube  is  the  persistent  remains  of 
the  hyomandibular  cleft ;  and  externally  to  them  a  bone 
known  as  the  tympanic  bone  becomes  developed  so  that 
they  become  placed  between  the  tympanic  bone  and  the 
periotic  capsule.  In  late  foetal  life  they  become  trans- 
ported completely  within  the  tympanic  cavity,  though 
covered  by  a  reflection  of  the  tympanic  mucous  mem- 
brane. 

The  dorsal  end  of  the  part  of  the  hyoid  separated 
from  the  incus  becomes  ossified  as  the  tympano-hyal, 
and  is  anchylosed  with  the  adjacent  parts  of  the  periotic 
capsule.  The  middle  part  of  the  bar  just  outside  the 
skull  forms  the  stylo-hyal  (styloid  process  in  man)  which 
is  attached  by  ligament  to  the  anterior  cornu  of  the 
hyoid  (cerato-hyal).  The  tympanic  membrane  and  ex- 
ternal auditory  meatus  develop  as  in  the  chick  (p.  166). 

The  ribs  and  sternum  appear  to  develop  in  Mammals  as  in 
Birds  (p.  234). 

The  pectoral  girdle,  as  in  Birds  (p.  234),  arises  as  a  con- 
tinuous plate  of  cartilage,  the  coracoid  element  of  which  is  how- 
ever much  reduced. 

The  clavicle  in  Man  is  provided  with  a  central  axis  of  car- 
tilage, and  its  mode  of  ossification  is  intermediate  between  that  of 
a  true  cartilage  bone  and  a  membrane  bone. 

The  pelvic  girdle  is  formed  in  cartilage  as  in  Birds,  but  in  Man 
at  any  rate  the  pubic  part  of  the  cartilage  is  formed  independently 
of  the  remainder.  There  are  the  usual  three  centres  of  ossification, 
which  unite  eventually  into  a  single  bone — the  innominate  bone. 
The  pubis  and  ischium  of  each  side  unite  ventrally,  so  as  com- 
pletely to  enclose  the  obturator  foramen. 


406      DEVELOPMENT   OF   ORGANS   IN   MAMMALIA.    [CHAP. 

The  skeleton  of  the  limbs  develops  so  far  as  is  known  as  in 
Birds,  from  a  continuous  mesoblastic  blastema,  within  which  the 
corresponding  cartilaginous  elements  of  the  limbs  become  dif- 
ferentiated. 

The  body  cavity.  The  development  of  the  body 
cavity  and  its  subsequent  division  into  pericardial 
pleural  and  peritoneal  cavities  is  precisely  the  same  in 
Mammalia  as  in  Aves  (p.  264  et  seq.).  But  in  Mam- 
malia a  further  change  takes  place,  in  that  by  the  for- 
mation of  a  vertical  partition  across  the  body  cavity, 
known  as  the  diaphragm,  the  pleural  cavities,  contain- 
ing the  lungs,  become  isolated  from  the  remainder  of 
the  body  or  peritoneal  cavity.  As  shewn  by  their 
development  the  so-called  pleurse  or  pleural  sacs  are 
simply  the  peritoneal  linings  of  the  anterior  divisions 
of  the  body  cavity,  shut  off  from  the  remainder  of  the 
body  cavity  by  the  diaphragm. 


The  vascular  system. 

The  heart.  The  two  tubes  out  of  which  the  heart 
is  formed  appear  at  the  sides  of  the  cephalic  plates, 
opposite  the  region  of  the  mid-  and  hind-brain  (Fig. 
107).  They  arise  at  a  time  when  the  lateral  folds 
which  form  the  ventral  wall  of  the  throat  are  only  just 
becoming  visible.  Each  half  of  the  heart  originates  in 
the  same  way  as  in  the  chick ;  and  the  layer  of  the 
splanchnic  mesoblast,  which  forms  the  muscular  wall  for 
each  part  {ahh),  has  at  first  the  form  of  a  half  tube  open 
below  to  the  hypoblast. 

On  the  formation  of  the  lateral  folds  of  the  splanchnic 
walls,  the  two  halves  of  the  heart  become  carried  inwards 


xil]  arterial  system.  407 

and  downwards,  and  eventually  meet  on  the  ventral 
side  of  the  throat.  For  a  short  time  they  here  remain 
distinct,  but  soon  coalesce  into  a  single  tube. 

In  Birds,  it  will  be  remembered,  the  heart  at  first  has  the 
form  of  two  tubes,  which  however  are  in  contact  in  front.  It 
arises  at  a  time  when  the  formation  of  the  throat  is  very  much 
more  advanced  than  in  Mammalia ;  when  in  fact  the  ventral 
wall  of  the  throat  is  established  as  far  back  as  the  front  end  of 
the  heart. 

In  the  lower  types  the  heart  does  not  appear  till  the  ventral 
wall  of  the  throat  is  completely  established,  and  it  has  from  the 
first  the  form  of  a  single  tube. 

It  is  therefore  probable  that  the  formation  of  the  heart  as  two 
cavities  is  a  secondary  mode  of  development,  which  has  been 
brought  about  by  variations  in  the  period  of  the  closing  in  of  the 
wall  of  the  throat. 

The  later  development  of  the  heart  is  in  the  main  similar  to 
that  of  the  chick  (p.  256  et  seq.). 

The  arterial  system.  The  early  stages  of  the 
arterial  system  of  Mammalia  are  similar  to  those  in 
Birds.  Five  arterial  arches  are  formed,  the  three  poste- 
rior of  which  wholly  or  in  part  persist  in  the  adult. 

The  bulbus  arteriosus  is  divided  into  two  (fig.  137 
B),  but  the  left  fourth  arch  {e),  instead  of,  as  in  Birds, 
the  right,  is  that  continuous  with  the  dorsal  aorta,  and 
the  right  fourth  arch  {i)  is  only  continued  into  the  right 
vertebral  and  right  subclavian  arteries. 

The  fifth  pair  of  arches  which  is  continuous  with 
one  of  the  divisions  of  the  bulbus  arteriosus  gives  origin 
to  the  two  pulmonary  arteries.  Both  these  however  are 
derived  from  the  arch  on  one  side,  viz.  the  left  (fig.  137 
B);  whereas  in  Birds,  one  pulmonary  artery  comes  from 
the  left  and  the  other  from  the  right  fifth  arch  (fig. 
137  A). 


408      DEVELOPMENT   OF   OKGANS   IN  MAMMALIA.    [CHAP. 

The  ductus  Botalli  of  the  fifth  arch  (known  in  Man 
as  the  ductus  arteriosus)  of  the  side  on  which  the 
pulmonary  arteries  are  formed,  may  remain  (e.g.  in  Man) 
as  a  solid  cord  connecting  the  common  stem  of  the 
pulmonary  aorta  with  the  systemic  aorta. 

The  diagram,  Fig.  137,  copied  from  Rathke,  shews 
at  a  glance  the  character  of  the  metamorphosis  the 
arterial  arches  undergo  in  Birds  and  Mammals. 


Fig.  137. 


Diagrams    illustrating   the    Metamorphosis   of   the 
TERiAL  Arches  in  a  Bird  A.  and  a  Mammal  B. 


Ar- 


(From  Mivart  after  Eathke.) 
a.  internal  carotid  ;  h.  external  carotid  ;  c.  common  carotid  ; 
d.  systemic  aorta  ;  e.  fourth  arch  of  right  side  (root  of  dorsal 
aorta)  ;  /.  right  subclavian  ;  g.  dorsal  aorta  ;  h.  left  subcla- 
vian (fourth  arch  of  left  side)  ;  i.  pulmonary  artery  ;  Jc.  and 
I.  right  and  left  ductus  Botalli  of  pulmonary  arteries. 

a.  internal  carotid  ;  h.  external  carotid  ;  c.  common  carotid  ; 
d.  systemic  aorta  ;  e.  fourth  arch  of  left  side  (root  of  dorsal 
aorta) ;  /.  dorsal  aorta  ;  g.  left  vertebral  artery  ;  h.  left  sub- 
clavian artery  ;  ^.  right  subclavian  (fourth  arch  of  right 
side)  ;  Jc.  right  vertebral ;  I.  continuation  of  right  subcla- 
vian ;  m.  pulmonary  artery  ;  n.  ductus  Botalli  of  pulmonary 
artery. 


XII.]  VENOUS   SYSTEM.  409 

In  some  Mammals  both  subclavians  spring  from 
a  trunk  common  to  them  and  the  carotids  (arteria 
anonyma)  ;  or  as  in  Man  and  some  other  Mammals, 
the  left  one  arises  from  the  systemic  aorta  just  beyond 
the  carotids.  Various  further  modifications  in  the  origin 
of  the  subclavians  are  found  in  Mammalia,  but  they 
need  not  be  specified  in  detail.  The  vertebral  arteries 
arise  in  close  connection  with  the  subclavians,  whereas 
in  Birds  they  arise  from  the  common  carotids. 

The  venous  system.  In  Mammals  the  same  venous 
trunks  are  developed  in  the  embryo  as  in  Birds  (Fig. 
138  A).  The  anterior  cardinals  or  external  jugulars 
form  the  primitive  veins  of  the  anterior  part  of  the 
body,  and  the  internal  jugulars  and  anterior  vertebrals 
are  subsequently  formed.  The  subclavians  (Fig.  188 
A,  s),  developed  on  the  formation  of  the  anterior  limbs, 
also  pour  their  blood  into  these  primitive  trunks.  In 
the  lower  Mammalia  (Monotremata,  Marsupialia,  Insec- 
tivora,  some  Rodentia,  etc.)  the  two  ductus  Cuvieri 
remain  as  the  two  superior  venae  cavae,  but  more  usually 
an  anastomosis  arises  between  the  right  and  left  in- 
nominate veins,  and  eventually  the  whole  of  the  blood 
of  the  left  superior  cava  is  carried  to  the  right  side,  and 
there  is  left  only  a  single  superior  cava  (Fig.  138  B  and 
C).  A  small  rudiment  of  the  left  superior  cava  remains 
however  as  the  sinus  coronarius  and  receives  the  coronary 
vein  from  the  heart  (Figs.  138  G,  cor  and  139  cs). 

The  posterior  cardinal  veins  form  at  first  the  only 
veins  receiving  the  blood  from  the  posterior  part  of  the 
trunk  and  kidneys  ;  and  on  the  development  of  the  hind 
limbs  receive  the  blood  from  them  also. 

An  unpaired  vena  cava  inferior  becomes  eventually 


410      DEVELOPMENT   OF   ORGANS   IN   MAMMALIA.    [CHAl* 
Fig.  138. 

1/ 


Diagram    op    the    Development   of    the    Paired    Venous 

System  of  Mammals  (Man).     (From  Gegenbaur.) 

j.  jugular  vein  ;  cs.  vena  cava  superior ;  s.  subclavian  veins  ;  c. 
posterior  cardinal  vein ;  v.  vertebral  vein  ;  az.  azygos  vein  ; 
cor,  coronary  vein. 

A.  Stage  in  which  the  cardinal  veins  have  already  disap- 
peared.   Their  position  is  indicated  by  dotted  lines. 

B.  Later  stage  when  the  blood  from  the  left  jugular  vein  is 
carried  into  the  right,  to  form  the  single  vena  cava  superior ;  a 
remnant  of  the  left  superior  cava  being  however  still  left. 

C.  Stage  after  the  left  vertebral  vein  has  disappeared ;  the 
right  vertebral  remaining  as  the  azygos  vein.  The  coronary  vein 
remains  as  the  last  remnant  of  the  left  superior  vena  cava. 

developed,  and  gTadually  carries  off  a  larger  and  larger 
portion  of  the  blood  originally  returned  by  the  posterior 
cardinals.  It  unites  with  the  common  stem  of  the 
allantoic  and  vitelline  veins  in  front  of  the  liver. 

At  a  later  period  a  pair  of  trunks  is  established 
bringing  the  blood  from  the  posterior  part  of  the  cardinal 
veins  and  the  crural  veins  directly  into  the  vena  cava 


XII.] 


VERTEBRAL   VEINS. 


411 


inferior  (Fig.  139,  il).    These  vessels,  whose  development 
has  not  been  adequately  investigated,  form  the  common 


Diagram    of  the  Chief  Venous  Trunks  of  Man.       ^ 
(From  Gegenbaur.) 

cs.  coronary  sinus  ;     s.  subclavian  vein ;    ji.   internal  jugular  ; 
je.  external  jugular  ;    az.  azjgos  vein  ;    ha.  hemiazygos  vein  ; 

c.  dotted  line  shewing  previous  position  of  cardinal  veins  ; 

d.  vena  cava  inferior  ;  r.  renal  veins  ;  il.  iliac  ;    hy.  hypogas- 
tric veins  ;  h.  hepatic  veins. 

The  dotted  lines  shew  the  position  of  embryonic  vessels 
aborted  in  the  adult. 


iliac  veins,  while  the  posterior  ends  of  the  cardinal  veins 
which  join  them  become  the  hypogastric  veins  (Fig. 
139  hy). 

Posterior  vertebral  veins,  similar  to  those  of  Birds, 
are  established  in  connection  with  the  intercostal  and 


412      DEVELOPMENT    OF    ORGANS   IN   MAMMALIA.    [CHAP. 

lumbar  veins,  and  unite  anteriorly  with  the  front  part 
of  the  posterior  cardinal  veins  (Fig.  138  A). 

Upon  the  formation  of  the  posterior  vertebral  veins, 
and  upon  the  inferior  vena  cava  becoming  more  im- 
portant, the  middle  part  of  the  posterior  cardinals  be- 
comes completely  aborted  (Fig.  139  c),  the  anterior  and 
posterior  parts  still  persisting,  the  former  as  the  con- 
tinuations of  the  posterior  vertebrals  into  the  anterior 
vena  cava  (a^),  the  latter  as  the  hypogastric  veins  Qiy). 

Though  in  a  few  Mammalia  both  the  posterior  verte- 
brals persist,  a  transverse  connection  is  usually  established 
between  them,  and  the  one  (the  right),  becoming  the 
more  important,  constitutes  the  azygos  vein  (Fig.  139 
az),  the  persisting  part  of  the  left  forming  the  hemi- 
azygos vein  Qia). 

The  remainder  of  the  venous  system  is  formed  in  the 
embryo  by  the  vitelline  and  allantoic  veins,  the  former 
being  eventually  joined  by  the  mesenteric  vein  so  as  to 
constitute  the  portal  vein. 

The  vitelline  vein  is  the  first  part  of  this  system 
established,  and  divides  near  the  heart  into  two  veins 
bringing  back  the  blood  from  the  yolk-sac  (umbilical 
vesicle).     The  right  vein  soon  however  aborts. 

The  allantoic  (anterior  abdominal)  veins  are  origin- 
ally paired.  They  are  developed  very  early,  and  at  first 
course  along  the  still  widely  open  somatic  walls  of  the 
body,  and  fall  into  the  single  vitelline  trunk  in  front. 
The  right  allantoic  vein  disappears  before  long,  and  the 
common  trunk  formed  by  the  junction  of  the  vitelline 
and  allantoic  veins  becomes  considerably  elongated. 
This  trunk  is  soon  enveloped  by  the  liver,  and  later  in 
its   passage   through,  gives  off  branches   to,  and  also 


XII.]  SUPRA-RENAL   BODIES.  413 

receives  brandies  from  this  organ  near  its  anterior  exit. 
The  main  trunk  is  however  never  completely  aborted,  as 
in  the  embryos  of  other  types,  but  remains  as  the  ductus 
venosus  Arantii. 

With  the  development  of  the  placenta  the  allantoic 
vein  becomes  the  main  source  of  the  ductus  venosus, 
and  the  vitelline  or  portal  vein,  as  it  may  perhaps  be 
now  conveniently  called,  ceases  to  join  it  directly,  but 
falls  into  one  of  its  branches  in  the  liver. 

The  vena  cava  inferior  joins  the  continuation  of  the 
ductus  venosus  in  front  of  the  liver,  and,  as  it  becomes 
more  important,  it  receives  directly  the  hepatic  veins 
which  originally  brought  back  blood  into  the  ductus 
venosus.  The  ductus  venosus  becomes  moreover  merely 
a  small  branch  of  the  vena  cava. 

At  the  close  of  foetal  life  the  allantoic  vein  becomes 
obliterated  up  to  its  place  of  entrance  into  the  liver; 
the  ductus  venosus  becomes  a  solid  cord — the  so-called 
round  ligament — and  the  whole  of  the  venous  blood  is 
brought  to  the  liver  by  the  portal  vein. 

Owing  to  the  allantoic  (anterior  abdominal)  vein 
having  merely  a  foetal  existence  an  anastomosis  between 
the  iliac  veins  and  the  portal  system  by  means  of  the 
anterior  abdominal  vein  is  not  established. 

The  supra-renal  bodies.  These  are  paired  bodies 
lying  anterior  to  the  kidneys  and  are  formed  of  two 
parts,  (1)  a  cortical  and  (2)  a  medullary  portion.  They 
first  appear  in  the  Eabbit  on  the  12th  or  13th  day  of 
gestation,  and  arise  as  masses  of  mesoblast  cells  lying 
between  the  aorta  and  the  mesentery  and  to  one  side  of 
the  former.  On  the  14th  day  they  are  well  marked, 
and  lying  dorsa.l  to  them  is  another  mass  of  cells  which 


414      DEVELOPMENT   OF   ORGANS   IN   MAMMALIA.    [CHAP. 

is  found  to  be  continuous  with  the  sympathetic  nervous 
system. 

On  the  16th  day  processes  from  the  sympathetic 
mass  enter  the  mesoblastic  tissue  and  become  trans- 
formed into  the  medullary  portion  of  the  ad  alt  supra- 
renal ;  while  the  mesoblastic  tissue  gives  rise  to  the 
cortical  layer. 

The  urinogenital  organs. 

The  history  of  these  organs  in  Mammalia,  excepting 
so  far  as  concerns  the  lower  parts  of  the  urinogenital 
ducts,  is  the  same  as  in  the  Chick. 

The  Wolffian  body  and  duct  first  appear,  and  are 
followed  by  the  Miillerian  duct  and  the  kidney.  The 
exact  method  of  development  of  the  latter  structures 
has  not  been  followed  so  completely  as  in  the  Chick; 
and  it  is  not  known  whether  the  peculiar  structures 
found  at  the  anterior  end  of  the  commencing  Miillerian 
duct  in  Aves  occur  in  Mammalia. 

The  history  of  the  generative  glands  is  essentially 
the  same  as  in  the  Chick. 

Outgrowths  from  a  certain  number  of  Malpighian 
bodies  in  the  Wolffian  body  are  developed  along  the 
base  of  the  testis,  and  enter  into  connection  with  the 
seminiferous  stroma.  It  is  not  certain  to  what  parts  of 
the  testicular  tubuli  they  give  rise,  but  they  probably 
form  at  any  rate  the  vasa  recta  and  rete  vasculosum. 
Similarly  intrusions  from  the  Malpighian  bodies  make 
their  way  into  the  ovary  of  the  female,  and  give  rise  to 
cords  of  tissue  which  may  persist  throughout  life. 

The  vasa  eflferentia  {coni  vasculosi)  appear  to  be 
derived  from  the  glandular  tubes  of  part  of  the  Wolffian 


xil]  gexital  cord.  415 

body.  The  Wolffian  duct  itself  becomes  in  tbe  male  the 
vas  deferens  and  the  convoluted  canal  of  the  epididy- 
mis ;  the  latter  structure  except  the  head  being  entirely 
derived  from  the  Wolffian  duct. 

The  functionless  remains  of  the  embryonic  organs  described 
for  the  chick  (p.  224)  are  found  also  in  mammals. 

The  Miillerian  ducts  persist  in  the  female  as  the 
Fallopian  tubes  and  uterus. 

The  lower  parts  of  the  urinogenital  ducts  are  some- 
what further  modified  in  the  Mammalia  than  the  Chick. 

The  genital  cord.  The  lower  part  of  the  Wolffian 
ducts  becomes  enveloped  in  both  sexes  in  a  special  cord 
of  tissue,  known  as  the  genital  cord  (Fig.  1 40  ,gc),  within 
the  lower  part  of  which  the  Miillerian  ducts  are  also 
enclosed.  In  the  male  the  Miillerian  ducts  in  this  cord 
atrophy,  except  at  their  distal  end  where  they  unite  to 
form  the  uterus  masculinus.  The  Wolffian  ducts,  after 
becoming  the  vasa  deferentia,  remain  for  some  time 
enclosed  in  the  common  cord  but  afterwards  separate 
from  each  other.  The  seminal  vesicles  are  outgrowths  of 
the  vasa  deferentia. 

In  the  female  the  Wolffian  ducts  within  the  genital 
cord  atrophy,  though  rudiments  of  them  are  for  a  long 
time  visible  or  even  permanently  persistent.  The  lower 
parts  of  the  Miillerian  ducts  unite  to  form  the  vagina 
and  body  of  the  uterus  while  the  upper  become  the 
horns  of  the  uterus  and  the  Fallopian  tubes.  The 
junction  commences  in  the  middle  and  extends  forwards 
and  backwards ;  the  stage  with  a  median  junction  being 
retained  permanently  in  Marsupials. 

The  urinogenital  sinus  and  external  generative 
organs.     The  dorsal  part  of  the  cloaca  with  the  alimen- 


416      DEVELOPMENT   OF   ORGANS   IN   MAIVOIALIA.     [CHAP. 

tary  tract  becomes  partially  constricted  off  from  the 

ventral,  which  then  forms  a  urinogenital  siims  (Fig.  140 

ug).     In  the  course  of  development   the   urinogenital 

Fig.  140. 


Diagram   of  the  Urinogenital  Organs  of  a  Mammal  at 
AN  Early  Stage.     (After  Allen  Thomson ;   from  Quain's 
Anatomy.) 
The  parts  are  seen  chiefly  in  profile,  but  the  Miillerian  and 

Wolffian  ducts  are  seen  from  the  front. 

3.  ureter ;  4.  urinary  bladder ;  5.  urachus ;  ot.  genital  ridge 
(ovary  or  testis) ;  W.  left  Wolffian  body ;  x.  part  at  apex 
from  which  coni  vasculosi  are  afterwards  developed  ;  w. 
Wolffian  duct  ;  m.  Miillerian  duct ;  gc.  genital  cord  consist- 
ing of  Wolffian  and  Miillerian  ducts  bound  up  in  a  common 
sheath ;  i.  rectum  ;  ug.  urinogenital  sinus ;  cp.  elevation 
which  becomes  the  clitoris  or  penis ;  Is.  ridge  from  which  the 
labia  majora  or  scrotum  are  developed. 


XII.]       EXTERNAL  GENERATIVE  ORGANS.       417 

sinus  becomes,  in  all  Mammalia  but  the  Ornithodelphia, 
completely  separated  from  the  intestinal  cloaca,  and  the 
two  parts  obtain  separate  external  openings.  The 
ureters  (Fig.  140,  3)  open  higher  up  than  the  other 
ducts  into  the  stalk  of  the  allantois  which  here  dilates 
to  form  the  bladder.  That  part  of  the  stalk  which  con- 
nects the  bladder  with  the  ventral  wall  of  the  body 
constitutes  the  urachus,  and  loses  its  lumen  before  the 
close  of  embryonic  life.  The  part  of  the  stalk  of  the 
allantois  below  the  openings  of  the  ureters  narrows  to 
form  the  urethra,  which  opens  together  with  the  Wolffian 
and  Miillerian  ducts  into  the  urogenital  cloaca. 

In  front  of  the  urogenital  cloaca  there  is  formed 
a  genital  prominence  (Fig.  140  cp)  with  a  groove  con- 
tinued from  the  urinogenital  opening,  and  on  each  side  a 
genital  fold  (Is).  In  the  male  the  sides  of  the  groove  on 
the  prominence  coalesce  together,  embracing  between 
them  the  opening  of  the  urinogenital  cloaca,  and  the 
prominence  itself  gives  rise  to  the  penis,  along  which  the 
common  urinogenital  passage  is  continued.  The  two 
genital  folds  unite  from  behind  forwards  to  form  the 
scrotum. 

In  the  female  the  groove  on  the  genital  prominence 
gradually  disappears,  and  the  prominence  remains  as  the 
clitoris,  which  is  therefore  the  homologue  of  the  penis : 
the  two  genital  folds  form  the  labia  majora.  The  urethra 
and  vagina  open  independently  into  the  common  uro- 
genital sinus. 

THE  ALIMENTARY  CANAL   AND  ITS  APPENDAGES. 

It  is  convenient  to  introduce  into  our  account  of  the 
organs  derived  from  the  hypoblast,  a  short  account  of 
F.  &  B.  27 


418      DEVELOPMENT   OF   ORGANS  IN  MAMMALIA.    [CHAP. 

certain  organs  connected  with  the  alimentary  canal 
such  as  the  mesentery,  stomodseum,  etc.,  which  are  not 
hypoblastic  in  origin. 

The  origin  of  the  hypoblast,  and  the  process  of 
folding  by  which  the  cavity  of  the  mesenteron  is 
established  have  already  been  described.  The  mesen- 
teron may  be  considered  under  three  heads. 

1.  The  anterior  or  respiratory  division  of  the 
mesenteron.  The  pharjmx,  thyroid  body.  Eustachian 
tube,  tympanic  cavity,  oesophagus,  trachea,  bronchi,  lungs 
and  stomach  are  developed  from  this  portion,  and  their 
development  in  the  Mammal  so  closely  resembles  that  in 
the  Chick  that  it  is  unnecessary  for  us  to  add  to  the 
account  we  have  already  given  in  the  earlier  part  of  this 
work. 

This  section  of  the  alimentary  canal,  as  in  the  Chick, 
is  distinguished  in  the  embryo  by  the  fact  that  its  walls 
send  out  a  series  of  paired  diverticula  which  meet  the 
skin,  and,  after  perforation  has  been  effected  at  the 
regions  of  contact,  form  the  visceral  clefts. 

2.  The  middle  division  of  the  mesenteron,  from 
which  the  liver  and  pancreas  are  developed,  as  in  the 
Chick,  forms  the  intestinal  and  cloacal  region  and  is  at 
first  a  straight  tube.  It  remains  for  some  time  connected 
with  the  yolk  sack. 

The  Cloaca  appears  as  a  dilatation  of  the  mesen- 
teron which  receives,  as  in  Aves,  the  opening  of  the 
allantois  almost  as  soon  as  the  posterior  section  of 
the  alimentary  tract  is  established.  The  eventual 
changes  which  it  undergoes  have  already  been  dealt 
with  in  connection  with  the  urinogenital  organs. 

The  intestine.    The  posterior  part  of  this  becomes 


XII,  ]  THE  MESENTERY.  419 

enlarged  to  form  the  large  intestine,  while  the  anterior 
portion  becoming  very  much  elongated  and  coiled  forms 
the  small  intestine,  and  moreover  gives  rise  anteriorly 
to  the  liver  and  pancreas. 

rrom  the  large  intestine  close  to  its  junction  with  the  small 
intestine  an  outgrowth  is  developed,  the  proximal  part  of  which 
enlarges  to  form  the  ccecum,  while  the  distal  portion  in  Man 
forms  the  vermiform  appendix. 

3.  The  postanal  division  of  the  mesenteron  atro- 
phies at  an  early  period  of  embryonic  life.  In  the  Chick 
and  lower  types  it  communicates  for  a  short  time  with 
the  hind  end  of  the  neural  canal. 

Splanchnic  mesoblast  and  mesentery.  The  mesen- 
teron consists  at  first  of  a  simple  hypoblastic  tube,  which 
however  becomes  enveloped  by  a  layer  of  splanchnic 
mesoblast.  This  layer,  which  is  not  at  first  continued 
over  the  dorsal  side  of  the  mesenteron,  gradually  grows 
in,  and  interposes  itself  between  the  hypoblast  of  the 
mesenteron,  and  the  organs  above.  At  the  same  time 
it  becomes  differentiated  into  two  layers,  viz.  an  outer 
epithelioid  layer  which  gives  rise  to  part  of  the  peritoneal 
epithelium,  and  an  inner  layer  of  undifferentiated  cells 
which  in  time  becomes  converted  into  the  connective 
tissue  and  muscular  walls  of  the  mesenteron.  The 
connective  tissue  layers  are  first  formed,  while  of  the 
muscular  layers  the  circular  is  the  first  to  make  its 
appearance. 

Coincidently  with  the  differentiation  of  these  layers 
the  connective  tissue  stratum  of  the  peritoneum  becomes 
established. 

The  mesentery  is  developed  as  in  the  Chick  (p.  172). 
In  the  thoracic  region  it  is  hardly  if  at  all  developed. 

27—2 


420      DEVELOPMENT  OF  ORGANS  IN  MAMMALIA,   [CHAP. 

The  primitive  simplicity  in  the  arrangement  of  the 
mesentery  is  usually  afterwards  replaced  by  a  more  com- 
plicated disposition,  owing  to  the  subsequent  elongation 
and  consequent  convolution  of  the  intestine  and  stomach. 

The  layer  of  peritoneal  epithelium  on  the  ventral 
side  of  the  stomach  is  continued  over  the  liver,  and 
after  embracing  the  liver,  becomes  attached  to  the 
ventral  abdominal  wall.  Thus  in  the  region  of  the  liver 
the  body-cavity  is  divided  into  two  halves  by  a  mem- 
brane, the  two  sides  of  which  are  covered  by  the  peri- 
toneal epithelium,  and  which  encloses  the  stomach 
dorsally  and  the  liver  ventrally.  The  part  of  the  mem- 
brane between  the  stomach  and  liver  is  narrow,  and 
constitutes  a  kind  of  mesentery  suspending  the  liver 
from  the  stomach :  it  is  known  to  human  anatomists  as 
the  lesser  omentum. 

The  part  of  the  membrane  connecting  the  liver  with 
the  anterior  abdominal  wall  constitutes  the  falciform  or 
suspensory  ligament  of  the  liver.  It  arises  by  a  secondary 
fusion,  and  is  not  a  remnant  of  a  primitive  ventral 
mesentery  (vide  p.  264). 

The  mesentery  of  the  stomach,  or  mesogastrium, 
enlarges  in  Mammalia  to  form  a  peculiar  sack  known  as 
the  greater  omentum. 

The  stomodeeum.  The  anterior  section  of  the  per- 
manent alimentary  tract  is  formed,  as  in  the  Chick,  by 
an  invagination  of  epiblast,  constituting  a  more  or  less 
considerable  pit,  with  its  inner  wall  in  contact  with  the 
bhnd  anterior  extremity  of  the  mesenteron. 

From  the  epiblastic  lining  of  this  pit  are  developed 
the  pituitary  body  and  the  salivary  as  well  as  the  other 
buccal  glands. 


XII.]  THE   TEETH.  421 


Diagram  Shewing  the  Division  of  the  Primitive  Buccal 
Cavity  into  the  Eespiratort  Section  above  and  the 
true  Mouth  below.    (From  Gegenbaur.) 

2?.  palatine  plate  of  superior  maxillary  process;  m.  permanent 
mouth;  n,  posterior  part  of  nasal  passage;  e.  internasal 
septum. 

A  palate  grows  inwards  from  each  of  the  superior 
maxillary  processes  (Fig.  141),  which,  meeting  in  the 
middle  line,  form  a  horizontal  septum  dividing  the  front 
part  of  the  stomodseum  into  a  dorsal  respiratory  section, 
containing  the  opening  of  the  posterior  nares,  and  a 
ventral  cavity  forming  the  permanent  mouth.  These 
two  divisions  open  into  a  common  cavity  behind.  This 
septum  on  the  development  within  it  of  an  osseous 
plate  constitutes  the  hard  palate.  A  posterior  pro- 
longation in  which  no  osseous  plate  is  formed  consti- 
tutes the  soft  palate.  An  internasal  septum  (Fig.  141  e) 
may  more  or  less  completely  divide  the  dorsal  cavity 
into  two  canals,  continuous  respectively  with  the  two 
nasal  cavities. 

The  teeth  are  special  products  of  the  oral  mucous 
membrane.  They  are  formed  from  two  distinct  organs, 
viz.  an  epithelial  cap  and  a  connective  tissue  papUla, 


422        DEVELOPMENT  OF  OKGANS  IN  MAMMALIA.      [XIL 

which  according  to  most  authors  give  rise  to  the  enamel 
and  dentine  respectively. 

The  proctodseum.  The  cloacal  section  of  the  ali- 
mentary canal  is  placed  in  communication  with  the 
exterior  by  means  of  a  shallow  epiblastic  invagination 
constituting  the  proctodseum. 


APPENDIX. 


PEACTICAL     INSTEUCTIONS     FOE     STUDYING     THE     DE- 
VELOPMENT   OF    THE    CHICK. 

I.   A.  IncuT)ators. 

Of  all  incubators,  tlie  natural  one,  i.e.  the  hen, 
is  in  some  respects  the  best.  The  number  of  eggs 
which  fail  to  develope  is  fewer  than  with  an  arti- 
ficial incubator,  and  the  development  of  monstrosi- 
ties is  rarer.  A  good  sitter  will  continue  to  sit 
for  thirty  or  more  days  at  least,  even  though  the 
eggs  are  daily  being  changed.  She  should  never 
be  allowed  to  want  for  water,  and  should  be  well 
supplied  according  to  her  appetite  with  soft  food. 
It  is  best  to  place  the  food  at  some  little  distance 
from  the  eggs,  in  order  that  the  hen  may  leave 
the  eggs  when  feeding.  She  will  sit  most  per- 
sistently in  a  warm,  quiet,  somewhat  darkened 
spot.  When  an  egg  is  placed  under  her,  the  date 
should  be  marked  on  it,  in  order  that  the  duration 
of  its  incubation  may  be  exactly  known.  When 
the  egg  is  intended  to  remain  for  some  time,  e.g. 
for  seven  days  or  more,  the  mark  should  be  bold 
and  distinct,  otherwise  it  will  be  rubbed  off. 


424  PRACTICAL  DIRECTIONS.  [APP. 

On  the  whole  however  we  have  found  it  more 
convenient  to  use  a  good  artificial  incubator.  We 
have  ourselves  used  with  success  two  difierent 
incubators.  One  made  by  the  Cambridge  Scientific 
Instrument  Company,  and  the  other  by  Wiesnegg 
of  64,  Kue  Gay-Lussac,  Paris  (Fig.  65  in  his 
catalogue  for  1881).  We  have  had  the  longest  ex- 
perience with  the  former,  and  have  found  it  work 
exceedingly  well :  having  been  able  to  hatch  chicks 
without  more  attention  than  now  and  then  turning 
over  the  eggs. 

Both  these  incubators  consist  essentially  of  a 
large  w^ater-bath  fitted  with  a  gas  regulator.  They 
are  both  perfectly  automatic  and  when  once  regu- 
lated require  no  further  attention. 

The  temperature  within  the  incubator  should 
be  maintained  at  from  37"  to  40''C.  A  rise  above 
40"  is  fatal ;  but  it  may  be  allowed  to  descend  to 
35"  or  in  the  young  stages  lower,  without  doing 
any  further  harm  than  to  delay  the  development. 

The  products  of  the  combustion  of  the  gas 
should  be  kept  as  much  as  possible  from  the  eggs, 
while  a  supply  of  fresh  air  and  of  Tnoisture  is 


Tolerably  satisfactory  results  may  be  obtained  with 
an  ordinary  chemical  double-jacketed  drying  water-bath, 
thoroughly  covered  in  with  a  thick  coat  of  cotton  wool 
and  flannel  baize,  and  heated  by  a  very  small  gas-jet. 
If  the  vessel  be  filled  with  hot  water,  and  allowed  to  cool 
down  to  40*^  or  thereabouts,  before  the  eggs  are  introduced, 
a  very  small  gas  flame  will  be  sufficient  to  maintain  the 
requisite  temperature.  A  small  pin-hole-nozzle,  giving 
with  ordinary  pressure  an  exceeding  narrow  jet  of  flame 
about  two  inches  high,  is  the  most  convenient.  By  turn- 
ing the  gas  off  or  on,  so  as  to  reduce  or  increase  the  height 


APP.]  HARDENING  EMBRYOS.  425 

of  the  jet  as  required,  a  very  steady  mean  temperature 
may  be  maintained. 

In  the  absence  of  gas,  a  patent  night-light  placed  at  a 
proper  distance  below  the  bath  may  be  made  to  answer 
very  weU.  "When  a  body  of  water,  once  raised  to  the 
necessary  temperature,  is  thoroughly  surrounded  with 
non-conducting  material,  a  very  slight  constant  amount  of 
heat  will  supply  all  the  loss. 


B.     On  preparing  sections  of  the  embryo. 
1.     Hardening. 
a.      Picric  acid. 

We  find  this  reagent  the  most  satisfactory 
for  hardening  the  chick  and  in  most  instances 
mammalian  embryos. 

Klein enberg's  solution  of  picric  acid  is  the 
best. 

With  100  parts  of  water,  make  a  cold 
saturated  solution  of  picric  acid ;  add  to  this 
two  parts  of  concentrated  sulphuric  acid  or 
nitric  acid  :  filter  and  add  to  the  filtrate  three 
times  its  bulk  of  water. 

In  this  solution  of  picric  acid^  the  embryo 
must  be  placed  and  left  for  from  2 — 5  hours. 
It  should  then  be  washed  in  alcohol  of  30  p.c. 
and  placed  in  alcohol  50  p.c.  for  one  hour. 
From  this  it  must  be  removed  into  alcohol 
of  70  p.c.  in  which  it  should  be  left  until 
all  the  picric  acid  is  extracted ;  to  facilitate 
this  the  70  p.c.  alcohol  should  be  frequently 
changed :    when  free  from   picric   the   embryo 

^  It  is  sometimes  advantageous  to  add  to  this  solution  of  picric 
acid  as  much  pure  kreasote  as  it  will  dissolve  {vide  Kleinenberg, 
"Development  of  Earthworm,"  Quarterly  Journal  of  Mic.  Sci.  1879). 


426  PRACTICAL  DIRECTIONS.  [APP. 

should  be  placed  in   90  p.c.  alcoliol  and  kept 
there  until  required  for  further  use. 

N.B.  Hardened  embryos  should  always  be 
kept  in  90  p.c.  spirit  and  only  placed  in  abso- 
lute before  imbedding,  or  staining  with  haema- 
toxylin. 

Some  histologists  prefer  to  keep  hardened  tissues 
in  alcohol  70  p.c. 

h.     Corrosive  subliinate. 

Place  the  embryo  in  a  large  quantity  of  a 
saturated  aqueous  solution  of  corrosive  subli- 
mate to  which  a  few  drops  of  glacial  acetic  acid 
have  been  added,  and  allow  it  to  remain  for 
half-an-hour\  It  is  necessary  thoroughly  to  ex- 
tract the  corrosive  sublimate  from  the  cells  of  the 
embryo  j  to  accomplish  this,  wash  it  thoroughly 
with  water  for  from  10  minutes  to  3  hours  ac- 
cording to  the  size  of  the  object.  The  washing 
may  be  limited  to  frequent  changes  of  water  or 
the  embryo  may  be  placed  in  a  vessel  through 
which  a  continuous  stream  of  water  is  kept 
running.  "When  all  the  sublimate  is  removed, 
place  it  in  50  p.c.  alcohol  acidulated  with  nitric 
acid  (half-a-dozen  drops  of  acid  to  a  4  oz. 
bottle  of  spirit)  for  five  minutes.  The  preser- 
vation of  the  embryo  is  completed  by  treating 
it  with  70  p.c.  alcohol  for  twenty-four  hours  and 
then  keeping  it  in  90  p.c.  alcohol.  "We  have 
not  found  that  corrosive  sublimate  gives  such 
good  results  as  picric  acid  in  the  case  of  chicks 
and  mammalian  embryos. 

1  If  there  is  only  a  small  quantity  of  acetic  acid  mixed  with  the 
sublimate,  a  prolonged  immersion  will  do  the  embryo  no  harm. 


APP.]  HARDENING  EMBRYOS.  427 

c.  Osmic  acid. 

Osmic  acid  is  a  difficult  reagent  to  use,  but 
when  properly  applied  it  gives  most  excellent 
results. 

It  should  be  used  as  a  weak  solution  (•!  to 
•5  p.c).  The  object  should  be  left  in  it  until 
it  has  acquired  a  light  brown  tint.  The  stronger 
the  solution  the  less  time  is  required  for  the 
production  of  this  tint.  It  should  then  be 
removed  and  placed  in  picro- carmine,  which 
arrests  the  action  of  the  osmic  and  stains  the 
embryo.  The  time  required  for  the  picro-car- 
mine  staining  must  be  determined  by  practice. 
From  the  picro-carmine  the  object  must  be 
washed  in  70  p.c.  spirit;  and  then  placed  in 
90,  or  may  be  preserved  directly  in  glycerine. 

If  it  is  desired  to  use  other  staining  agents 
(borax-carmine  is  good  for  some  preparations), 
the  object  must  be  removed  from  osmic  into 
water  or  weak  spirit,  thence  through  50  into 
70  p.c,  stained,  and  passed  through  70  to 
90  p.c.  spirit. 

d.  After  using  osmic  it  is  well  in  some  cases 
(mammalian  segmenting  ova)  to  place  the 
object  in  Miiller's  fluid  for  2  or  3  days,  after 
which  it  may  be  preserved  in  glycerine  or  spirit. 

Miiller's  fluid  is  made  by  dissolving  25  grms. 
of  bichromate  of  potash  and  10  grms.  of  sodic 
sulphate  in  1000  cc.  of  water. 

e.     With  chromic  acid. 

The  embryo  must  be  immersed  in  a  solution 
of  the  strength  of  -1  p.c.  for  24  hours.  From 
this  it  should  be  removed  and  placed  in  a  stronger 


428  PKACTICAL  DIRECTIONS.  [APP. 

solution  (-3  p.c.)  for  another  24  hours.  If  it 
then  appears  sufficiently  hard,  it  may  be  at 
once  placed  in  alcohol  of  70  p.c,  in  which  it 
should  remain  for  one  day,  and  then  be  trans- 
ferred to  alcohol  of  90  p.c. 

f.  Absolute  alcohol  has  also  been  employed  as 

a  hardening  reagent,  but  is  by  no  means  so  good 
as  the  reagents  recommended  above. 

The  object  of  these  so-called  hardening  reagents  is 
to  kill  the  tissues  with  the  greatest  possible  rapidity 
without  thereby  destroying  them.  The  subsequent 
treatment  with  alcohol  completes  the  hardening  which 
is  only  commenced  by  these  reagents. 

There  is  room  for  the  exercise  of  considerable  skill 
in  the  use  of  alcohol,  and  this  skill  can  only  be  acquired 
by  experience.  A  few  general  rules  may  however  be 
laid  down. 

(1)  Tissues  should  not,  generally,  be  changed  from  water 
or  an  aqueous  solution  of  the  first  hardening  reagent 
into  an  alcoholic  solution  of  too  great  strength,  nor 
should  the  successive  solutions  of  alcohol  used  differ 
too  much  in  strength.  The  distortion  produced  by 
the  violence  and  inequality  of  the  diffusion  currents 
is  thus  diminished.  This  general  rule  should  be 
remembered  in  transferring  tissues  from  alcohol  to 
the  staining  agents  and  vice  versa. 

(2)  The  tissues  should  not  be  left  too  long  (more  than 
one  or  two  hours)  in  alcoholic  solutions  containing 
less  than  70  p.c.  of  alcohol. 

(3)  They  should  not  be  kept  in  absolute  alcohol  longer 
than  is  necessary  to  dehydrate  them  (see  B.  1,  p.  426). 
The  alcoholic  solutions  we  generally  use  contain  30, 
50,  70,  90  p.c.  of  alcohol. 


o 


Staining. 

In  most  cases  it  will  be  found  of  advantage 
to  stain  the  embryo.     The  best  method  of  doing 


APP.]  STAINING  EMBRYOS.  429 

this  is  to  stain  the  embryo  as  a  whole,  rather 
than  to  stain  the  individual  sections  after  they 
have  been  cut. 

We  have  found  hsematoxylin  and  borax- 
carmine  the  best  reagents  for  staining  embryos 
as  a  whole. 

a.      With  hsematoxylin. 

The  best  solution  of  hsematoxylin,  one  for 
which  we  are  indebted  to  Kleinenberg,  is  made 
in  the  following  way. 

(1)  Make  a  saturated  solution  of  crystallized  cal- 
cium chloride  in  70  p.c.  alcohol,  and  add 
alum  to  saturation. 

(2)  Make  also  a  saturated  solution  of  alum  in  70 
p.c.  alcohol,  and  add  1  to  2  in  the  proportion 
of  1   :  8. 

(3)  To  the  mixture  of  1  and  2  add  a  few  drops  of 
a  saturated  solution  of  hsematoxylin  in  ab- 
solute alcohol. 

(4)  It  is  often  the  case  that  hsematoxylin  solution 
prepared  in  this  way  has  not  the  proper 
purple  tint ;  but  a  red  tint.  This  is  due  to 
acidity  of  the  materials  used.  The  proper 
colour  can  be  obtained  by  treating  it  with 
some  alkaline  solution.  We  have  found  it 
convenient  to  use  for  this  purpose  a  saturated 
solution  of  sodium  bi-carbonate  in  70  p.c. 
spirit.  (The  exact  amount  must  be  deter- 
mined by  experiment,  as  it  depends  upon  the 
amount  of  acid  present.) 

The  embryo  should  be  placed  for  some  hours 
in   absolute  alcohol,   before   staining  with   hse- 


430  PRACTICAL  DIRECTIONS.  [aPP. 

matoxylin,  and  should  be  removed  directly  from 
absolute  into  tbe  hsematoxylin. 

The  time  required  for  staining  varies  with 
the  size  of  the  object  and  the  strength  of  the 
staining  fluid.  Hsematoxylin  will  not  stain  if 
the  embryo  is  not  quite  free  from  acid. 

If  the  embryo  is  stained  too  dark,  it  should 
be  treated  with  a  solution  of  70  p.c.  alcohol 
acidulated  with  nitric  acid  ("25  p.c.  of  acid) 
until  the  excess  of  staining  is  removed;  and  in 
all  cases  the  hsematoxylin  staining  is  improved 
by  treating  the  embry6  with  acidulated  70  p.c. 
alcohol. 

After  staining  the  embryo  must  be  well 
washed  in  70  and  placed  in  90  p.c.  spirit. 

h.     With  borax-carmine. 

Make  an  aqueous  solution  of  2  to  3  p.c. 
carmine  and  4  p.c.  borax,  by  heating:  add  an 
equal  volume  of  70  p.c.  alcohol,  and  let  the 
mixture  stand  for  thirty-six  hours;  after  which 
carefully  filter. 

Stain  the  object  thoroughly  by  leaving  it  in 
this  solution  for  one  or  even  two  days;  it  will 
attain  a  dall  maroon  colour :  transfer  it  then  to 
acidulated  alcohol  (see  a)  until  it  becomes  a 
bright  red,  and  afterwards  keep  it  as  before  in 
90  p.c.  alcohol. 

This  staining  solution  permeates  more  tho- 
roughly and  uniformly  a  large  object  than  does 
haematoxylin  :  therefore  when  a  four  or  five  day 
chick  is  to  be  stained,  borax-carmine  is  the  best 
staining  reagent  to  use.  Embryos  that  have 
been  preserved  in  corrosive   sublimate  will  be 


APP.]  STAINING  EMBRYOS.  431 

found  to  stain  more  thoroughly  in  this  than  in 
the  hsematoxylin  solution. 

c.  With  carmine. 

Beale's  carmine  or  some  alcoholic  solution  is 
the  best.  Into  this  the  embryo  may  be  removed 
directly  from  90  p.c.  alcohol,  left  for  24  hours, 
and  then  placed  again  in  alcohol  until  required. 

d.  With  picro-carmine. 

This  reagent  is  useful  as  will  be  seen  later 
for  staining  mammalian  segmenting  ova  and 
very  young  blastoderms ;  it  is  used  with  the 
greatest  success  after  hardening  in  osmic  acid. 

There  are  several  methods  of  making  picro- 
carmine,  the  following  is  the  sioaplest,  and  we 
have  found  it  answer  our  purpose  fairly  well. 

To  a  solution  made  up  of  1  grm.  of  car- 
mine 4  cc.  of  liquor  ammonia  and  200  cc.  of 
distilled  water  add  5  grms.  of  picric  acid ;  agitate 
the  mixture  for  some  minutes,  and  then  decant, 
leaving  the  excess  of  acid. 

The  decanted  fluid  must  remain  for  several 
days,  being  stirred  up  from  time  to  time;  even- 
tually evaporated  to  dryness  in  a  shallow  vessel, 
and  to  every  2  grms.  of  the  residue  add  100  cc. 
of  distilled  water. 

e.  With  alum  carmine. 

To  make  it,  boil  a  strong  aqueous  solution  of 
ammonia-alum  with  excess  of  carmine  for  10  to 
20  minutes,  filter,  and  dilute  the  filtrate  until 
it  contains  from  1  to  5  p.c.  of  alum.  Add  a 
few  drops  of  carbolic  acid  to  prevent  the  growth 
of  fungus. 


432  PEACTICAL  DIRECTIONS.  [apP. 

Well  hardened  tissues  may  be  left  in  this 
aqueous  solution  for  24  hours.  It  is  especially 
good  for  staining  nuclei ;  as  a  rule  the  staining 
is  not  dijQfuse,  but  it  is  necessary  after  staining 
to  treat  with  acid  alcohol  (see  a). 

3.     Imbedding  and  Cutting  Sections. 

It  is  not  possible  to  obtain  satisfactory  sec- 
tions of  embryos  without  employing  some 
method  of  imbedding,  and  using  a  microtome. 
Many  imbedding  solutions  and  methods  of  cut- 
ting sections  have  been  used,  but  we  find  the 
following  far  superior  to  any  other.  It  combines 
several  advantages ;  in  the  first  place  it  renders 
it  comparatively  easy  to  obtain,  what  is  so 
essential,  a  complete  consecutive  series  of  sec- 
tions of  the  embryo ;  and  secondly,  all  the  sec- 
tions when  mounted  are  in  the  same  relative 
position ;  and  the  various  parts  of  each  section 
retain  their  normal  position  with  regard  to 
each  other. 

a.      Imbedding. 

The  substance  we  prefer  for  imbedding  is 
paraffin.  As  will  be  seen  below  it  is  necessary 
to  have  at  hand  paraffins  of  various  melting 
points,  according  to  the  temperature  of  the 
room  at  the  time  when  the  sections  are  cut. 

It  will  be  found  most  convenient  to  obtain 
paraffins  of  the  highest  and  lowest  melting 
points  and  to  mix  them  together  as  experience 
dictates. 

Place  the  stained  embryo  in  absolute  alco- 
hol until  completely  dehydrated  (two  hours  is 
sufficient  for  small  embryos)  :  and  when  ready 


APP.]  IMBEDDING.  433 

to  imbed  soak  it  in  turpentine^  until  it  is  com- 
pletely saturated  :  and  transfer  it  thence  with  as 
Utile  turpentine  as  possible  to  a  dish  of  melted 


In  cases  of  very  delicate  tissues,  it  is  better  to  use 
chloroform  instead  of  turpentine.  The  chloroform 
should  be  carefully  added  by  means  of  a  pipette  to  the 
absolute  alcohol  in  which  the  tissue  is  placed.  The 
chloroform  sinks  to  the  bottom  of  the  bottle  or  tube 
and  the  embryo,  which  at  first  lies  at  the  junction  of  the 
two  liquids,  gradually  sinks  into  the  chloroform.  When 
this  is  accomplished,  remove  all  the  absolute  with  a 
pipette  and  add  pieces  of  solid  paraffin  to  the  chloroform. 
Gently  warm  this  on  a  water  bath  till  all  the  chloroform 
is  driven  off ;  then  imbed  in  the  usual  way. 

Care  must  be  taken  that  no  more  heat  is 
used  than  is  necessary  to  melt  the  paraffin ;  for 
this  purpose  the  paraffin  should  be  warmed  over 
a  water  bath  the  temperature  of  which  is  kept 
constant  (from  50  to  60°C.  but  not  more  than 
60°a). 

A  paraffin  melting  at  4#C.  is  of  the  proper  consistency 
for  cutting  when  the  temperature  of  the  room  is  lo^C. 
(GOOF). 

With  care  a  porcelain  evaporating  dish  and 
a  gas  flame  may  be  made  to  answer,  but  the 
student  is  advised  not  to  imbed  without  a 
water  bath. 

The  embryo  may  be  left  in  the  paraffin  two, 
three  or  more  hours,  after  which  it  is  imbedded 
by  placing  it  along  with  the  melted  paraffin  in 
either  a  box  made  by  bending  up  the  sides  and 
folding  in  the  corners  of  a  piece  of  stiff  paper, 
or  what  is  better,  a  box  formed  by  two  L-shaped 

^  If  the  alcohol  is  not  quite  absolute  kreasote  should  be  used 
instead  of  turpentine. 

F.  &  B.  28 


434  PRACTICAL   DIRECTIONS.  [aPP. 

pieces  of  lead,  placed  on  a  glass  slide  in  such  a 
manner  as  to  enclose  a  space.  The  latter  is 
preferable  because  the  object  can  be  placed 
in  any  position  required  with  great  ease  by 
moving  it  with  a  hot  needle,  and  the  whole  can 
be  cooled  rapidly.  It  is  advisable,  at  any  rate  at 
first,  to  arrange  the  embryo  so  as  to  cut  it  into 
transverse  sections. 

When  cool  a  block  of  paraffin  is  formed,  in 
the  midst  of  which  is  the  embryo. 

Other  imbedding  agents  have  been  used.  The  best 
of  these  are,  (1)  pure  cocoa  butter;  (2)  a  mixture  of 
spermaceti  and  castor  oil  or  cocoa  butter  (4  parts  of 
the  former  to  one  of  the  latter).  With  these  imbedding 
substances,  it  is  generally  necessary  to  moisten  the  razor, 
either  with  ohve  oil  or  turpentine  and  ribbons  of  sec- 
tions cannot  be  made  (see  h). 

h.     Cutting  sections. 

When  the  imbedding  block  is  cold  pare  away 
the  edges,  then  gradually  slice  it  away  until  the 
end  of  the  embryo  is  near  the  surface,  and 
place  it  in  a  microtome. 

The  microtome  we  are  most  accustomed  to  is 
a  'sliding  microtome'  made  by  Jung  of  Heidel- 
berg ;  it  gives  excellent  results.  Recently  how- 
ever Messrs  Caldwell  and  Threlfall  have  designed 
an  automatic  microtome  which  has  been  used 
with  success  at  the  Cambridge  Morphological 
Laboratory  and  promises  to  effect  a  great  saving 
of  time  and  trouble  in  cutting  sections  (vide  p.  471 
and  Proceedings  of  the  Cambridge  Fhil.  Soc.  1883). 
A  convenient  small  microtome  is  one  made  by 
Zeiss  of  Jena  (also  by  the  Cambridge  Scientific 
Instrument  Company),  in  which  the  object  is 
fixed  and  by  means  of  a  finely  divided  screw 


APR]  CUTTING   SECTIONS.  435 

raised  through  a  hole  in  a  glass  plate,  across 
which  a  razor  held  in  the  hand  is  pushed.  We 
will  briefly  describe  the  method  of  manipulation 
for  the  small  microtome,  it  will  be  found  easily 
applicable  to  Jung's  sliding  microtome. 

The  paraffin  block  is  pared  in  such  a  manner 
that  the  edge  nearest  to  the  operator  and  that 
opposite  to  him  are  parallel.  A  dry  razor  is 
then  pushed  upon  the  glass  plate  over  the  hole 
through  which  the  block  of  paraffin  projects  up- 
wards, and  a  section  cut  which  remains  upon 
the  razor.  Care  must  be  taken  that  the  edge  of 
the  razor  is  parallel  to  the  parallel  edges  of  the 
paraffin  block.  The  block  having  been  raised 
by  the  screw,  a  second  section  is  made  in  the 
same  way  and  on  the  same  part  of  the  razor  as 
the  first ;  in  consequence  of  which,  the  first 
section  will  be  pushed  backwards  by  the  second. 
Similarly  each  new  section  pushes  backwards 
those  already  made ;  and  a  ribbon  of  sections 
formed  which,  if  the  paraffin  is  of  the  right 
consistency,  will  adhere  firmly  together. 

Experience  must  teach  the  manipulator  how 
to  mix  the  paraffin  in  such  a  manner  that  it  is 
neither  too  hard  nor  too  soft ;  if  it  is  too  hard, 
the  sections  will  not  adhere  together  and  will 
curl  up  on  the  razor,  if  too  soft  they  will 
stick  to  the  razor  and  be  found  to  be  creased. 
When  it  is  not  possible  to  keep  the  temperature 
of  the  room  constant  it  will  be  found  convenient 
to  use  a  hard  paraffin,  and  when  necessary  to 
raise  the  temperature  by  means  of  a  lamp. 

The  paraffin  should  completely  surround  the 
embryo  and  fill  up  all  the  spaces  within  it. 

28—2 


436  PRACTICAL   DIRECTIONS.  [APP. 

c.     Mounting  sections. 

When  tlie  sections  are  cut,  place  them  in 
rows  on  a  slide  prepared  in  the  following  manner. 
Make  a  solution  of  white  shellac  in  kreasote 
by  heating,  and  let  it  be  of  the  consistency  of 
glycerine,  or  slightly  more  fluid.  With  a  camel's 
hair-brush  paint  a  very  thin  and  uniform  layer 
of  this  gum  over  the  slide  which  must  be  clean 
and  dry,  and  while  the  gum  is  wet  place  the  sec- 
tions in  rows  upon  it.  Now  place  the  slide  on  a 
water  bath  which  is  heated  up  to  the  melting 
point  of  the  paraffin.  The  sections  sink  down 
into  the  thin  layer  of  shellac  and  kreasote,  the 
kreasote  slowly  evaporates  and  the  shellac  be- 
coming hard  fixes  the  section  in  the  position  in 
which  it  was  placed  on  the  slide.  When  the 
kreasote  has  been  evaporated,  pour  turpentine 
carefully  upon  the  slide,  this  dissolves  the  pa- 
raffin and  clears  the  sections  which  may  at  once 
be  mounted  in  Canada  balsam. 

A  turpentine  or  chloroform  solution  of  Canada  balsam 
should  be  used. 

This  method  of  cutting  ribbons  of  sections 
was  first  introduced  by  Mr  Caldwell,  to  whom 
we  are  also  indebted  for  the  account  given  above 
for  mounting  sections  (vide  Note  B,  p.  471). 
The  latter  however  is  a  modification  and  im- 
provement of  Dr  Giesbrecht's  method.  {Zoolo- 
gischer  Anzeiger  No.  92,  1881.) 

C.     Preservatio7t  of  the  embryo  as  a  whole. 

Chick  embryos  of  the  first  or  second  day  may  be 
easily  preserved  whole  as  microscopic  objects.  For 
this  purpose,  the  embryo,  which  has  been  preserved 


APP.]  OPENING   THE   EGG.  4S7 


in  tlie  ordinary  way  (B,  a)  sliould  be  stained  si 
dehydrated,  soaked  in  oil  of  cloves  until  transparent 
and  mounted  in  balsam. 

Whole  embryos  of  a  later  date  cannot  be  satis- 
factorily preserved  as  microscopic  objects. 

PjElA-CTICAL    DIRECTIONS    FOR    OBTAINING   AND    STUDYING 

CHICK  Embryos. 

II.    Examination  of  a  36  to  48  hours'  embryo. 

The  student  will  find  it  by  far  the  best  plan  to  begin 
with  the  study  of  an  embryo  of  this  date.  The  manipu- 
lation is  not  difficult ;  and  the  details  of  structure  are 
sufficiently  simple  to  allow  them  to  be  readily  grasped. 
Earlier  embryos  are  troublesome  to  manage  until  some 
experience  has  been  gained;  and  the  details  of  later 
ones  are  so  many  as  to  render  it  undesirable  to  begin 
with  them. 

A.     Opening  the  Egg. 

Take  the  egg  warm  from  the  hen  or  the  incu- 
bator, and  place  it  (it  does  not  matter  in  what  posi- 
tion, since  the  blastoderm  will  at  this  stage  always 
be  found  at  the  uppermost  part  of  the  egg)  in  a 
small  basin  large  enough  to  allow  the  egg  to  be 
covered  with  fluid.  It  is  of  advantage,  but  not 
necessary,  to  place  at  the  bottom  of  the  basin  a 
mould,  e.g.  a  flat  piece  of  lead  with  a  concavity  on 
the  upper  surface,  in  which  the  Q^^g  may  rest  securely 
without  rolling.  Pour  into  the  basin  so  much  of  a 
•75  per  cent,  solution  of  sodium  chloride  warmed  to 
SS^C.  as  will  cover  the  %gg  completely.  With  a  sharp 
tap  break  through  the  shell  at  the  broad  end  over 
the  air-chamber,  and  let  out  as  much  air  as  has 
already  been  gathered  there.     Unless  this  is  done. 


438  PRACTICAL   DIRECTIONS.  [APP. 

the  presence  of  air  in  the  air-chamber  will  cause  the 
broad  end  to  tilt  up.  At  this  date  there  will  be 
very  little  air,  but  in  eggs  of  longer  incubation,  in- 
convenience will  be  felt  unless  this  plan  be  adopted. 

Instead  of  being  broken  with  a  blow,  the  shell 
may  be  filed  through  at  one  point,  and  the  opening 
enlarged  with  the  forceps;  but  a  little  practice  will 
enable  the  student  to  use  the  former  and  easier 
method  without  doing  damage. 

With  a  blunt  pair  of  forceps,  remove  the  shell 
carefully  bit  by  bit,  leaving  the  shell-membrane 
behind;  begin  at  the  hole  made  at  the  broad  end, 
and  work  over  the  upper  part  until  about  a  third  or 
half  of  the  shell  has  been  removed. 

Then  with  a  finer  pair  of  forceps  remove  the 
shell-membrane;  it  will  readily  come  away  in  strips, 
torn  across  the  long  axis  of  the  egg  in  a  somewhat 
spiral  fashion.  The  yolk  and  embryo  will  now  come 
into  view. 

It  is  the  practice  of  some  simply  to  break  the  egg 
across  and  pour  the  yolk  and  white  together  into  a 
basin,  very  much  as  the  housewife  does.  We  feel 
sure,  however,  that  the  extra  trouble  of  the  method 
we  have  given  will  be  more  than  repaid  by  the 
results. 

During  this  time,  and  indeed  during  the  whole 
period  of  the  examination  of  the  embryo  in  situ,  the 
basin  and  its  contents  must  be  maintained,  either  by 
renewal  of  the  salt  solution,  or  by  the  basin  being 
placed  on  a  sand-bath,  at  about  38**C. 

B.     Examination  of  the  blastoderm  in  situ. 

This  may  be  done  with  the  naked  eye,  or  with  a 
simple  lens  of  low  power.     Observe  : — 


APP.]         REMOVAL  OF  THE  EMBRYO.  439 

1.  Lying  across  the  long  axis  of  the  egg,  the  pellucid 
area,  in  the  middle  of  which  the  einhryo  may  be 
obscurely  seen  as  a  white  streak. 

2.  The  mottled  vascular  area,  with  the  blood-vessels 
just  beginning  to  be  formed. 

3.  The  opaque  area  spreading  over  the  yolk  with  the 
changes  in  the  yolk  around  its  periphery. 

4.  (With  a  simple  lens),  the  contractions  of  the  heart; 
perhaps  the  outlines  of  the  head  of  the  embryo 
may  be  detected. 

C.    Removal  of  the  embryo. 

Plunge  one  blade  of  a  gharp  fine  pair  of  scissors 
through  the  blastoderm,  just  outside  the  outer  margin 
of  the  vascular  area,  and  rapidly  carry  the  incision 
completely  round  until  the  circle  is  complete,  avoid 
as  much  as  possible  any  agitation  of  the  liquid  in  the 
basin. 

With  a  little  trouble,  the  excised  blastoderm  may 
now  be  floated  into  a  watch-glass,  care  being  taken  to 
keep  it  as  flat  as  possible.  With  a  pair  of  forceps  or 
with  a  needle,  aided  by  gentle  shaking,  remove  the 
piece  of  vitelline  membrane  covering  the  blastoderm. 

If  any  yolk  adheres  to  the  blastoderm,  it  may  with 
a  little  gentle  agitation  easily  be  washed  off".  Some- 
times it  is  of  advantage  to  suck  up  the  yolk  with  a 
glass  syringe,  replacing  the  fluid  removed  with  clean 
('75  p.c.)  salt  solution. 

The  blastoderm  should  now  be  removed  from  the 
watch-glass  to  a  microscopic  glass  slide ;  since  it  is 
difficult  in  the  former  to  prevent  the  edges  of  the 
blastoderm  from  curling  up. 


440  PRACTICAL  DIRECTIONS.  [aPP. 

The  transference  may  easily  be  effected,  if  both 
the  watch-glass  and  slide  a,re  plunged  into  a  basin  of 
clean  warm  salt  solution.  With  a  little  care,  the 
blastoderm  can  then  be  floated  from  the  one  to  the 
other,  and  the  glass  slide,  having  the  blastoderm  with 
its  upper  surface  uppermost  spread  flat  upon  it,  very 
gently  raised  out  of  the  liquid. 

A  thin  ring  of  putty  may  now  be  placed  round 
the  blastoderm,  a  small  quantity  of  salt  solution 
gently  poured  within  the  ring,  and  the  whole  covered 
with  a  glass  slide,  which  may  be  pressed  down  until 
it  is  sufficiently  close  to  the  embryo.  The  presence 
of  any  air-bubbles  must  of  course  be  avoided. 

Provided  care  be  otherwise  taken  to  keep  the 
embryo  well  covered  with  liquid,  the  putty  ring  and 
the  coverslip  may  be  dispensed  with.  They  are  often 
inconvenient,  as  when  the  embryo  has  to  be  turned 
upside  down. 

The  object  is  now  ready  for  examination  with  a 
simple  lens  or  with  a  compound  microscope  of  low 
objective.  It  is  by  far  the  best  for  the  student  to 
begin  at  least  with  the  simple  lens.  In  order  that 
everything  may  be  seen  at  its  best,  the  slide  should 
be  kept  warmed  to  about  38*^,  by  being  placed  on  a 
hot  stage. 

D.     SiLJ'face  view  of  the  transparent  embryo 
from  above. 

The  chief  points  to  be  observed  are : 

1.  The  head  fold. 

2.  The   indications    of  the    amnion;    especially   the 
false  amnion,  or  outer  amniotic  fold. 


APPj  SURFACE   VIEW.  441 

3.  The  neural  tube :  the  line  of  coalescence  of  the 
medullary  folds,  the  first  cerebral  vesicle,  the  com- 
mencing oj^tic  vesicles,  the  indications  of  the 
second  and  third  cerebral  vesicles,  the  as  yet  open 
medullary  folds  at  the  tail  end. 

4.  The  Aear^  seen  dimly  through  the  neural  tube;  note 
its  pulsation  if  present. 

5.  The  fold  of  the  somatopleure  anterior  to  the  heart 
(generally  very  faintly  shewn). - 

6.  The  fold  of  the  splanchnopleun  (more  distinctly 
seen)  :  the  vitelline  veins. 

7.  The  mesoblastic  somites. 

8.  Indications  of  the  vitelline  arteries. 

9.  The  as  yet  barely  formed  tail-fold. 

10.      The  commencing  blood-vessels  in  the  pellucid  and 
vascular  areas. 

E.    Surface  view  of  the  transparent  embryo  from 
below. 

The  coverslip  must  now  be  removed  and  the  glass 
slide  again  immersed  in  a  vessel  of  clean  salt  solu- 
tion. By  gently  seizing  the  extreme  edge  of  the 
opaque  area  with  a  pair  of  forceps,  no  difficulty  will 
be  found  in  so  floating  the  blastoderm,  as  to  turn  it 
upside  down,  and  thus  to  replace  it  on  the  slide  with 
the  under  surface  uppermost. 

The  points  which  most  deserve  attention  in  this 
view,  are  : — 

1.  The  heart :  its  position,  its  union  with  the  vitelline 
veins,  its  arterial  end. 


442  PRACTICAL  DIRECTIONS.  [APP. 

2.  The  fold  of  the  splanchnopleure  marking  the  hind 
limit  of  the  gut ;  the  vitelline  veins  running  along 
its  wings. 

3.  The  mesohlastic  somites  on  each  side  of  the  neural 

canal  behind  the  heart;  farther  back  still,  the  ver- 
tebral plates  not  divided  into  somites. 

F.      The  exmniiiation  of  the  embryo  as  an  opaque 
object. 

This  should  never  be  omitted.  Many  points  in 
the  transparent  embryo  only  become  intelligible  after 
the  examination  of  it  as  an  opaque  object. 

Having  removed  the  putty  ring  and  coverslip,  if 
previously  used,  allow  the  blastoderm  so  far  to  be- 
come dry,  that  its  edge  adheres  to  the  glass  slide. 
Care  must  of  course  be  taken  that  the  embryo  itself 
does  not  become  at  all  dry.  Place  the  glass  slide 
with  the  blastoderm  extended  flat  on  it,  in  a  shallow 
vessel  containing  a  solution  of  picric  acid  (I.  B.). 

If  the  blastoderm  be  simply  immersed  by  itself  in 
the  picric  acid  solution,  the  edges  of  the  opaque 
area  will  curl  up  and  hide  much  of  the  embryo.  The 
method  suggested  above  prevents  these  inconveui- 
ences. 

The  embryo  thus  hardened  and  rendered  opaque 
by  immersion  in  the  acid  (a  stay  of  2  to  3  hours  in 
the  solution  will  be  sufficient)  may  be  removed  to  a 
watch-glass,  containing  either  some  of  the  solution,  or 
plain  water,  and  examined  with  a  simple  lens,  under 
a  strong  direct  light.  The  compound  microscope  will 
be  found  not  nearly  so  advantageous  for  this  purpose 
as  the  simple  lens.  A  piece  of  black  paper  placed 
under  the  watch-glass,  will  throw  up  the  lights  and 


APP.]  SURFACE   VIEW.  44j3 

shadows  of  the  embryo,  with  benefit.  The  watch- 
glass  should  have  a  flat  bottom;  or  a  shallow  flat 
glass  cell  should  be  used  instead. 

a.  Looking  at  the  embryo  from  above,  observe : — 

1.  The  head-fold ;  the  head  distinctly  projecting  from 
the  plane  of  the  blastoderm,  and  formed  chiefly  by 
the  forebrain  and  optic  vesicles. 

2.  The  elevation  of  the  medullary  canal,  and  the 
indications  of  the  side  walls  of  the  embryo. 

3.  The  indications  of  the  tail. 

4.  The  Amnion  partly  covering  the  head.  Teai-  it 
open  with  needles.      Observe  its  two  folds. 

b.  Having  turned  the  blastoderm  upside  down, 
observe  the  following  points,  looking  at  the  embryo 
from  below. 

1.  The  hinder  limit  of  the  splanchriopleure  in  the 
head-fold,  marking  the  hind  limits  of  the  /ore- 
gut.  The  opaque  folds  now  conceal  the  head  almost 
entirely  from  view. 

2.  The  commencing  tail-fold,  and  the  shallow  boat- 
shaped  cavity  (of  the  alimentary  canal)  between  it 
and  the  head-fold. 

The  student  should  not  fail  to  make  sketches 
of  the  embryo,  both  as  a  transparent,  and  as  an 
opaque  object,  seen  from  below  as  well  as  from 
above.  These  sketches  will  be  of  great  service  to 
him  when  he  comes  to  study  the  sections  of  the 
same  embryo. 


444  PRACTICAL   DIRECTIONS.  [APP. 

G.     TJie  follozviiig  transverse  sections  will  perhaps  be 
the  most  instructive. 

Manipulation  as  in  I.  B.  3. 

1.  Through  the  oj)tic  vesicles,  shewing  the  optic 
stalks. 

2.  Through  the  hind-brain,  shewing  the  auditory 
sacs. 

3.  Through  the  middle  of  the  heart,  shewing  its  re- 

lations to  the  splanchnopleure  and  alimentary  canal. 

4.  Through  the  point  of  divergence  of  the  splanch- 
nopleure folds,  shewing  the  venous  roots  of  the 
heart. 

5.  Through  the  dorsal  region,  shewing  the  meduUarv 
canal,  mesoblastic  somites  and  commencing  cleavage 
of  the  mesoblast. 

6.  Through  a  point  where  the  medullary  canal  is  still 
open,  shewing  the  mode  in  which  its  closing  takes 
place. 

Longitudinal  sections  should  also  be  made  and 
compared  with  the  transverse  sections. 

III.     Examination  of  an  Embryo  of  about  48—50  hours. 

A.  Opening  the  egg — as  in  II.  A. 

B.  Examination  of  the  blastoderm  in  sitn. 
Observe 

1.  The  ybrm  of  the  emhryo,  which  is  much  more  dis- 
tinct than  at  the  earlier  stage. 

2.  The  heating  of  the  heart. 

3.  The  general  features  of  the  circulation. 


APR]  TRANSPARENT   EMBRYO.  445 

C.  Removal  of  the  Embryo  from  the  yolk,  as  in 

11.  C. 

D.  SiLiface  view  of  the  transparent  embryo  from 

above. 
!N'otice  : — 

1.  General  form  of  the  embryo. 

a.      Commencing  cranial  flexure. 
h.       The  tail  and  side  folds. 

2.  Amnion.  Notice  the  inner  and  outer  (false  amnion) 
limbs  and  remove  them  with  a  needle.  When  the 
amnion  has  been  removed  the  features  of  the 
embryo  will  be  much  more  clearly  visible. 

3.  The  organs  of  sense. 

a.      J^ye.     Formation    of    the    lens   already    nearly 

completed. 
h.       Auditory   involution,    now    a    deep    sac  with  a 

narrow  opening  to  the  exterior. 

4.  The  brain. 

a.  The  vesicles  of  theybre-,  mid-,  and  hind-hYiim. 

b.  The  cerebral  vesicle. 

c.  The  cranial  flexure  taking  place    at    the    mid- 
brain. 

E.  Transparent  embryo  from  belozv. 
Manipulation  as  in  II.  E. 

Notice  : — 

1.  The  increase  of  the  headfolds  of  the  somatopleure 
and  splanchnopleure,  especially  the  latter,  and  the 
commencement  of  these  folds  at  the  tail. 


446  PRACTICAL  DIRECTIONS.  [aPP. 

2.  The  now  cc-shaped  heart ;  for  further  particulars 
vide  Chap.  iv. 

3.  The  commencing  1st  and  2nd  visceral  clefts  and 
the  aortic  arches. 

4.  The  circulation  of  the  yolk  sac,  vide  Fig.  36.  Make 
out  all  the  points  there  shewn  and  ascertain 
by  examination  that  what  have  been  called  the 
veins  aud  arteries  in  that  figure,  are  truly  such. 

F.  T/ie  embryo  as  an  opaqite  object. 
Treatment  as  in  II.  F. 

From  above : 

Observe  the  amnion,  which  is  a  very  conspicuous 
object,  and  remove  it  with  needles  if  not  done  pre- 
viously.    The  external  form  of  the  hrain  and   the 
auditory  sac  appear  very  distinctly. 
From  below  : 

Observe  the  nature  of  the  head-  and  tail-folds, 
which  are  much  more  easily  understood  from  the 
opaque  than  from  the  transparent  embryos. 

Observe  also  the  alimentary  canal,  the  widely 
open  hind  end  of  the  fore-gut,  and  the  front  end  of 
the  as  yet  very  short  hind-gut, 

G.  Sections. 
Manipulation  as  in  I.  B.  3. 

The  more  important  sections  to  be  observed,  are 
1.      Through  optic  lobes,  shewing: 
a.      The  formation  of  the  lens. 
h»      The  involution  of  the  primaiy  optic  vesicle. 
c.       The  constriction,  especially  from  above,  of  the 
optic  stalk. 


APP.]  THIRD   DAY   EMBEYO.  447 

2.  Through  auditory  sac,  shewing  : 
a.  Auditory  sac  still  open. 

h.  The  thin  roof  and  thick  sides  of  the  hind-brain. 

c.  Notochord. 

d.  Heart. 

e.  Closed  alimentary  canal. 

3.  Through  dorsal  region,  shewing  the  general  appear- 
ance of  a  section  of  an  embryo  at  this  stage,  which 
should  be  compared  with  a  similar  section  of  the 
earlier  stage. 

It  shews  : 
a.      The  commencement  of  the  side  folds;  the  ali- 
mentary canal  still  however  open  below. 
h.      The  Wolffian  duct  lying  close  under  the  epiblast 

on  the  outside  of  the  mesoblastic  somites. 
c.       The  notochord  with  the  aortse  on  each  side. 

lY.     Examination  of  an  Embryo  at  the  end  of  tlie  third 

day. 

A.  Opening  the  egg,  as  in  II.  A. 

B.  Examination  of  the  blastoderm  in  situ. 
Observe : — 

1.  The  great  increase  of  the  vascular  area  both  in  size 
and  distinctness.  The  circulation  is  now  better 
seen  in  situ  than  after  the  blastoderm  has  been 
removed. 

2.  That  the  embryo  now  lies  completely  on  its  left 
side  and  that  it  is  only  connected  with  the  yolk-sac 
by  a  somewhat  broad  stalk. 


448  PRACTICAL   DIRECTIONS.  [APR 

C.  Removal  of  the  embryo.     See  II.  C. 

It  is  now  unnecessary  to  remove  the  whole  of  the 
blastoderm  with  the  embryo  \  indeed  it  is  better  to 
cut  away  the  vascular  area  unless  it  is  wanted  for 
examination. 

D.  Surface  view  of  the  transparent  embryo. 

Since  the  embryo  now  lies  on  its  side  we  shall 
not  have  to  speak  of  the  view  from  above  and  below. 
The  views  from  the  two  sides  differ  chiefly  as  to  the 
appearance  of  the  heart. 

The  embryo  (freed  from  the  blastoderm  and  the 
amnion)  is  to  be  floated  on  to  a  glass  slide  in  the 
usual  way.  It  is  necessary  to  protect  it  while  under 
examination,  with  a  coverslip,  which  must  not  be 
allowed  to  compress  it.  To  avoid  this,  we  have  found 
it  a  good  plan  to  support  the  coverslip  at  one  end 
only,  since  by  moving  it  about  when  thus  supported, 
a  greater  or  less  amount  of  pressure  can  be  applied 
at  will  to  the  object. 

The  details  which  can  at  this  stage  be  seen  in  a 
transparent  embryo  are  very  numerous  and  we  re- 
commend the  student  to  try  and  verify  everything 
shewn  in  Fig.  37.  Amongst  the  more  important  and 
obvious  points  to  be  noticed  are 

1.  The  increase  of  the  craiiial  flexure  sjidi  the  body - 

flexure. 

2.  The  condition  of  the  brain.      The  mid- brain  now 
forms  the  most  anterior  point  of  the  head. 

The  fore-brain  consists  of  the  inconspicuous 
vesicle  of  the  third  ventricle  and  the  two  large 
cerebral  lobes. 


APP.]  OPAQUE   EMBRYO.  449 

The  hind-brain  consists  of  a  front  portion,  the 
cerebellum  with  a  thickened  roof;  and  a  hinder 
portion,  the  fourth  ventricle  with  a  very  thin  and 
delicate  roof. 

3.  Organs  of  sense. 

The  eye  especially  is  now  in  a  very  good  state 
to  observe.     The  student  may  refer  to  Fig.   51, 
and  the  description  there  given. 
'  •  The  ear-vesicle  will  be  seen  either  just  closing 

or  completely  closed. 

4.  In  the  region  of  the  heart  attention  must  also  be 
paid  to : 

a.  The  visceral  clefts. 

b.  The  investing-mass,  i.e.  the  growth  of  mesoblast 
taking  place  around  the  end  of  the  notochord. 

c.  The  condition  of  the  heart. 

5.  In  the  region  of  the  body  the  chief  points  to  be 
observed  are : 

a.       The  increase  in  the  number  of  the  somites. 

h.  The  Wolffian  duct,  which  can  be  seen  as  a  streak 
along  the  outer  side  of  the  hinder  somites. 

c.  The  allantois,  which  is  now  a  small  vesicle  lying 
between  the  folds  of  the  somatopleure  and 
splanchnopleure  at  the  hind  end  of  the  body,  but 
as  yet  hardly  projects  beyond  the  body  cavity. 

E.     Tke  embryo  as  an  opaque  object. 
Preparation  as  in  II.  F. 

The  general  form  of  the  embryo  can  be  very  satis- 
factorily seen  when  it  is  hardened  and  examined  as  an 
opaque  object;  but  the  most  important  points  to  be 

F.  &  B.  29 


450  PEACTICAL  DIRECTIONS.  [APP. 

made  out  at  this  stage  in  the  hardened  specimens  are 
those  connected  with  the  visceral  clefts  and  folds  and 
the  mouth. 

If  the  amnion  has  not  been  removed  it  will  be 
necessary  to  pick 'it  completely  away  with  needles. 
Without  further  preparation  a  view  of  the  visceral 
folds  and  clefts  may  be  obtained  from  the  side ;  but 
a  far  more  instructive  view  is  that  from  below,  in 
order  to  gain  which  the  following  method  may  be 
adopted. 

Pour  a  small  quantity  of  melted  black  wax  (made 
by  mixing  together  lampblack  and  melted  wax)  into 
a  watch-glass,  using  just  enough  to  cover  the  bottom 
of  the  glass.  While  still  soft  make  a  small  depression 
in  the  wax  with  the  rounded  end  of  a  pen-holder  or 
handle  of  a  paint-brush  and  allow  the  wax  to  cool. 
In  the  meantime  cut  off  the  head  of  the  hardened 
embryo  by  a  sharp  clean  transverse  incision  carried 
just  behind  the  visceral  clefts,  transfer  it  to  the 
watch-glass  and  cover  it  with  water  or  spirit.  By  a 
little  manipulation  the  head  of  the  embryo  may  now 
be  shifted  into  the  small  depression  in  the  wax, 
and  thi^s  be  made  to  assume  any  required  position. 
It  should  then  be  examined  with  a  simple  lens 
under  a  strong  reflected  light,  and  a  drawing  made 
of  it. 

When  the  head  is  placed  in  the  proper  position, 
the  following  points  may  easily  be  seen. 

1.  The  opening  of  the  mouth  bounded  below  by  the 
first  pair  of  visceral  folds,  and  commencing  to  be 
enclosed  above  by  the  now  very  small  buds  which 
are  the  rudiments  of  the  superior  maxillary  pro- 
cesses.    Compare  Fig.  56, 


APP.]  FOURTH  DAY  EMBRYO.  451 

2.  The  second  and  third  visceral  arches  and  clefts, 

3.  The  nasal  pits. 

F.    Sections.     Manipulation  as  in  I.  B.  3. 
The  most  important  sections  are  : — 

1.  Through  the  eyes  in  the  three  planes,  vide  Fig.  50, 
A.  B.  C. 

2.  Through  the  auditory  sac. 

3.  Through  the  dorsal  region,  shewing  the  general 
changes  which  have  taken  place. 

Amongst  these,  notice 

a.  The  changes  of  the  mesohlastic  somites:  the  com- 
mencing formation  of  the  muscle-plates. 

b.  The  position  of  the  Wolffian  dact  and  the  forma- 
tion of  the  germinal  epithelium. 

c.  The  aortce  and  the  cardinal  veins. 

d.  The  great  increase  in  depth  and  relative  diminu- 
tion in  breadth  of  the  section. 

V.    Examination  of  an  Embryo  of  the  Fourtli  Day. 

A.  Opening  the  egg,  as  in  II.  A. 

Great  care  will  be  required  not   to  injure    the 
embryo,  which  now  lies  close  to  the  shell-membrane. 

B.  Examination  in  situ.    Observe : — 

1.  The  now  conspicuous  amnion. 

2.  The  allantois,  a'  small,  and  as  yet  hardly  vascular 
vesicle,  beginning  to  project  from  the  embryo  into 
the  space  between  the  true  and  the  false  amnion. 

3.  The  rapidly  narrowing  somatic  stalk. 

29—2 


452  PRACTICAL  DIRECTIONS.  [APP. 

C.  Removal  of  the  embryo,  as  in  II.  C.  and  IV.  C. 

The  remarks  made  in  the  latter  place  apply  with 
still  greater  force  to  an  embryo  of  the  fourth  and 
succeeding  days. 

D.  Stir  face  view  of  the  transparent  embryo.      For 
manipulation,  vide  IV.  D. 

The  points  to  be  observed  are  : — 

1.  The  formation  of  the  fifth,  seveMh^  and  ninth 
cranial  nerves. 

To  observe  these,  a  small  amount  of  pressure 
is  advantageous. 

2.  The  formation  of  the  fourth  visceral  cleft,  and  the 
increase  in  size  of  the  superior  maxillary  process. 

3.  The  formation  of  the  nasal  pits  and  grooves. 

4.  The  great  relative  growth  of  the  cerebral  lobes  and 
the  formation  of  the  pineal  gland  from  the  roof  of 
the  vesicle  of  the  third  ventricle. 

5.  The  great  increase  in  the  investing  mass. 

6.  The  formation  and  growth  of  the  muscle-plates, 
which  can  now  be  easily  seen  from  the  exterior. 

7.  The  allantois.  Make  out  its  position  and  mode  of 
opening  into  the  alimentary  canal. 

E.  The  embryo  as  an  opaque  object.  Manipulation 
as  II.  F.  For  mode  of  examination  vide 
IV.  E. 

The  view  of  the  mouth  from  underneath,  shewing 
the  nasal  pit  and  grooves,  the  superior  and  inferior 
maxillary  processes  and  the  other  visceral  folds  and 
clefts,  is  very  instructive  at  this  stage.  Compare 
Fig.  69. 


APP.]  TWENTY  HOTJES  EMBRYO.  453 

F.    Sections,     Manipulation  as  in  I.  B.  3. 
The  most  important  sections  are, 

1.  Tlirougli  the  eyes. 

2.  Transverse  section  immediately  behind  the  visceral 
arches,  shewing  the  origin  of  the  lungs. 

3.  Transverse  section  just  in  front  of  the  umbilical 
stalk,  shewing  the  origin  of  the  liver. 

4.  Transverse  section  at  about  the  centre  of  the 
dorsal  region,  to  shew  the  general  features  of  the 
fourth  day.     Compare  Fig.  68. 

Amongst  the  points  to  be  noticed  in  this  section,  are 

a.  Muscle-plates. 

b.  Spinal  nerves  and  ganglia. 

c.  Wolffian  duct  and  bodies. 

d.  Mailer's  duct. 

e.  Mesentery. 

f.      Commencing  changes  in  the  spinal  cord. 

5.  Section  passing  through  the  opening  of  the  allan- 
tois  into  the  alimentary  canal. 

For  the  points  to  be  observed  in  embryos  of 
the  fifth,  and  sixth  days,  the  student  must  consult 
the  chapters  devoted  to  those  days. 

In  the  hardened  specimens,  especial  attention 
should  be  paid  to  the  changes  which  take  place  in 
the  parts  forming  the  boundaries  of  the  mouth. 

YI.      Examination  of  a  Blastoderm  of  20  hours. 

A.  Opening  the  egg,  as  in  II.  A. 

B.  Examination  in  situ. 

It  will  not  be  found  possible  to  make  out  anything 
very  satisfactory  from  the  examination  of  a  blasto- 


454  PRACTICAL  DIRECTIONS.  [APP. 

derm  in  situ  at  tMs  age.  The  student  will  however 
not  fail  to  notice  the  halones,  which  can  be  seen 
forming  concentric  rings  round  the  blastoderm. 

C.  Removal  of  the  embryo. 

Two  methods  of  hardening  can  be  adopted  at 
this  age.  One  of  these  involves  the  removal  of  the 
blastoderm  from  the  yolk,  as  in  II.  C.  In  the  other 
case,  the  yolk  is  hardened  as  a  whole.  If  the  latter 
method  be  employed,  the  embryo  cannot  be  viewed 
as  a  transparent  object. 

In  the  cases  where  the  blastoderm  is  removed 
from  the  yolk,  the  manipulation  is  similar  to  that 
described  under  II.  C,  with  the  exception  of  more 
care  being  required  in  freeing  the  blastoderm  from 
the  vitelline  membrane. 

D.  Surface  view  transparent,  from  above. 
Observe  : — 

1.  The  medullary  groove  between  the  two  medullary 
folds^  whose  hind  ends  diverge  to  enclose  between 
them  the  end  of  the  primitive  groove. 

2.  The  headfold  at  the  end  of  the  medullary  groove. 

3.  The  one  or  two  pairs  of  mesoblastic  somites  flanking 
the  medullary  groove. 

4.  The  notochord  as  an  opaque  streak  along  the  floor 
of  the  medullary  groove. 

E.  Surface  view  tra7tsparent,  from  below. 

Same  points  to  be  seen  as  from  above,  but  less 
clearly. 


APP.]  TWENTY  HOUES  EMBRYO.  455 

F.  Embryo  as  an  opaque  object. 

As  an  opaque  object,  whether  the  embryo  is  hard- 
ened in  situ  or  after  being  removed  from  the  yolk, 
the  same  points  are  to  be  seen  as  when  it  is  viewed 
as  a  transparent  object,  with  the  exception  of  the 
notochord  and  mesoblastic  somites  {vide  D).  The 
various  grooves  and  folds  are  however  seen  with  far 
greater  clearness. 

G.  Sections. 

Two  methods  of  hardening  may  be  employed ; 
(1)  with  the  embryo  in  situ^  (2)  after  it  has  been 
removed. 

To  harden  the  blastoderm  in  situ  the  yolk  must 
be  hardened  as  a  whole.  After  opening  the  egg  either 
leave  the  yolk  in  the  egg-shell  or  pour  it  out  into  a 
Berlin  capsule;  in  any  case  freeing  it  as  much  as 
possible  from  the  white,  and  taking  especial  care  to 
remove  the  more  adherent  layer  of  white  which  im- 
mediately surrounds  the  yolk. 

Place  it  in  picric  acid  or  a  weak  solution  of  chromic 
acid  (first  of  '1  p.c.  and  then  of  '5  p.c.)  with  the 
blastoderm  uppermost  and  leave  it  in  that  position 
for  two  or  three  days. 

Care  must  be  taken  that  the  yolk  does  not  roll 
about ;  the  blastoderm  must  not  be  allowed  to  alter 
its  position  :  otherwise  it  may  be  hard  to  find  it  when 
everything  has  become  opaque.  If  at  the  end  of  the 
second  day  the  blastoderm  is  not  sufficiently  hard, 
the  strength  of  the  solution,  if  chromic  acid  be  used, 
should  be  increased  and  the  specimen  left  in  it  for 
another  day. 

After  it  has  become  hardened  by  the  acid,  the 
yolk  should  be  washed  with  water  and  treated  sue- 


456  PRACTICAL  DIRECTIONS.  [APP. 

cessively  with  weak  and  strong  spirit,  vide  I.  B. 
After  it  has  been  in  the  strong  spirit  (90  p.c.)  for  two 
days,  the  vitelline  membrane  may  be  safely  peeled  off 
and  the  blastoderm  and  embryo  will  be  found  in 
situ.  The  portion  of  the  yolk  containing  them  must 
then  be  sliced  off  with  a  sharp  razor,  and  placed  in 
absolute  alcohol. 

The  staining,  <fec.  may  be  effected  in  the  ordinary 
way. 

If  osmic  acid,  which  we  believe  will  be  found 
serviceable  for  these  early  stages,  is  employed,  it  will 
be  necessary  to  remove  the  blastoderm  from  the  yolk 
before  treating  it  with  the  reagent. 

The  following  transverse  sections  are  the  most  im- 
portant at  this  stage : 

1.  Through  the  medullary  groove,  shewing 

a.      The  medullar^/  folds  with  the  thickened  meso- 

blast. 
h.      The  notochord  under  the  medullary  groove. 
c.      The  commencing  cleavage  of  the  mesohlasf. 

2.  Through  the  region  where  the  medullary  folds 
diverge,  to  enclose  the  end  of  the  primitive  groove, 
shewing  the  greatly  increased  width  of  the  medul- 
lary groove,  but  otherwise  no  real  alteration  in 
the  arrangement  of  the  parts. 

3.  Through  the  front  end  of  the  primitive  groove 
with  the  so-called  axis  cord  underneath  it,  while 
on  each  side  of  it  are  still  to  be  seen  the  medul- 
lary folds. 

4.  Through  the  primitive  groove  behind  this  point, 
shewing  the  typical  characters  of   the  primitive 


APP.]        UNINCUBATED  BLASTODERM.         457 

VII.     Examination  of  an  unincubated  Blastoderm. 

A.  Opening  the  egg.     Vide  II.  A. 

B.  Examination  of  the  blastoderm  in  situ. 

Observe  the  central  white  spot  and  the  peripheral 
more  transparent  portion  of  the  blastoderm  and  the 
halones  around  it. 

C.  Removal  of  the  blastoderm.     Vide  VI.  C. 

With  the  unincubated  blastoderm  still  greater  care 
is  required  in  removal  than  with  the  20  hours'  blasto- 
derm, and  there  is  no  special  advantage  Id  doing  so 
unless  it  is  intended  to  harden  it  with  osmic  acid. 

D.  Surface  view  transparent  from  above. 
Observe  the  absence  of  the  central  opacity. 

E.  Surface  view  transparent  from  tinderneath. 
JSTothing  further  to  be  observed  than  from  above. 

F.  As  an  opaque  object. 

There  is  nothing  to  be  learnt  from  this. 

G.  Sections. 
Manipulation  as  in  YI.  G. 

The  sections  shew 

a.      The  distinct  epiblast. 

h.      The  lower  layer  cells  not  as  yet  differentiated 
into  mesoblast  and  hypoblast. 

c.  The  thickened  edge  of  the  blastoderm. 

d.  The  segmentation  cavity  o^n^  formative  cells. 


458  PRACTICAL  DIRECTIONS.  [apP. 

YIII.  Examination  of  the  process  of  Segmentation. 

To  observe  the  process  of  segmentation  it  will  be 
found  necessary  to  kill  a  number  of  hens  which  are 
laying  regularly.  The  best  hens  lay  once  every  24 
hours,  and  by  observing  the  time  they  usually  lay  (and 
they  generally  lay  pretty  regularly  about  the  same 
time),  a  fair  guess  may  be  made  beforehand  as  to 
the  time  the  egg  has  been  in  the  oviduct.  By  this 
means  a  series  of  eggs  at  the  various  stages  of  seg- 
mentation may  usually  be  obtained  without  a  great 
unnecessary  sacrifice  of  hens.  For  making  sections, 
the  yolk  must  in  all  cases  be  hardened  as  a  whole, 
which  may  be  done  as  recommended  in  YI.  G. 
Chromic  acid  is  an  excellent  reagent  for  this  and 
it  will  be  found  very  easy  to  make  good  sections. 

In  the  sections  especial  attention  should  be  paid, 

1.  To  the  first  appearance  of  nuclei  in  the  segments, 
and  their  character. 

2.  To  the  appearance  of  the  horizontal  furrows. 

3.  As  to  whether  new  segments  continue  to  be  formed 
outside  the  limits  of  the  germinal  disc,  or  whether 
the  fresh  segmentation  merely  concerns  the  already 
formed  segments. 

4.  In  the  later  stages,  to  the  smaller  central  and 
larger  peripheral  segments,  both  containing  nuclei. 

For  surface  views,  the  germinal  disc,  either 
fresh  or  after  it  has  been  hardened,  can  be  used. 
In  both  cases  it  should  be  examined  by  a  strong 
reflected  light.  The  chief  point  to  be  noticed  is 
the  more  rapid  segmentation  of  the  central  than  of 
the  peripheral  spheres. 


APP.]  STUDY  OF  BLOOD-VESSELS.  459 

IX.  Examination  of  the  later  changes  of  the  Embryo. 

For  the  later  stages,  and  especially  for  the  deve- 
lopment of  the  skull  and  the  vascular  system  of  the 
body  of  the  chick,  it  will  be  found  necessary  to  dissect 
the  embryo.  This  can  be  done  either  with  the  fresh 
embryo  or  more  advantageously  with  embryos  which 
have  been  preserved  in  spirit. 

If  the  embryos  are  placed  while  still  living  into 
spirit  a  natural  injection  may  be  obtained.  And  such 
an  injection  is  the  best  for  following  out  the  arrange- 
ment of  the  blood-vessels. 

Sections  of  course  will  be  available  for  study, 
especially  when  combined  with  dissections. 

X.  Study  of  the  development  of  the  Blood-vessels. 

Observations  on  this  subject  must  be  made  with 
blastoderms  of  between  30 — 40  hours.  These  are  to 
be  removed  from  the  egg,  in  the  usual  way  (vide  II. 
A.  and  C),  spread  out  over  a  glass  slip  and  examined 
from  below,  vide  II.  E. 

The  blastoderm  when  under  examination  must  be 
protected  by  a  coverslip  with  the  usual  precautions 
against  pressure  and  evaporation,  and  a  hot  stage 
must  also  be  employed. 

Fresh  objects  so  prepared  require  to  be  examined 
with  a  considerable  magnifying  power  (400  to  800 
diameters).  From  a  series  of  specimens  between  30 
and  40  hours  old  ^11  the  points  we  have  mentioned 
in  Chapter  iv.  p.  92,  can  without  much  difficulty  be 
observed. 

Especial  attention  should  be  paid  in  the  earlier 
specimens  to  the  masses  of  nuclei  enveloped  in  pro- 
toplasm and  connected  with  each  other  by  proto- 


460  PRACTICAL  DIRECTIONS.  [APP. 

plasmic  processes;  and  in  the  later  stages  to  the 
breaking  up  of  these  masses  into  blood  corpuscles 
and  the  conversion  of  the  protoplasmic  processes 
into  capillaries,  with  cellular  walls. 

Blastoderms  treated  in  the  following  ways  may- 
be used  to  corroborate  the  observations  made  on  the 
fresh  ones. 

With  gold  chloride. 
Immerse  the  blastoderm  in  gold  chloride  (-5  p.c.) 
for  one  minute  and  then  wash  with  distilled  water 
and  mount  in  glycerine  and  examine. 

By  this  method  of  preparation,  the  nuclei  and 
protoplasmic  processes  are  rendered  more  distinct, 
without  the  whole  being  rendered  too  opaque  for 
observation. 

The  blastoderm  after  the  application  of  the  gold 
chloride  should  become  a  pale  straw  colour;  if  it 
becomes  in  the  least  purple,  the  reagent  has  been 
applied  for  too  long  a  time. 

With  potassium  bichromate. 
Immerse  in  a  1  p.c.  solution  for  one  day  and  then 
mount  in  glycerine. 

With  osmic  acid. 
Immerse  in  a  -5  p.c.  solution  for  half  an  hour  and 
then  in  absolute  alcohol  for  a  day,  and  finally  mount 
in  glycerine. 

Practical  directions  for  obtaining  and  studying 

MAMMALIAN    EmBRYOS. 

XI.      Animals  and  breeding. 

For  class  work  the  Babbit  is  the  most  convenient 
animal  from  which  to  obtain  embryos,  it  will  breed 


APP.J  MAMMALIAN  SEGMENTING  OVA.  461 

freely  in  the  early  spring  months  of  the  year  and  will 
give  ample  opportunity  for  the  student  to  observe  the 
exact  time  when  the  female  is  covered.  A  number 
of  does  should  be  kept  together  in  a  large  pen,  and 
two  or  three  bucks  in  separate  small  cages  also  placed 
within  the  pen  j  at  the  period  of  heat,  the  doe  should 
be  temporarily  placed  with  the  buck  and  the  exact 
time  of  copulation  noted,  the  age  of  the  embryo 
being  calculated  from  that  hour. 

XII.     Examination  of  segmenting  ova. 

It  will  be  well  to  mention  here  that  although 
a  doe  may  have  been  satisfactorily  covered,  embryos 
are  not  always  obtained  from  her.  A  superficial 
examination  of  the  ovaries  will  determine  whether  or 
no  fertilized  ova  are  present.  If  ova  have  been 
recently  dehisced  from  the  ovary,  the  Graafian  follicles 
from  which  they  were  discharged  will  be  found  to  be 
of  a  distinctly  red  colour.  In  case  no  such  '  corpora 
lutea '  as  they  are  called  are  present  further  search  is 
useless. 

A.     To  obtain  ova  from  i  to  60  hours  old. 

Cut  open  the  abdomen  from  pubis  to  sternum, 
and  from  the  pubis  round  the  thigh  of  each  side,  and 
turn  back  the  flaps  of  the  body  wall  so  formed. 
Kemove  the  viscera  and  observe  below  (dorsal)  the 
single  median  vagina,  from  the  anterior  end  of  which 
the  uterine  horns  diverge. 

Observe  at  the  anterior  end  of  each  uterine  horn 
a  small  much  coiled  tube,  the  oviduct  (Fallopian 
tube)  near  the  anterior  end  of  which  a  little  below 
the  kidney  lies  the  ovary.  Cut  out  the  uterus  and 
oviduct  together  and  lay  them  in  a  small  dissecting 


462  PEACTICAL   DIEECTIONS.  [aPP. 

dish.  Carefully  stretch  out  the  oviduct  by  cutting 
the  tissue  which  binds  it,  and  separating  it  from 
the  uterus,  taking  care  to  obtain  its  whole  length, 
lay  it  upon  a  glass  slide. 

With  the  aid  of  a  lens  it  is  frequently  possible  to 
distinguish  the  ovum  or  ova,  through  the  wall  of  the 
oviduct.  In  this  case  cut  a  transverse  slit  into  the 
lumen  of  the  duct  with  a  fine  pair  of  scissors  a  little 
to  one  side  of  an  ovum ;  press  with  a  needle  upon 
the  oviduct  on  the  other  side  of  the  ovum,  which  will 
glide  out  through  the  slit,  and  can  be  with  ease  trans- 
ported upon  the  point  of  a  small  scalpel,  or  what  is 
better  spear-headed  needle.  In  case  the  ovum  cannot 
be  distinguished  in  the  oviduct  by  superficial  obser- 
vation, the  latter  must  be  slit  up  with  a  fine  pair  of 
scissors,  when  it  will  easily  be  seen  with  the  aid  of  an 
ordinary  dissecting  lens. 

B.     Treatment  of  the  ovwn. 

The  ovum  may  be  examined  fresh  in  salt  solution, 
it  is  however  more  instructive  when  preserved  and 
stained  in  the  following  manner. 

a.  Immerse  it  in  a  ^  p.c.  solution  of  osmic  acid  for 
5  or  even  10  minutes,  transfer  it  thence  to 
the  picrocarmine  solution  described  above  (I). 
After  staining  the  ovum  should  then  be  washed 
in  distilled  water  and  placed  in  a  weak  solu- 
tion of  glycerine  in  a  watch-glass — half  gly- 
cerine, half  water.  It  should  be  allowed  to 
remain  thus  under  a  bell  jar  for  several  days 
(7  to  14  or  longer)  in  a  warm  room  until  the 
water  has  evaporated.  By  this  means  shrinkage 
and  distortion  are  avoided,  the  glycerine  becoming 


APP.]  EXAMINATION  OF  OVUM.  463 

very  gradually  more  and  more  dense.  It  should 
be  mounted  in  glycerine  in  which  1  p.c.  formic 
acid  has  been  mixed  to  prevent  fungoid  growths. 
Care  must  be  taken  that  there  is  no  pressure 
upon  the  ovum  this  being  insured  by  the  inser- 
tion of  a  couple  of  slips  of  paper  one  on  each  side 
of  the  ovum  under  the  cover  glass. 
h.  Another  method  of  preservation  is  used,  but 
does  not  appear  to  us  so  successful  as  the  one 
already  described.  It  consists  of  an  immersion 
of  the  ovum  for  5  minutes  in  ^  to  J  p.c.  osmic 
acid,  subsequent  treatment  with  Miiller's  fluid 
for  two  or  three  days,  and  finally  mounting  in 
glycerine. 

C.    Examination  of  the  ovum. 

The  most  instructive  stages  to  observe  are  ova  of 
a.      18  hours  old,  when  four  segmentation  spheres 

will  be  observed. 
6.       36  hours  old  when  the  segmentation  is  more 
advanced  and  the  spheres  numerous. 
The  chief  points  to  be  noted  are  : — 

1.  The  number  and  size  of  the  segmentation  spheres; 
in  each  of  which,  when  treated  as  described  in  B.  a., 
a  large  deeply  stained  nucleus  will  be  visible.  The 
spheres  themselves  are  also  stained  slightly. 

2.  The  presence  of  one  or  two  polar  bodies  on  the 
outer  side  of  the  segments  in  ova  of  not  more  than 
48  hours  old :  these  also  are  slightly  stained. 

3.  The  zona  radiata  immediately  surrounding  the 
segments,  and 

4.  The  thick  albuminous  coat,  marked  with  con- 
centric rings. 


464  PRACTICAL  DIRECTIONS.  [APP. 

D.    The  fully  segmented  ovum,     70  hours  old. 

The  fully  segmented  ovum  is  found  in  the  uterus 
at  its  anterior  end  close  to  the  place  where  the 
oviduct  opens  into  the  uterus. 

To  obtain  this  stage  the  uterus  must  be  slit  open 
and  examined  carefully  with  a  dissecting  lens :  the 
ovum  will  be  seen  as  a  somewhat  opaque  spot  on  the 
glistening  moist  mucous  epithelium  of  the  uterus. 

It  may  be  treated  in  the  manner  described  under 
B.  a.,  but  the  segments  being  closely  pressed  to- 
gether their  outlines  are  not  rendered  distinct  by 
this  method.  A  more  advantageous  mode  of  treatment 
is  the  following  :  wash  the  ovum  rapidly  in  distilled 
water,  and  place  it  in  a  1  p.c.  solution  of  silver 
nitrate  for  about  3  minutes :  then  expose  it  to  the 
light  in  a  dish  of  distilled  water  until  it  be  tinged 
a  brown  colour. 

The  brown  colour  is  due  to  the  reduction  of  the 
silver,  which  takes  place  chiefly  in  the  cement  sub- 
stance between  the  cells  and  thus  defines  very  exactly 
their  size  and  shape.  The  ovum  may  now  be  treated 
with  glycerine  and  mounted  as  described  in  B. 

The  points  to  be  observed  are  : — 

1.  The  division  of  the  segmentation  spheres  into  the 
layers — an  outer  layer  of  cubical  hyaline  cells,  and 
an  inner  of  rounded  granular  cells. 

2.  The  blastopore  of  van  Beneden. 

3.  The  presence  of  a  thin  layer  of  mucous  outside 
the  concentrically  ringed  albuminous  coat  of  the 
ovum. 


APR]  BLASTODERMIC   VESICLE.  465 

XIII.  Examination  of  the  blastodermic  vesicle,  72—90  hours. 

A.  To  obtain  the  embryo  see  XI I.  D. 

B.  Prepare  the  ovum  either  as  in   XII.   B.  or  D. 

or  in  picric  acid  see  1.  B.  i. 

C.  Surface  view,  or  in  section  see  I.  B.  3. 
Observe  : — 

1.  The  great  increase  in  size  of  the  ovum  and  the 
reduction  in  the  thickness  of  the  membranes. 

2.  The  flattened  layer  of  outer  cells  enclosing  a  cavity. 

3.  The  rounded  cells  of  the  inner  mass  attached  as  a 

lens-shaped  mass  to  one  side  of  the  vesicle. 

XIY.  Examination  of  a  blastodermic  vesicle  of  7  days, 
in  which  the  embryonic  area  and  primitive  streak  are 
present. 

A.    To  obtain  the  embryo. 

On  opening  the  body  cavity  the  uterus  will  be 
found  to  be  uniformly  swollen  and  very  vascular. 

Remove  the  uterus  and  open  it  carefully  with 
fine  scissors  along  the  free,  non-mesometric  edge, 
taking  care  to  keep  the  point  of  the  scissors  within 
the  uterus  close  against  its  wall. 

Observe 

1.  The  oval  thin-walled  vesicles  lying  at  intervals 
on  the  walls  of  the  uterus. 

2.  The  presence  of  the  pyriform  embryonic  area,  at 
the  posterior  end  of  which  is  seen  the  primitive 
streak. 

F.  &  B.  30 


466  PRACTICAL  DIRECTIONS.  [APP. 

3.  The  commencement  of  tlie  area  vasculosa  around 
the  hind  end  of  the  area.  This  is  seen  better 
after  treatment  with  picric  acid. 

B.     Treatment  and  Examination  of  the  embryo. 

a.  Preserve  the  vesicle  in  picric  see  I.  B.  1. 
Stain  in  haematoxjlin,  cut  out  the  embryonic 
area,  leaving  a  considerable  margin,  imbed  and 
cut  into  sections. 

h.      In  transverse  sections  observe  : — 

1.  At  the  anterior  end  of  the  area  the  single  row  of 
columnar  epiblast  and  the  single  row  of  flattened 
hypoblast  cells. 

2.  Immediately  in  front  of  the  primitive  streak  be- 
tween these  two  layers  a  few  irregularly  shaped 
mesoblast  cells. 

3.  Through  the  middle  of  the  primitive  streak, 

a.  Several  layers  of  rounded  mesoblast  cells  attached 
to,  and  continuous  with,  the  epiblast  in  the 
middle  line,  and  stretching  out  laterally  beyond 
the  edge  of  the  area. 

h.       A  single  layer  of  flattened  hypoblast. 

4.  The  epiblast  outside  the  embryonic  area  in  the 
form  of  flattened  cells  and,  except  in  the  region 
around  the  primitive  streak,  overlying  a  layer  of 
flattened  hypoblast. 

XV.     Examination  of  an  eight  days'  embryo. 

A.    To  obtain  the  embryo. 

The  uterus  wiU  be  found  here  and  there  to  be 
swollen,     in  these  swellings  the  embryos  lie;  and 


APP.]  EIGHT   days'    EMBRYO.  467 

owing  to  the  fact  that  the  wall  of  the  embryonic 
vesicle  is  exceedingly  thin,  and  attached  to  the  ute- 
rine wall,  they  are  very  difficult  to  obtain  whole. 

Out  the  uterus  transversely  on  each  side  of  the 
swellings  and  pin  the  pieces  so  obtained  slightly 
stretched  out  in  small  dissecting  dishes.  Cover  the 
tissue  with  picric  acid  solution  and  allow  it  to  remain 
untouched  for  an  hour.  Then  with  two  pairs  of  fine 
pointed  forceps  carefully  tear  the  uterus  longitu- 
dinally, slightly  to  one  side  of  the  median  line  of  the 
free  side.  This  operation  will  necessarily  take  some 
time,  for  but  a  small  portion  should  be  done  at  once, 
the  picric  acid  being  allowed  time  to  penetrate  into 
that  part  of  the  uterus  which  has  been  most  recently 
torn  open. 

With  care,  however,  the  student  will  be  able  to 
open  completely  the  swelling  and  will  observe  within 
the  thin  walled  vesicle.  Great  care  must  also  be 
exercised  in  freeing  the  vesicle  from  the  uterus. 

This  dissection  should  be  performed  with  the  aid 
of  a  dissecting  lens.  In  case  the  embryonic  vesicle 
is  burst  it  will  still  be  possible  to  extract  the  embryonic 
area  which  lies  on  the  mesometric  side  of  the  uterus  \ 
the  area  itself  is  not  attached  to  the  uterine  walls. 

B.    Exa^nination  of  surf  ace  view. 
Observe : 

1.  The  increased  size  of  the  embryonic  area. 

2.  In  the  anterior  region  the  medullary  folds;    di- 
verging behind  and  enclosing  between  them, 

3.  The  primitive  streak. 

4.  The  area  opaca  now  completely  surrounding  the 
embryo. 

30—2 


468  PEACTICAL  DIKECTIONS.  [APP. 

C.    Examination  of  sections. 

Prepare  and  cut  into  transverse  sections  as  advised 
in  XIV.  B. 

Notice 
1.       In  the  sections  of  the  anterior  region, 

a.  The  lateral  epiblast  composed  of  several  layers 
of  columnar  cells. 

b.  The  epiblast  in  the  median  line  one  layer  thick 
and  in  the  form  of  a  groove  (medullary  groove). 

c.  The  lateral  plates  of  mesoblast. 

d.  The  flattened  lateral  hypoblast,  and  columnar 
hypoblast  underlying  medullary  groove  (noto- 
chord). 

.2.      In  sections  through  the  anterior  end  of  the  primi- 
tive streak. 

Note  the  continuation  of  the  epiblast,  mesoblast 
and  hypoblast  in  the  middle  line. 

3.  In  sections  through  the  posterior  end  of  the  area 
the  same  points  to  be  seen  as  in  XIV.  B.  6.  3. 

XVI.    Examination  of  an  embryo  about  8  days  12  hours. 

A.  Manipulation  as  in  XV.  A. 

B.  In  surface  view  observe  (cf.  Fig.  106)  : 

1.  Area  pellucida  surrounding  embryo,  outside  which 
is  the  well  marked  area  vasculosa. 

2.  Widely  open  neural  canal,  at  anterior  end  dilated, 
and  partially  divided  into  the  three  primary  vesi- 
cles of  the  brain  :  note  the  optic  vesicles.  At  the 
posterior  end,  the  sinus  rhomboidalis. 

3.  The  mesoblastic  somites,  4  to  8. 


APR]  FCETAL   MEMBRANES.  469 

4.  The  two  lateral  tubes  of  the  heart,  and  the  com- 
mencement of  the  two  vitelline  veins. 

5.  The  rudiment  of  the  primitive  streak. 

6.  The  commencing  head  and  tail  folds. 

7.  The  commencing  folds  of  the  amnion. 
Compare  Fig.  106. 


XYII.  Examination  of  the  foetal  membranes  of  an  emhryo 
of  14  days. 

A.  To  obtain  the  embryo,  with  its  membrmies. 

Manipulate  as  in  XY.  A.   only  dissect  under  salt 
solution  instead  of  picric  acid. 

B.  Observe   before   removing  the  embryo  fro7n  iJie 

7iter?is  ; 

1.  The  attachment  of  the  vesicle  to  the  mesometric 
side  of  the  uterus  over  a  discoidal  area,  the 
placental  area. 

2.  The  position  and  form  of  the  placenta. 

C.  Remove  the  embryo  with  its  m,embranes  intact, 

and  observe  : 

1.  the  vascular  yolk  sac,  extending  completely  round 
the  chorion  with  the  exception  of  a  comparatively 
small  area  where 


o 


the  allantois  is  situated.  The  vascularity  of  the 
allantois.  The  fcetal  villi  projecting  into  the 
maternal  placental  tissue. 


470  PRACTICAL   DIRECTIONS.  [aPP. 

D.  Separate  the  membranes  from  one  another  with- 
out tearing  them^ 

and  notice : 

1.  The  embryo  surrounded  by  the  amnion. 

2.  The  allantoic  j  its  position  dorsal  to  the  embryo;  its 
attachment  to  the  chorion;  its  circulation. 

3.  The  flattened  yolk  sac,  ventral  to  the  embryo ;  its 
long  stalk;  its  circulation. 

4.  The  heart. 

E.  The  em^bryo  in  surface  view. 
The  points  to  be  observed  are 

1.  The  cranial  and  body  flexure,  the  spiral  curvature 
of  the  hinder  portion  of  the  body. 

2.  The  vesicles  of  the  brain  :   cerebral  hemispheres, 
fore-brain,  mid-brain  and  hind-brain. 

3.  The  eye,  and  the  ear. 

4.  The  heart. 

5.  The  visceral  arches  and  clefts. 

6.  The  fore  and  hind  limbs,  and  the  tail. 


APP.]  '        NOTES.  471 


Note  A. 

Since  writing  the  account  of  section-cutting  on  p.  434, 
we  have  obtained  more  experience  as  to  the  practical  work- 
ing of  Messrs.  Caldwell  and  Threlfall's  microtome  there 
mentioned.  We  find  that  it  cuts  more  accurately  and  better 
than  any  other  microtome  with  which  we  are  acquainted, 
and  can  confidently  recommend  it  to  investigators  and 
teachers  with  large  classes.  In  the  Cambridge  Laboratory, 
it  is  driven  by  a  small  water  engine  and  will  cut  at  a  rate 
of  500  a  minute,  without  detriment  to  the  sections. 

Note  B. 

Mr  Threlfall,  of  Caius  College,  has  recently  elaborated 
a  method  of  mounting  sections  which  in  our  opinion  has 
many  important  advantages  over  the  shellac  method.  It  is 
as  follows.  Make  a  solution  of  pure  india-rubber  in  benzine 
or  chloroform.  Spread  a  thin  film  of  this  on  a  clean  glass 
slide,  and  allow  it  to  dry.  Arrange  the  sections  on  the 
film;  melt  the  paraffin;  allow  the  slide  to  cool,  then 
immerse  the  slide  for  a  moment  in '  benzoline  (liquid 
paraffin),  which  dissolves  the  paraffin,  and  mount  in  balsam. 
The  chief  advantages  of  this  method  are  that  the  sections 
do  not  adhere  to  the  india-rubber  until  warmed,  and  they  can 
be  stained  after  they  are  fixed  on  the  slide  if  necessary. 
For  the  latter  purpose,  wash  the  benzoline  away  with 
absolute  alcohol ;  treat  with  weaker  alcohol ;  stain  ;  return 
to  absolute ;  clear  with  oil  of  cloves  or  kreasote,  and  mount 
in  balsam  (vide  Zoologischer  Anzeiger,  1883). 


INDEX. 


Abdominal  wall  of  chick,  281 

Air-chamber,  3 

Albumen :  composition  of,  3 ; 
arrangement  of,  in  hen's  egg, 
3 ;  formation  of,  in  hen,  16  ; 
fate  of,  in  hen's  egg,  109 ;  of 
incubated  egg,  185 

Alimentary  canal  of  chick,  28 — 33, 
39;  of  third  day  and  append- 
ages of,  171 — 185  ;  mammalia, 
417—421 

Alisphenoid  region  of  chick,  240, 
246 

Allantoic  arteries:  of  chick,  225, 
293,  298;  in  mammals,  348, 
410 — 413 

Allantoic  veins  of  chick,  228,  287, 
290;  of  mammals,  342 

Allantoic  stalk,  351 

AUantois :  of  chick,  28 — 33,  46 
—47,  107,  182—185,  277,  280; 
as  a  means  of  respiration,  2  32 ; 
pulsation  of,  277 ;  of  rabbit,  for- 
mation of,  331,  353;  of  human 
embryo,  336—340,  355—358; 
of  mammalia,  structure  of,  348; 
of  marsupials,  352  ;  of  dog,  358 

Alum  carmine,  to  make  and  use, 

Amnion :  of  chick,  28 — 33,  43 — 46, 
63,  107,  195;  of  third  day,  113, 
276 — 280;  pulsation  of,  277, 
278;  false,  of  chick,  46;  of 
rabbit,  330,  353;  of  human 
embryo,    338 — 340;    of    mam- 


maha,  343 ;  structure  of  mam- 
malian, 346;  of  dog,  358 
Amphioxus,  spinal  cord  of,  254 
Annuli  fibrosi  of  birds,  210 
Anterior  commissure  of  cerebral 

hemisphere,  mammalia,  381 
Aorta   of  chick,    224,  292,   298 ; 

of  mammals,  407 
Aortffi  of  chick  of  second   day, 

89,  103 
Aortic  arches  of  chick,  103,  106, 

167;  of  fourth  day,  225,  391 — 

298 
Apes'  placenta,  355  ;  histology  of, 

363  ;  derivation  of,  364 
Aqueductus    vestibuli   of    chick, 

158 
Aqueductus  sylvii  {see  iter.) 
Aqueous  humour:  of  chick,  153 — 

154;  of  mammalia,  390 
Arbor  vitae  of  birds,  369 
Area  opaca  of  chick,  7,  49,  195  ; 

mesoblast  of,  65  ;  hypoljlast  of, 

65  ;  vascular  portion  of,  74 — 75, 

no;  of  third  day,  109 
Areapellucida:  of  chick,  8,  49,  55; 

of  third  day,  1 10 ;  of  mammals, 

328 
Area    vasculosa  :  of  mammalia, 

formation  of,  342  ;  circulation 

of,  343—346 

Arteria  centralis  retinae  of  mam- 
malia, 387 — 390 

Arterial  system:  of  chick,  224 — 
226,291 — 303;  mammalia,  407 
—409 

Arterial  arches,  mammalia,  407 


474 


INDEX. 


Articulare  of  chick,  244 
Attachment  of  ovum  in  uterus, 

347 
Auditory  capsule  of  chick,  241 
Auditory  pits  of  chick,  81,  loi 
Auricles  of  chick,  84,   102,  229, 

259,  262 
Auricular:  appendages  of  chick  of 

second  day,    102 ;    septum    of 

chick,  257 
Avian  characteristics,  275 
Azygos  vein,  mammalia.  412 


Basi-hyal  chick,  245 

Basilar:  plate,  235 — 238;  mem- 
brane, mammalia,  397 

Basi-occipital  region  of  chick,  237 

Basi-sphenoid  of  chick,  240,  246 

Basi-temporal  bone,  chick,  246 

Beak  of  chick,  249;  formation  of, 
282 

Biliary  ducts  of  chick,  180 — 181 

Birds,  oviparous,  308 

Bladder :  derivation  of,  in  mam- 
mals, 351  ;  mammalian,  417 

Blastoderm  of  chick,  4 ;  struc- 
ture of,  in  unincubated  hen's 
6ggj  7 — 10 ;  area  pellucida  of, 
8 ;  formative  cells  of,  23,  24 ; 
extension  of,  26,  27;  lateral 
folds  of,  37 ;  head  fold  of,  27, 
37;  tail  fold  of,  29,  37;  vas- 
cular area  of,  27 ;  hypoblast 
of,  51;  germinal  wall  of,  52; 
epiblast,  55  ;  of  third  day,  109, 
no 

Blastoderm  of  mammal,  forma- 
tion of  layers  of,  314—325 ;  vas- 
cular area  of,  326 ;  pellucid 
area  of,  328 ;  head  and  tail 
folds,  329^ 

Blastodermic  vesicle,  314 — 316, 
319  ;  outer  layer  of,  31 4;  inner 
mass  of,  314  ;  to  examine,  465 

Blastopore  of  mammalian  ovum 
(van  Beneden's),  314;  of  chick 
and  mammals,  see  neurenteric 
canal 


Blood  islands  of  vascular  area  of 
chick,  91 

Blood  corpuscles  of  chick,  for- 
mation of,  92 — 94 

Blood-vessels :  of  area  opaca  of 
chick,  formation  of,  92 — 94  ; 
development  of,  practical  di- 
rections for  study  of,  459,  460 

Body  cavity :  of  chick,  39  ;  forma- 
tion of,  40,  41 ;  posterior  medi- 
astinum of,  267  ;  of  mammalia, 
406 

Body  flexure  of  chick,  196 ;  on 
third  day,  116 

Body  flexure  :  in  rabbit,  334 ;  in 
clog?  334  j  of  human  embryo, 
239—240 

Borax  carmine,  to  make  and  use, 

430 
Brain:  of  chick,  117 — 123,  281; 
of  mammalia,  367 — 387  ;  divi- 
sions of,  367 ;  hind  brain,  367 — 
370;  midbrain,  370,  371;  fore 
brain,  371—385  ;  histogeny  of, 

385-387 
Branchial  clefts  and  arches  {see 

Visceral) 
Breeding  mammals  for  study,  460 
Bronchi,  mammalian,  418 
Bronchial  tubes  of  chick,  177 
Bulbus  arteriosus  of  chick,  84,  225, 

229,  257;  septum  of,  257,  259, 

260 — 262  ;  of  mammalia,  407 


Csecum,  mammalia,  419 
Canales  Botalli  {see  Ductus  Bo- 

talli) 
Canalis  auricularis  of  chick,  257, 

Canalis  reuniens,  160;  auricularis 
of  chick,  169,  229;  reuniens  of 
ear  of  mammalia,  393 — 398 

Cardinal  veins :  of  chick,  170;  284 
— 285  ;  anterior  and  posterior 
of  mammalia,  409 — 4 1 3 

Carmine,  431 

Carnivora,  placenta  of,  358 


INDEX. 


475 


Carotid:  common  artery  of  chick, 
295,  298;  external  and  internal 
artery,  292,  295 ;  of  bird  and 
mammal,  408 

Carpus  of  chick,  234 

Cartilage  bones,  242 ;  of  skull  of 
chick,  246 

Cerato-hyals  of  chick,  245 

Cerebellum:  of  chick,  122,  203, 
368 — 370  ;  of  mammalia,  367 
— 370;  ventricle  of,  368;  cho- 
roid plexus  of,  368;  pyramids, 
and  olivary  bodies  of,  368 ; 
arbor  vitse,  flocculi  of,  369 ; 
pons  varolii  of,  369,  370;  velum 
medullse  ant.  370 

Cerebral  hemispheres  :  of  chick, 
117;  of  mammalia,  376 — 385; 
ventricles  of,  377;  lamina  ter- 
minalis,  377;  corpus  striatum, 
378;  commissures  of,  381 — 383; 
septum  lucidum,  383;  fissures 
of,  384—385 

Cerebral  vesicles  of  chick,  200 ; 
of  second  day,  79,  100 

Cerebro-spinal  canal  in  chick,  40 

Cerebrum  of  mammalia,  mono- 
tremata,  insectivora,  384 

Chalazse,  4 

Cheiroptera,  placenta  of,  353 

Chest  wall,  of  chick,  281 

Chorion :  of  hen's  egg,  47  ;  of 
mammal,  true  and  false,  348 ; 
of  rabbit,  true  and  false,  353 ; 
of  human  ovum,  355 — 358  ; 
of  dog,  358 

Chorion  Iseve,  356 — 358 

Chorion  frondosum,  356 — 358 

Chorionic  villi  of  mammal,  349 

Choroid  coat  of  eye,  of  chick, 
141 

Choroid  plexuses  of  mammaha, 
368,  380 

Choroidal  fissure  of  chick,  136 — 
141,   147 — 149;  of  mammalia, 

387 
Chromic  acid,  427 — 428 
Cicatricula,  4 
Ciliary  :  ganglion  of  chick,  128  ; 

ridges  of  chick,  142  ;  muscles, 

144 


Circulation:  in  chick  of  second 
day,  105;  of  third  day,  no — 
113;  of  chick,  later  stages, 
263 — 264 

Circulatory  system  of  chick,  re- 
sume, 298—303 

Clavicle  :  man,  405  ;  of  chick,  234 

Chnoid  ridge,  posterior,  chick, 
240 

Clitoris,  mammalia,  417 

Cloaca  of  chick,  174;  mammalia, 
418 

Cochlea  of  chick,  203 

Cochlear  canal,  mammaha,  390 — 

Cock,  coni-vasculosi,  parepidi- 
dymis and  vas  deferens  of,  224 

Columella  of  chick,  t66,  245 

Commissures  of  spinal  cord,  253, 
256 

Coni-vasculosi  of  cock,  224 

Cornea  of  chick,  150 — 153;  of 
mammalia,  390 

Cornu  ammonis,  {see  Hippoc. 
major) 

Coracoid  of  chick,  234 

Coronary  vein,  mammalia,  409 — 

413 

Corpora  bigemina  of  chick,  121 

Corpora  mammilaria,  378 

Corpora  quadrigemina  of  mam- 
malia, 370;  geniculata,  371 

Corpus  albicans,  373 

Corpus  callosum :  mammalia,  381 ; 
rostrum  of,  383 ;  of  marsupials, 
383  ;  of  monotremes,  383 

Corpus  luteum,  3 1 1 

Corpus  striatum,  mammalia,  378 

Corrosive  sublimate,  how  to  use, 
426 

Cotyledonary  placenta,  derivation 
of,  364 

Cotyledons,  359 

Cranial  flexure :  of  chick,  116, 196 ; 
of  second  day,  10 1  ;  of  rabbit, 
333  ;  of  human  embryo,  338 

Cranial  nerves :  of  chick,  123 — 129, 
203  ;  of  second  day,  101  ;  de- 
velopment of,  127 — 129  ;  of 
mammalia,  400 

Cranium    of    chick,    235 — 242 ; 


476 


INDEX. 


cartilaginous,  242 ;  cartilage 
bones  of,  242 ;  membrane  bones 
of,  242 

Cranium,  mammalia,  401 

Crura  cerebri,  371 

Crypts  of  placenta,  360 — 363 

Cumulus  proligerus,  310 

Cupola,  397,  398 


Decidua:  of  human  placenta,  356; 

reflexa   iij    human,  356 — 358  ; 

vera,  356— 358 ;  serotina,  356— 

358 ;  reflexa  in  dog,  359 
Deciduate  placenta,  352  ;  histology 

of,  360 
Dentary  bones,  246 
Dentine,  mammalia,  42 1 
Descemet's  membrane,  chick,  151 
Diaphragm,     muscles     of,     211; 

mammalia,  406 
Diffuse  placenta,  359 ;   histology 

of,  360 
Discoidal  placenta,  353 
Dog,   placenta   of,  relation  with 

placenta  of  rabbit,  358 
Dorsal  aorta  of  chick,  167 
Ductus  arteriosus,  man,  408 
Ductus  cochlearis  of  chick,  159 
Ductus  Botalli  of  chick,  287,  289, 

296;  of  mammalia,  408 
Ductus  Cuvieri  of  chick,  170,  228, 

284 
Ductus  venosus  of  chick,  169, 226 ; 

of  mammalia,  413 
Duodenum  of  chick,  172 — 174 


E 


Ear:  of  chick,  156— 161 ;  of  mam- 
malia, 390 — 397  ;  accessory 
structures  of,  397 — 399 

Egg  tubes  of  Pflliger,  222 

Egg  membranes  of  mammal,  310 

Egg,  to  open,  437,  438 

Elephas,  placenta  of,  358 

Embryo  of  chick:  directions  for 
examining,  439 — 459  ;  of  36 — 
48  hours,  437 — 444;  of  48  to 
50  hours,   444 — 447  ;   of  third 


day,  447 — 45 1  ;  of  fourth  day, 
451—453;  of  20  hours,  453— 
456  ;  before  incubation,  457  ; 
segmentation,  458;  blood-ves- 
sels of,  459 

Embryo  of  mammals :  directions 
for  examination  of,  461 — 470  ; 
of  segmenting  ova,  i — 72  hours, 
461 — 464 ;  of  blastodermic  vesi- 
cle of,  72 — 90  hours,  465  ;  of  7 
days,  465  ;  of  8  days,  466 ;  of 
8  days  12  hours,  468  ;  of  14 
days,  469 ;  of  fcetal  mem- 
branes, 469 

Embryonic  area  of  rabbit,  317; 
composition  of,  317 

Embryonic  membranes:  in  mam- 
malia, ideal  type,  342 — 352  ; 
yolk  sac  of,  345 — 351  ;  amnion 
of,  345—351  ;  allantois  of,  345— 
351;  zona  radiata  of,  345;  se- 
rous membrane  of,  345  ;  cho- 
rion of,  345  ;  shedding  of,  at 
birth,  351 ;  monotremata,  352; 
marsupialia,  352 ;  rodentia, 
353.  354;  insectivora,  353; 
cherioptera,  353 ;  man  and 
apes, 355— 358;  carnivora,358; 
hyrax,  358;  elephas,  358  ;  oryc- 
teropus,  358,  horse,  359;  pig, 
359 ;  lemurs,  359 

Embryonic  sac  in  chick,  37 — 38 

Embryonic  shield-  of  chick,  49, 

52—54 

Enamel,  421 

End&lymph,  mammalia,  396 

Epiblast :  formation  of,  in  chick, 
25,  26;  derivation  of,  26;  of 
rabbit  embryo,  316;  histological 
differentiation  of,  in  chick,  271 ; 
epidermis,  271;  nervous  system, 
271 ;  sense  organs,  272 ;  mouth, 
272  ;  anus,  272 ;  pituitary  body, 
272;  salivary  glands,  273;  of 
blastoderm  from  8th  to  12th 
hour,  55 

Epididymis,  mammalia,  415 

Epiotic  of  chick,  246 

Epithelioid  lining  of  heart  of 
chick,  88 

Epithelium  of  throat  of  chick,  182 


INDEX. 


477 


Epoophoron,  of  hen,  224 

Ethmoid :  region,  chick,  240 ; 
lateral,  241  ;  bone,  chick,  246 

Eustachian  tube:  of  chick,  165; 
of  rabbit,  334;  of  mammalia, 
397—418 

Eustacliian  valve :  of  heart  of 
chick,  263 — 4 

External  auditory  meatus  of  mam- 
malia, 398 

External  carotid  artery,  chick,  225 

Eye;  of  chick,  200;  development 
of,    132 — 155  ;    of   mammaUa, 

387—390 
Eyelids,  of  chick,  155;  of  mam- 
malia, 390 


Face  of  chick,    246;    of  human 

embryo,  340 
Facial  nerve  {see  Seventh) 
Falciform  ligament,  mammalia, 

420 
Fallopian  tubes,  mammalia,  415 
False  amnion  of  chick,  46 
Falx  cerebri  mammalia,  377 
Fasciculi  teretes,  368 
Feathers,  formation  of,  282 
Female  pronucleus,  17 
Femur,  chick,  234 
Fenestra  ovalis,  of  chick,  166,  245 ; 

mammaha,  398 
Fenestra  rotunda  of  chick,   166, 

245 ;  mammalia,  398 
Fibula,  chick,  234 
Fifth  nerve  of  chick,   126 — 129, 

203 
Fifth  ventricle  of  man,  383 
First  cerebral  vesicle   of  chick, 

second  day,  97 
Fissures  of  spinal  cord,  254 
Flocculi  of  cerebellum  of  birds,  369 
Foetal  appendages :  of  chick,  276 — 
280;  amnion,  276 — 278;  allan- 
tois,  277;  yolk-sac,  277;  mem- 
branes of  mammal,  to  examine, 

469 
Foldmg-off  of  embryo  chick,  113, 

196 
Follicle,  ovarian,  12 — 15 


Foramen  ovale :  of  heart  of  chick, 
262,  264,  289,  297,  302 

Foramen  of  Monro,  372 

Fore  brain :  of  chick,  100  ;  of  rab- 
bit, 329;  of  mammalia,  371 — 
385;  optic  vesicles  of,  387 — -390; 
thalamencephalon,  371 — 376; 
cerebral  hemispheres,  376 — 
385  ;  olfactory  lobes,  385 

Foregut  of  chick,  formation  of, 
81—82 

Formation  of  the  layers  in  mam- 
mals, 314—325 

Formative  cells,  23 — 24 

Fornix,  mammalia,  381;   pillars 

of,  383 
Fourth     ventricle,     chick,     122  ; 

mammalia,  368 
Fourth  nerve,  chick,  128 
Fretum  Halleri,  chick,  229 
Frontal  bones,  chick,  246 
Fronto  nasal  process,  chick,  165, 

202,  246 


G 


Gall-bladder  of  chick,  181 
Gasserian  ganglion,  chick,  128 
Generativeglands :  of  chick,  220 — 

224;  of  mammalia,  414 — 415 
Generative  organs,  external,  mam- 
malia, 415 — 417 
Genital  cord,  mammalia,  415 
Genital  ridge,  chick,  220 
Germ  cells,  primitive,  of  chick, 

221 
Germinal  disc  of  chick,  12 
Germinal  epithelium,  213 
Germinal  layers  of  chick,  26 
Germinal  vesicle  of  chick,  12 
Germinal  wall,  52  ;  structm^e  of, 

65 — 66;  function  of,  66 
Glomeruli  of  kidney   of    chick, 

214 
Glands,  epidermic,  of  mammalia, 

366 
Glomerulus  of  Wolffian  body  of 

chick,  191 
Glossopharyngeal  nerve  {see  Ninth 

nerve) 
Gold  chloride,  460 


478 


INDEX. 


Graafian  follicle,  chick,  222,  310 
Grey  matter,    of   spinal  cord  of 
chick,  253;  of  brain  of  mam- 
malia, 387 
Growth  of  embryo  of  chick,  70 
Guinea-pig,   structure  of  blasto- 
derm of,  323;  relation  of  em- 
bryonic layers  of,  323 ;  inver- 
sion of  the  layers  in,  341 


H 

Hematoxylin,  to  make  and  use, 
429 

Hairs,  365 

Hardening  reagents,  425 — 428; 
picric  acid,  425  ;  corrosive  sub- 
limate, 426  ;  osmic  acid  ;  427  ; 
chromic  acid,  427 ;  absolute 
alcohol,  428  ;  the  necessity  of, 
428 

Head  of  chick,  200 ;  of  rabbit, 
331 

Headfold  of  chick,  27 — 29, 33 — 37; 
16  to  20  hours,  60 ;  20  to  24 
hours,  66;  of  second  day,  77; 
of  mammal,  329 

Heart  of  chick,  229 — 230,  256 — 
264;  formation  of,  82 — 89,  102  ; 
beating  of,  on  second  day,  89 ; 
of  third  day,  167;  auricles, 
259 — 262 ;  ventricles,  260 — 262 ; 
auricular  septum,  257 — 262; 
ventricular  septum,  257 ;  canalis 
reuniens,  257 — 259;  bulbus  ar- 
teriosus, 257 — 262  ;  foramen 
ovale,  262 — 264  ;  Eustachian 
valve,  263 — 264;  circulation  in, 
263 — 264;  structure  of,  287 — 
289,  293 — 297  ;  resume  of,  299 
— 303 

Heart  of  mammals,  329;  struc- 
ture of,  331 ;  formation  of,  406; 
comparison  of,  with  birds,  407 

Hemiazygos  vein,  mammalia,  412 

Hen:  formation  of  albumen  in, 
16  ;  ovarian  follicle  of,  12 — 15  ; 
mesovarium  of,  11  ;  ovary  of, 
1 1  ;  ovarian  ovum  of,  1 1 ,  15; 
oviduct  of,  15;  epoophoron, 
paroophoron  and  oviduct,  224 


Hen's  egg,  albumen  of,  3,  16 ; 
blastoderm,  7 — 10,  26,  27 : 
chalazse,  4  ;  cicatricula,  4  ;  im- 
pregnation of,  17  ;  laying  of, 
17;  polar  bodies  of,  17;  seg- 
mentation of,  18 — 24;  vitelline 
membrane  of,  4,  13 — 15 ;  yolk 
of,  4 — 7  ;  chorion  of,  47  ;  shell 
of,  I,  16 ;  irregular  develop- 
ment of,  48,  49  ;  segmentation, 
cavity  of,  50 

Hepatic  cyhnders  of  chick,  179; 
circulation  of  chick,  227 ;  veins, 
288 — 290 

Hind  brain:  of  chick,  100;  of 
rabbit,  329  ;  of  mammals,  and 
birds,  367 — 370;  medulla  of, 
367  ;    cerebellum   of,  367 — 370 

Hippo-campus  major,  mammalia, 
380 

Hippo-campal  fissure  of  cerebrum 
of  mammalia,  385 

Histological  differentiation,  in 
chick,  269 — 273  ;  of  epiblast, 
269,  271;  of  hypoblast,  269; 
of  mesoblast,  269 

Histology  of  placenta,  359 

Holoblastic  segmentation,  307 

Human  embryo :  villi  of,  335 ; 
early  stages  of,  335  ;  allantois 
of,  336— 340 ;  yolk-sac  of,  336— 
340 ;  medullary  plate  of,  337 ; 
amnion  of,  338 — 340;  cranial 
flexure  of,  338 — 340;  limbs  of, 
339;  body  flexure  of,  339— 
340;  face  of,  340;  relation  of, 
with  other  mammals,  341 ;  pla- 
centa of,  355  ^ 

Human  ovum,  size  of,  307 

Human  placenta,  histology  of, 
363  ;  derivation  of,  364 

Humerus,  chick,  234 

Hyaloid  membrane,  chick,  144, 
146 

Hyoid  arch  of  chick,  243 — 245  ; 
of  rabbit,  334;  of  mammalia, 
403—404 

Hyoid  bone  of  chick,  245 

Hypoblast  of  chick :  formation  of, 
25?  51.  59;  derivation  of,  26; 
of  area  opaca,  65;  histological 


INDEX. 


479 


differentiation  of,  269 ;  of  di- 
gestive canal,  272  ;  of  respii-a- 
tory  ducts,  272  ;  of  allantois, 
273;  notochordal,  273 

Hypoblast  of  rabbit  embryo,  316, 
321,  417 

Hypoblastic  mesoblast  of  chick, 
59 — 62;  of  mammal,  321 

Hypogastric  veins  :  chick,  289 ; 
mammalia,  411 — 413 

Hypohyal,  mammalia,  403 

Hypophysis  cerebri  {see  Pituitary 
body) 

Hyrax,  placenta  of,  358 


Ischium,  chick,  234 
Island  of  Eeil,  385 
Iter  a  tertio  ad  quartum  ventricu- 
lum,  121,  370 


Jugal  bones,  chick,  246 
Jugular  vein,  284 — 290 


K 

Kidney  :  of  chick,  218 — 220  ;  tu- 
bules of,  219  ;  of  mammalia, 
414 


Ileum,  chick,  234 
Iliac  veins,  mammalia,  411 — 413 
Imbedding,  methods  of,  432 — 434 
Impregnation  of  hen's  egg,    1 7 ; 

of  ovum  of  mammal,  310 — 312 
Incubators,  makers  of,  and  how 

to  manage,  423 
Incus,  mammaha,  398,  404 
Inferior  cardinal  veins,  chick,  228 
Infundibulum  :  chick,  119 — 121; 

ventricle  of,  373 ;  tuber  cinereum 

of,  373  ;  of  mammalia,  372  ;  of 

birds,  372 
Inner  mass  of  segmented  ovum, 

314 ;    of  blastodermic  vesicle, 

314 
Innominate  artery  of  chick,  296 — 

8 
Insectivora,  placenta  of,  353 
Intercostal     veins,     mammalia, 

411— 413 
Interhyal  ligament,  403 
Intermediate  cell  mass  of  chick, 

95,  189,  190 
Internal  carotid  artery,  chick,  225 
Inter-nasal  plate,  chick,  240 
Inter-orbital  plate  of  chick,  240 
Intervertebral    ligaments,    mam- 
malia, 400 
Intervertebral  regions,  chick,  207, 

209 
Intestine,  mammalia,  419 
Inversion  of  the  layers,  341 


Labia  majora,  mammalia,  416 

Lacrymal  bones,  chick,  246 ;  ducts, 

chick,  155,  156;  glands,  chick, 

i55>   156;  groove,  chick,  248; 

duct,  mammalia,  390 

Lagena,  chick,  159  ;  birds,   397^ 

398 
Lamina,  dorsalis  of  chick,  29,  62 
Lamina  spirahs,  mammalia,  397 
Lamina    terminalis,   mammalia,. 

377  . 
Large  intestine  of  chick,  174 
Larynx  of  chick,  177 
Lateral    folds   of  blastoderm  of 

chick,   37  ;   of  chick  of  second 

day,  96 
Lateral  plates  of  mesoblast,  68 
Lateral  ventricles  of  chick,  117  ; 

of  mammalia,  377  ;  cornua  of. 

378 
Laying  of  eggs,  17 
Lecithin,  6 
Legs  of  chick,  200 
Lens,   chick,   formation  of,   134, 

149 
Ligamenta  suspensoria,  of  birds, 

210 
Ligamentum,    pectinatum,    144  ; 

vesicae  medium,  351 
Ligamentum    longitudinale    an- 

terius  and  posterius,  mammalia^ 

402 


480 


INDEX. 


Limbs,  of  chick,  198 — 200,  233  ; 
of  rabbit,  334 ;  of  human  em- 
bryo, 339  ;  mammalia,  406 

Liver  of  chick,  178 — 181  ;  mam- 
maha,  419 

Lumbar  veins,  mammalia,  412 — 

413 

Lungs  of  chick,  176 — 178,  267  ; 
mammalia,  418 


M 


Male  pronucleus,  1 7 

Malleus,  398,  404 

Malpighian  corpuscles,  chick,  182 ; 
bodies  of  chick,  190 

Mammalia,  two  periods  of  develop- 
ment, 308 ;  viviparous,  308 

Mammary  glands,  366;  a  source 
of  nutriment  for  the  embryo, 
308 

Man  {see  Human  embryo) 

Mandible,  chick,  246 

Mandibular  arch,  chick,  242 — 
244 ;  maxillary  process  of, 
chick,  243;  rabbit,  334;  mam- 
malia, 403 — 404 

Manubrium  of  malleus,  403 

Marsupialia,  foetal  membranes  of, 

352    . 
Marsupmm,  308 
Maturation  of  ovum  of  mammal, 

310 
Maxilla  bones,  chick,  246 
Maxilla-palatine  bones,  chick,  246 
Maxillary,  processes  of  mandibu- 
lar arch  of  chick,  243 
Meatus    auditorius   externus,    of 

chick,  166;  of  mammal,  397 
Meatus  venosus,   of  chick,    169, 

287 
Meckelean  cartilage,  chick,  244 ; 

mammalia,  403 
Medulla  oblongata,  of  chick,  122; 

of  mammalia,  367 
Medullary  canal,  of  chick,  40,  62, 

96 
Medullary  folds,  of  chick,  40,  62, 

66,  77,  97 ;  of  mammal,  327 


Medullary  groove,  of  chick,  29, 

62 — 65;    of  rabbit,    320,    321; 

of  man,    338 ;    closure  of,    in 

mammal,  327 — 331 
Medullary  plate,  of  chick,  62  ;  of 

rabbit,  320 ;  of  man,  338 
Membrana  capsulo  pupiUaris   of 

mammalia,  387 — 389 
Membrana  limitans  externa,  145; 

granulosa,  310 
Membrana  propria    of    follicles, 

chick,  182 
Membrane :  of  shell  of  hen's  egg, 

T  ;    serous,   of  chick,    32 — 41  ; 

vitelline  of  hen's  egg,  13 — 15 
Membrane  bones,  242  ;  of  skull, 

chick,  246 
Membrane  of  Keissner,  mamma- 
lia, 397 
Membrane  of  Descemet,  389 
Membrane  of  Corti,  and  tectoria 

mammalia,  395 
Membranous    labyrinth,     chick, 

158 
Meniscus  of  birds,  210 
Meroblastic  segmentation,  18 
Mesenteric   veins  of    chick,  228, 

288 — 290 
Mesentery,  of  chick,  173;  mam- 
malia, 419 — 20 
Mesoblast:  derivatives  of,  in  chick, 
25 — 26;  of  primitive  streak  of 
chick,    54,    57;    derived  from 
lower  layer  cells  in  chick,  55, 
57,  59  ;  of  area  opaca  in  chick, 
65 ;  splitting  of,  in  chick,  68 ;  of 
trunk  of  embryo  chick,    185 — 
189 ;  histological  differentiation 
of,  in  chick,  269;  of  primitive 
streak  of  ralDbit,  320;  of  mam- 
mal,  double  origin   of,    321 — 
323;   vertebral  zone   of,   328; 
lateral  zone  of,    328 ;   somites 
of,  328  _ 
Mesoblastic  somites,  formation  of 
in  chick,  70;  of  chick,  81,  185 — 
187,  204 — 208 
Mesocardium  of  chick,  88;  forma- 
tion of,  264 
Mesogastrium,  chick,  182 
Mesonephros  of  chick,  212 


INDEX. 


481 


Mesovarium  of  fowl,  1 1 
Metacarpus,  chick,  234 
Metadiscoidal  placenta,  histology 

of,  362 ;  derivation  of,  364 
Metamorphosis  of  arterial  arches, 

bird  and  mammalia,  408 
Metanephos  {see  Kidney) 
Metanephric  blastema,  of  chick, 

219 
Microtomes,  and  makers  of,  434 

—435;  471 
Mid  brain:  of  chick,  100,  200;  of 
rabbit,  329 ;  of  mammalia,  370 
371;  ventricle  of,  370;  nates 
and  testes  of,  371;  corpora 
geniculata,  and  crura  cerebri  of, 

371 
Monotremata,   foetal   membranes 

of,  352 
Mouse,  inversion  of  the  layers  in, 

341 

Mouth,  chick,  249,  281 ;  of  rabbit, 
formation  of,  334 

Miillerian  duct :  chick,  2 1 4 — 2 1 8 ; 
mammalia,  414 — 415 

Muscle  plates  of  chick,  187 — 189, 
204 — 208,  211;  segmentation 
of,  212 

Muscles:  hyposkeletal, chick,  211 ; 
episkeletal,  chick,  211;  cuta- 
neous, chick,  211;  extrinsic  and 
intrinsic  of  limb,  chick,  212 

Muscular  walls  of  heart]of  chick, 


Nerves,  of  chick  of  second  day, 
loi  ;  of  mammalia,  400 

Nervous  system  of  mammalia, 
367—400 

Neural  band,  chick,  123;  crest, 
126 

Neural  canal  of  chick,  31 — 39, 66; 
second  and  third  day,  122 ;  de- 
velopment of,  251 — 256 

Neurenteric  canal,  of  chick,  71 — 
74,  175;  mammalia,  399;  of 
mole,  326,  328 

Ninth  nerve,  chick,  126 — 129,  203 

Node  of  Hensen,  319 

Non-deciduate  placenta,  352 

Nose,  chick,  249 

Nostrils,  chick,  251 

Notochord:  of  chick,  29,  60 — 62, 
208 — 210,  237 — 238;  of  second 
day,  loi;  sheath  of  chick,  208; 
of  mammal,  323,  400 ;  forma- 
tion of,  325 

Nuclei,  16 

Nucleolus,  13 

Nucleus,  13 

Nucleus  of  Pander,  7 

Nucleus  pulposus,  of  birds,  210, 
401 

Nutrition  of  mammalian  embryo  : 
308 ;  by  means  of  placenta,  350 


N 

Nails,  of  chick,  283 

Nares  :  posterior,  chick,  251;  an- 
terior and  posterior,  of  mam- 
malia, 399 

Nasal  capsule,  chick,  242 ;  car- 
tilages, chick,  246;  bones,  chick, 
246;  groove,  chick,  246;  pro- 
cesses of  chick,  mner,  248; 
outer,    248 ;    labyrinth,  chick, 

249—51 
Nasal  organ  [see  Olfactory  organ) 
Nasal  pits,  of  birds,   71;   chick, 

202 
Nates  of  mammalia,  371 

F.  &B. 


Occipital :  supra-,  basi-,  ex-,  of 
chick,  246 ;  foramen,  chick,  237 

(Esophagus  of  chick,  173  ;  mam- 
malia, 418 

Olfactory  organ  of  chick,  161 ; 
nerve  of  chick,  162 ;  grooves, 
chick,  202 ;  lobes  of  mammalia, 

385 
Olivary  bodies,  368 
Omentum,  mammaha,  lesser,  420; 

greater,  420 
Opisthotic  of  chick,  246 
Optic  vesicles  :  of  chick  of  second 

day,  79,  97;  chick,  133—134: 

formation    of,     141 — 144  ;     of 

rabbit,  329 

31 


482 


INDEX, 


Optic  lobes,  chick,  121 

Optic  nerves,  chick,  133,  146 

Optic  cup,  134 

Optic  chiasma,  chick,  147 ;  mam- 
malia, 372 

Optic  thalami  of  mammalia,  373 

Orbitosphenoid,  246 

Orbitosphenoidal  region,  chick, 
240 

Organ  of  Corti,  mammalia,  395 

Organ    of  Jacobson,  mammalia, 

399 

Orycteropus,  placenta  of,  358 

Osmic  acid,  how  to  use,  427 

Osseous  labyrinth,  chick,  158 

Otic  vesicle,  chick,  157 

Outer  layer,  of  blastodermic  vesi- 
cle, 314 

Ova,  primordial,  of  chick,  221 

Ovarian  foUicle :  of  hen,  12 — 15  ; 
mammal,  309 

Ovarian  ovum:  of  hen,  11 — 15; 
of  mammals,  309 

Ovary:  of  adult  hen,  11  ;  of 
chick,  222 ;  of  mammals, 
309 ;  follicles  of,  309 ;  corpus 
iuteum  of,  311. 

Oviduct  of  adult  hen,  15  ;  of 
chick,  224 

Oviparous  animals,  308 

Ovum :  of  birds  and  mammals 
compared,  307 ;  of  mammal — 
in  follicle,  309  ;  membranes  of, 
310;  maturation  and  impreg- 
nation of,  310 — 312  ;  polar 
bodies  of,  311;  segmentation 
of,  312 — 314;  blastopore  of 
(Beneden),  314 


Palate,  mammalia,  420,  421 
Palatine  bones,  chick,  246 
Pancreas :  of  chick,    181 ;  mam- 
malia, 419 
Pander,  nucleus  of,  7. 
Parachordals,  chick,  235 — 238 
Paraffin,  432 — 434 
Parepididymis  of  cock,  224 
Parietal  bones  of  chick,  246 


Parieto-occipital  fissure  of  cere- 
brum of  man  and  apes,  385 

Pakkek  on  the  fowl's  skull,  245 

Paroophoron  of  hen,  224 

Pecten,  chick,  147 

Pectoral  girdle,  chick,  234;  mam- 
malia, 405 

Pelvic  girdle,  chick,  234 ;  mam- 
malia, 405 

Penis,  mammalia,  417 

Pericardial  cavity,  chick,  develop- 
ment of,  264 — 269  ;  of  rabbit, 
331;  mammalia,  406 

Perilymph,  mammalia,  396 

Periotic  capsules,  chick,  237 

Peritoneal  covering  of  heart  of 
chick,  88;  cavity,  mammalia, 
406 

Peritoneum,  mammalia,  419 — 420 

Pflugee,  egg  tubes,  222 

Phalanges,  chick,  234 

Pharynx,  mammalia,  418 

Picric  acid,  how  to  use,  425 

Picro-carmine,  to  make  and  use, 

.431 

Pig,  placenta,  histology  of,  360 

Pineal  glands,  chick,  117 — 119; 
of  mammalia  and  birds,  373 — 
376 

Pituitary  body :  chick,  119 — 121; 
rabbit,  334 ;  of  birds,  372 ; 
mammalia,  372,  420 

Pituitary  space,  chick,  240 

Placenta :  342 ;  discoidal,  deci- 
duate,  type  of,  353,  354;  meta- 
discoidal,  type  of,  354—358; 
decidua  of,  356 ;  chorion  laeve 
of,  356 — 358;  chorion  f rondo- 
sum  of,  356 — 358  ;  comparison 
of,  358;  zonary  type  of,  358; 
diffuse  form,  359 ;  polycotyle- 
donary  form,  359 ;  histology  of, 
359—363;  evolution  of,  364; 
of  sloth,  360. 

Pleural  cavity,  chick,  development 
of,  264 — 269  ;  mammalia,  406 

Pleuroperitoneal  space  of  chick, 
28 — 33,  84;  formation  of,  40, 
41,  68 

Pneumogastric  nerve  {see  Tenth 
nerve) 


INDEX. 


483 


Polar  bodies,  17  . 

mals,  311 
Polycotyledonary  placenta,   359  ; 

histology  of,  360 
Pons   Varolii   of  birds,    369 ;    of 

mammals,  370 
Position  of  embryo  chick  of  third 

and  fomih  days,  113 — 116 
Postanal  gut,  of  chick,    175  ;  of 

rabbit,  relation  of,  to  primitive 

streak,  329 
Posterior  nares,  chick,  202 
Potassium  bichromate,  460 
Premaxilla  bones,  chick,  246 
Prenasal  bones  of  chick,  246 
Presphenoid  region,  chick,  240 — 

246 
Primitive  groove  of  chick,  56 ;  of 

rabbit,  320 
Primitive  streak  of  chick,  52 — 62 ; 

of  chick  from  20  to  24  hours, 

70;  of  rabbit,  319 
Processus  infundibuli,  chick,  121 
Proctodgeum  of   chick,    175;    of 

mammal,  422 
Pronephros,  218 

Pronucleus,  female,  17;  male,  17 
Prootic,  chick,  246 
Protovertebrffi     {see    Mesoblastic 

somites) 
Pterygo-palatine  bar,  chick,  243 
Pterygoid  bones,  chick,  246 
Pubis,  chick,  234 
Pulmonary  veins  of  chick,    228, 

289 — 290 
Pulmonary  arteries  of  chick,  294 — 

298;  mammaha,  407 
Pupil,  chick,  142 
Pyramids  of  cerebellum,  368 


of  ova  of  mam-      Eat,  inversion  of  the  layers  in, 


Q 

Quadrate -jugal  bones. 
Quadrate,  chick,  243 


E 


246 


Eabbit  embryo,  growth  of,  327 — 

334 ;  placenta  of,  353 
Eadius,  chick,  234 


341 
Eecessus  labyrinthi,   mammalia, 

390 — 398 
Eecessus  vestibuli  [see  Aqueductus 

vestibuli)  chick,  203 
Eespiration  of  chick,  303 ;  of  third 

day,  no 
Eete  vasculosum,  mammalia,  414 
Eetina,  chick,  142,  144 — 146 
Eibs,  chick,  234;  mammalia,  405 
Eodentia,  placenta  of,  353 
Eods  and  cones  of  retina,  chick, 

146 
Eo strum,  chick,  246 
Euminants'  placenta,  histology  of, 

360 


Sacculus    hemisphericus,    mam- 
malia, 390 — 398 
Salivary  glands,  mammalia,  420 
Scala  media  (see  Cochlear  canal) 
Scala  tympani,  mammalia,  395 — 

397 

Scala  vestibuli,  mammalia,  395 — 

397 

Scapula  of  chick,  234 

Sclerotic  coat  of  eye  of  chick,  141 

Sclerotic  capsules,  mammalia,  405 

Scrotum,  mammalia,  416 

Sebaceous  glands,  366 

Secondary  optic  vesicle  [see  Optic 
cup) 

Sections,  method  of  cutting,  434 
— 436  ;  mounting  of,  436 

Segmentation:  of  hen's  egg,  18 
— 24;  meroblastic,  18;  of  mam- 
malian ovum,  312 — 314;  of 
hen's  egg  to  observe,  458;  of 
mammalian  ovum  to  observe, 
461 

Semicircular  canal :  of  chick, 
158  ;  mammalia,  390 — 398 

Semi-lunar  valves,  chick,  258 

Sense  capsules  of  chick,  211 — 212 

Septum  lucidum,  mammalia,  383 

Septum-nasi,  chick,  246 

Serous  membrane  of  chick,  32 — 
41 


484 


INDEX. 


Serous   envelope   of  chick,    107 ; 

of  mammals,  346 
Seventh  nerve  of  chick,  127 — 129, 

203 
Shell-membrane  of  chick,  i 
Shell  of  hen's  egg,  i  ;  formation 

of,  16 
Shield,  embryonic,  of  chick,  49 
Sinus  rhomboidalis  :    of   embryo 

chick,  71,  81  ;  of  rabbit,  329 
Sinus    terminalis,    of    chick    of 

second  day,  91,  104  ;  in  rabbit, 

343 

Sinus  venosus  of  chick,  169,  226, 

285 — 290 
Skeleton  of  limb,  chick,  234 
Skull  of  chick,  235 — 251 ;  cartilage 
and  membrane  bones  of,  246 ; 
of  mammalia,  401 — 405 
Sloth,  placenta,  histology  of,  360 
Somatic  stalk  of  chick,  29 — 42 ; 

of  mammals,  351 
Somatopleure  of  chick,  29 — 33; 

formation  of,  40 — 41,  68 
Spermatozoa  of  chick,  223 
Spinal  nerves  :  of  chick,  123;  de- 
velopment of,  129—132;  of 
mammalia,  400 
Spinal  cord  of  chick:  develop- 
ment of,  251 — 256  ;  white  mat- 
ter of,  252 ;  grey  matter  of, 
253;  canal  of,  252—256;  epi- 
thelium of,  251,  252;  anterior 
grey  commissure  of,  256;  an- 
terior fissure  of,  254 — 256; 
dorsal  fissure  of,  255 — 256  ; 
posterior  grey  commissure  of, 
256 ;  sinus  rhomboidalis  of, 
256;  anterior  columns  of,  256; 
posterior  columns  of,  256 ; 
lateral  columns  of,  256 ;  an- 
terior white  commissure  of, 
256;  posterior  white  commis- 
sure of,  256 
Splanchnic  stalk  of  chick,   29 — 

42,  232 
Splanchnopleure  of   chick,   29 — 

33  ;  formation  of,  40 — 42,  68 
Spleen  of  chick,  182 
Splint  bones  of  chick,  246 
Squamosal  bones  of  chick,  246 


Staining  reagents,  428—432;  hse- 
matoxylin,  429 ;  borax  carmine, 
430;  carmine,  431;  picro-car- 
mine,  431 ;  alum  carmine,  431 

Stapes,  of  chick,  245 ;  mammalia, 
398,  404 

Sternum  of  chick,  235  ;  of  mam- 
malia, 405 

Stomach  of  chick,  173;  mam- 
malia, 418 

Stomodffium,  of  chick,  119,  203; 
mammalia,  420 

Stria  vascularis,  mammalia,  397 

Subclavian  arteries  of  chick,  296 
— 298,  of  mammalia,  409 

Subclavian  veins,  mammalia,  409 

—413 

Sulcus  of  Monro,  373 

Superior  maxilla  of  chick,  165  ; 
maxillary  processes  of  chick, 
202;   of  rabbit,  334 

Superior  cardinal  veins  of  chick, 
228 

Supra-renal  bodies,  mammaha, 
structure  of,  413;  relation  of, 
with  sympathetic  nervous  sys- 
tem, 414 

Subzonal  membrane  of  mammal, 

346 

Sylvian  fissure,  mammalia,   384, 

385 
Sympathetic   nervous    system   of 

mammalia,  400 
Sweat-glands,  366 


Tail-fold  of  chick,   29 — 37,    196; 

of  second  day,  96 ;  of  mammal, 

329 
Tail- swelling  of  chick,  74 
Tarsus  of  chick,  234 
Teeth,  mammalia,  421 
Tela  choroidea,  375 
Tenth  nerve  of  chick,  125,  127 — • 

129,  203 
Testis  of  chick,  222,  371 
Thalamencephalon  :     of     chick, 

117;  of  mammalia,  371 — 376; 

ventricle  of,  372;   floor  of,  372, 


INDEX. 


485 


373;  sides  of,  373  ;  roof  of,  374 

-376 
Third  nerve  of  chick,  129 
Third  ventricle  of  mammaha,  372 
Throat  of  rabbit,    formation  of, 

331 
Thyroid    body,    of    chick,     181  ; 

mammalia,  418 
Tibia  of  chick,  234 
Tongue  of  chick,  282 
Trabecule  of  chick,236,  239 — 241 
Trachea  of  chick,  176,  177  ;  mam- 
malia, 418 
Tuber  cinereum,  373 
Turbinal  bones  of  chick,  246 
Tympanic  cavity  of  chick,    166  ; 
membrane  of  chick,  166  ;  cavity 
of  mammalia,  397,  418;  mem- 
brane of  mammalia,  397 

U. 

Ulna,  of  chick,  234 

Umbilical,  arteries  [see  Allantoic); 
veins  (see  Allantoic  veins);  vesi- 
cle of  mammals  {see  Yolk-sac) ; 
stalk  of  chick  of  third  day,  113; 
cord,  351 

Urachus,  351 

Ureter  of  chick,  219;  mammalia, 

417 

Urethra,  mammalia,  417 

Urinogenital  organs  of  mam- 
malia, 414 — 417;  sinus  of  mam- 
malia, 415—417 

Uterine  crypts,  350 

Uterus,  mammalia,  415 

Utriculus  of  mammalia,  393 — 398 

Uvea  of  iris,  chick,  144 


V. 


Valve  of  Vieussens,  of  birds,  369 ; 

of  mammals,  370 
Vagina  mammaha,  415 
Vagus  nerve  {see  Tenth  nerve) 
Vasa  efferentia  and  recta  mam- 
malia, 414 
Vascular  system  of  chick,   224 — 
230;  of  second  day,  89 — 94,  102 


— 106 ;  of  third  day,  167 — 1 70 ; 
mammalia,  406 — 413 

Vascular  area:  of  blastoderm  of 
chick,  27;  of  third  day,  no — 
113;  of  rabbit's  ovum,  forma- 
tion of,  326 

Vas  deferens :  of  cock,  224  ;  mam- 
malia, 415 

Velum  meduUse  anterius  {see 
Valve  of  Vieussens) ;  posterius, 

370 
Vermiform  appendix,  mammalia, 

419 
Vena  cava,  inferior,  of  chick,  228, 

285 — 290  ;     mammalia,    409— 

413 

Vense  cavte,  superior,  of  chick, 
286 — 290  ;   of  mammalia,  409 

—413 

Venas  advehentes  of  chick,  227, 
287 — 289  ;  revehentes  of  chick, 
227,  287—289 

Vena  terminalis  {see  Sinus  termi- 
nalis) 

Venous  system:  of  chick,  226 — 
229,  283 — 290,301 — 303; mam- 
malia, 409 — 413 

Ventricles  of  larain  of  chick  of 
second  day,  102;  of  mammals, 
117,  121 — 122;  of  chick,  229 

Ventricular  septum,  chick,    230, 

25-7 

Vertebrae  of  chick,  primary,  205 
— 208  ;  permanent,  205 — 208  ; 
bodies  of,  207 — 209 

Vertebral  arches,  osseous,  of 
chick,  207,  210;  mammalia, 
409 

Vertebral  artery  of  chick,  295 — 
298 

Vertebral  column,  of  chick,  205 — 
208  ;  membranous,  205 — 208  ; 
secondary  segmentation  of,  205 
— 208  ;  explanation  of  do.,  205 
— 206;  of  mammaha,  early  de- 
velopment, ossification  of,  400, 
401 

Vertebrate  animal,  general  struc- 
ture of,  39 

Vesicle  of  third  ventricle  {see 
Thalamencephalon) 


486 


INDEX. 


Vessels  of  placenta,,  360 — 363 

Vestibule,  chick,  158 

Villi:  of  human  ovum,  335 ;  of 
zona  in  dog,  347;  of  subzonal 
membrane  of  rabbit,  347 ;  of 
chorion  of  mammal,  349 ;  of 
placenta,  360—363 

Visceral  arches,  245  ;   of  rabbit, 

334 
Visceral  arches  of  chick,  162 — 167; 

of  rabbit,   334;    of  mammalia, 

402 
Visceral  clefts:    of  chick,   162 — 

167,  281;  closure  of  do.,  164; 

of  rabbit,   334;   of  mammalia, 

402,  418 
Visceral  folds  of  chick,  163 
Visceral   skeleton    of  chick,  242 

— 246 
Visceral  vein  of  chick,  284 — 290  ; 

of  mammalia,  409 — 413 
Vitellin,  5 
Vitelline  arteries:  of  chick,  167, 

293 — 298,  225;  of  second  day, 

89,  103 
Vitelline  duct  of  chick,  196,  232; 

of  mammals,  350 
Vitelline  membrane,  4;  of  hen's 

egg,  13 — 15;  of  mammal,  310 
Vitelline  veins  of  chick,  84,  226, 

288 — 290  ;    of  second  day,  92, 

1 04;   in  rabbit,  343;   of  mam- 
malia, 410 — 413 
Vitreous  humour  of  chick,  140, 150 


Viviparous  animals,  30S 
Vomer  of  chick,  246 

W 

White  matter  :  of  spinal  cord  of 
chick,  252;  of  brain  of  mam- 
malia, 386 — 387 

Wings  of  chick,  200 

Wolffian  body:  of  chick,  190 — 
193;  of  mammalia,  414;  of 
chick  of  second  day,  106 

Wolffian  dact  of  chick,  190,  213  ; 
of  second  day,  94 — 95,  106;  of 
mammalia,  414 

Wolffian  ridge  of  chick,  198 

Wolffian  tubules  of  chick,  106, 
191—193,  213 


Yolk  of  hen's  egg,  4 — 7 ;  arrange- 
ment of,  6;  structure  of,  5 

Yolk-sac:  of  chick,  28 — 37,  277 — 
280;  of  mammals,  327;  of 
marsupials,  352;  of  rabbit,  353; 
of  human  ovum,  355 — 358;  of 
dog,  358 


Zona  radiata,  310;  of  chick,  15 
Zonary    placenta:    histology   of, 
360  ;  derivation  of,  364 


'\ 


CAMBEIDGE  :  PRINTED  BY  C.  J.  CLAY,  M.A.  &  SON.  AT  THE  UNIVERSITY  PRESS. 


y.