
Fig.1. Photomicrograph of a transverse section of the developing spinal cord in a 14-mm human embryo of about 44 days (x 75). The roof plate and the floor plate contain no neuroblasts and are relatively thin (Courtesy of Dr. J.W.A. Duckworth, Prof. Emeritus of Anatomy, University of Toronto)

Fig.4. Diagrams illustrating development of spinal cord. A, Transverse section through the neural tube of an embryo of about 23 days. Б и В, Similar sections at six and nine weeks, respectively. Г, Section through the wall of the neural tube shown in A. Д, Section through the wall of developing spinal cord, showing the three different zones. Note that the neural canal of neural tube is converted into the central canal of the spinal cord
1 - neural canal, 2 - neural tube, 3 - derivative of neural crest, 4 - marginal zone, 5 - alar plate, 6 - sulcus limitans, 7 - basal plate, 8 - motor neuroblast, 9 - roof plate, 10 - afferent neuroblasts in spinal ganglion (derived from the neural crest), 11 - floor plate, 12 - dorsal horn (gray matter), 13 - ventral horn (gray matter), 14 - trunk of spinal nerve, 15 - dorsal septum, 16 - central canal, 17 - white matter, 18 - ventral median fissure, 19 - internal limiting membrane, 20 - neuroepithelial cells, 21 - external limiting membrane, 22 - mesemchyme, 23 - dividing neurirpithelial cell, 24 - ventricular zone, 25 - intermediate (mantle) zone, 26 - marginal zone (From Moore K.L. (1988))