Lockdown Embryology with Prof Alice Roberts #11: Heart Origins

A horseshoe of ‘blood islands’ appears around the edges of the germ disc in the third week of development. The cells in these islands join up to form tubes - and the blood cells inside them. Two endocardial tubes are pushed together as the embryo folds itself into a cylinder, to form a single heart tube, which starts to beat in the fourth week.

[martincocks]

Beautifully timed, illustrated and explained. I was fascinated by embryology at school and requested a copy of Langman's embryology for my birthday. So these videos are very helpful and I love the format, building the information as the picture is drawn and summarising in words and colour. Thank you.

[edmundleonjr]

Just received "The Incredible Unlikeliness of Being."

[Yanquetino]

I was anxiously awaiting for this lesson! Mind blown! And now I'm just as anxious to watch the next one. Makes me wish I were a student in your classes, to participate in the questions, answers, discussions. Thank you, Professor Roberts!

[phonotical]

Wish mine worked properly, or even formed properly, emotional heartache isn't just a saying!

[radwanabu-issa]

the myocardium is there from the beginning as splanchnic mesoderm of the lateral plate mesoderm!

[johnbarnes]

It's always good to expand your knowledge, I know I shouldn't but I can't help seeing cartoon characters appearing when you draw, like the sad critter standing above the little happy chap. You should create your own graphic novel, if you have the time in your hectic schedule.

[PaulCarneyArts]

What a wonderful way to learn such a complex subject. I'd only say that some text overlays of key words would help!

[helical_hippo]

Really enjoying these videos Prof. Roberts, thank you. Find them strangely calming. This video has been my favourite as it's close to what I work on. Looking forward to the next!

[coprolite]

Figuring out the early stages in my head - that double horseshoe starts out in the extraembryonic mesoderm at the edge of the amniotic cavity, then effectively migrates down into the mesoderm inside the germ disc, then that mesoderm pulls apart at the edges, with the endocardial tubes left next to the endoderm / yolk sac (that middle, sad-face cross section)?

I definitely do think about things in three dimensions too much!