Neural plate Health Dictionary

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Neural Plate: From 1 Different Sources

the strip of ectoderm lying along the central axis of the early embryo that forms the *neural tube and subsequently the central nervous system.
Health Source: Oxford | Concise Colour Medical Dictionary
Author: Jonathan Law, Elizabeth Martin

Neural Tube

The structure in the EMBRYO from which the BRAIN and SPINAL CORD develop.... neural tube

Neural Tube Defects

Congenital abnormalities resulting from the failure of the NEURAL TUBE to form normally. The resulting conditions include SPINA BIFIDA, MENINGOCELE and defects in the bones of the SKULL.... neural tube defects

Platelet

The smallest type of blood cell, also called a thrombocyte. Platelets play a major role in blood clotting.... platelet

Platelet Aggregation

Platelets are the small, rather uniform fragments of large bone marrow cells that aid the blood in coagulation, hemostasis, inflammation, and thrombus formation. Mild subclotting and sticking is a common early condition that can lead to thrombosis, atherosclerosis, and strokes, and can be helped by an aspirin a day, better fat digestion, and Ceanothus.... platelet aggregation

Platelets

Blood platelets, or thrombocytes, are small spherical bodies in the BLOOD, which play an important part in the process of its COAGULATION. Normally, there are around 300,000 per cubic millimetre of blood.... platelets

Aggregation, Platelet

The clumping together of platelets (small, sticky blood particles). Aggregation is the 1st stage of blood clotting and helps to plug injured vessels. Inappropriate aggregation can have adverse effects; for example, if aggregation occurs in an artery, it may result in a thrombosis.... aggregation, platelet

Neural Tube Defect

A developmental failure affecting the spinal cord or brain of the embryo. The most serious defect is anencephaly (total lack of a brain), which is fatal. More common is spina bifida, in which the vertebrae do not form a complete ring around the spinal cord. Spina bifida can occur anywhere on the spine, but it is most common in the lower back.

There are different forms of spina bifida. In spina bifida occulta, the only defect is a failure of the fusion of the bony arches behind the spinal cord, which may not cause any problems. When the bone defect is more extensive, there may be a meningocele, a protrusion of the meninges, or a myelomeningocele, a malformation of the spinal cord. Myelomeningocele is likely to cause severe handicap, with paralysis of the legs, loss of sensation in the lower body, hydrocephalus, and paralysis of the anus and bladder, causing incontinence. Associated problems include cerebral palsy, epilepsy, and mental handicap.

Surgery is usually performed a few days after birth. In mild cases, the defect can usually be corrected, but in myelomeningocele, some handicap will remain.

Genetic factors play a part in neural tube defects, which show multifactorial inheritance. Couples who have had an affected child or who have a family history of neural tube defects should seek genetic counselling. The risk of a neural tube defect occurring can be substantially reduced if the mother takes folic acid supplements for a month before conception and during the early part of the pregnancy.

Ultrasound scanning and amniocentesis allow accurate antenatal testing for neural tube defects.... neural tube defect

Cribriform Plate

see ethmoid bone.... cribriform plate

End-plate

n. the area of muscle cell membrane immediately beneath the motor nerve ending at a *neuromuscular junction. Special receptors in this area trigger muscular contraction when the nerve ending releases its *neurotransmitter.... end-plate

Growth Plate

see physis.... growth plate

Neural Arch

see vertebra.... neural arch

Neural Crest

the two bands of ectodermal tissue that flank the *neural plate of the early embryo. Cells of the neural crest migrate throughout the embryo and develop into sensory nerve cells and peripheral nerve cells of the autonomic nervous system.... neural crest

Neural Spine

the spinous process situated on the neural arch of a *vertebra.... neural spine

Platelet-derived Growth Factor

(PDGF) see growth factor.... platelet-derived growth factor

Platelet Activation

the process whereby platelets adhere to collagen released from endothelial cells in damaged blood vessels and aggregate to form a plug. An important metabolic pathway in platelets converts membrane phospholipids to *thromboxane A2 (TXA2), which can activate platelets. ADP, released from platelet granules, and *thrombin are other activators. The adhesive and aggregation reactions of platelets are mediated through surface membrane glycoproteins (Glp), Glp Ib and Glp IIb/IIIa. Aspirin acts as an *antiplatelet drug by irreversibly inhibiting one of the enzymes of this pathway, cyclo-oxygenase. Clopidrogel inhibits the ADP receptor on platelet membranes, and *abciximab blocks platelet aggregation by inhibiting Glp IIb/IIIa (see illustration overleaf).... platelet activation

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