6TH ANNUAL STUART-REINER-MEMORIAL-LECTURE - EMBRYONIC-DEVELOPMENT OF NERVE AND MUSCLE

This article provides a basic scheme of sequential anatomic and some p hysiologic events occurring during the course of embryonic development of motor neurons and muscles, leading to the establishment of mature nerve-muscle relationships. Motor neurons and muscles begin their deve lopment independently and during embryogenesis they become dependent o n each other for further development and survival, Aspects of developm ent which occur independently and those requiring mutual interactions are identified. The development of motor neurons is discussed with res pect to their production, projection, neuromuscular transmission, myel ination, sprouting, survival, and death. The development of muscles is discussed with respect to the origin, differentiation, and muscle fib er types. Discussion on the development of neuromuscular junction incl udes differentiation of presynaptic nerve terminal, postsynaptic compo nents, and elimination of multiple axons. (C) 1995 John Wiley and Sons , Inc.