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Handchir Mikrochir Plast Chir 2004; 36(2/03): 98-107
DOI: 10.1055/s-2004-817871
Original Article

Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Embryology of the Upper Limb: The Molecular Orchestration of Morphogenesis

Embryologie der oberen ExtremitätK. C. Oberg1 , 2 , 3 , L. F. Greer1 , 4 , T. Naruse1 , 5
  • 1Divisions of Human Anatomy, Department of Pathology and Human Anatomy, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, California, USA
  • 2Pediatric Pathology, Department of Pathology and Human Anatomy, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, California, USA
  • 3Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Surgery, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, California, USA
  • 4Department of Natural Sciences, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, California, USA
  • 5Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Yamagata University, Yamagata, Japan
Further Information

Publication History

Received: October 2, 2003

Accepted: October 2, 2003

Publication Date:
26 May 2004 (online)

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Zusammenfassung

Unser Wissen um die Gliedmaßenmorphogenese wurde durch das Sammeln und Auswerten von Daten über molekulare Interaktionen während der Gliedmaßenentwicklung erheblich erweitert. In diesem Kapitel werden die morphologischen Schlüsselereignisse beschrieben, die allgemeinen Kategorien der beteiligten Moleküle definiert und die bekannten Molekularkaskaden und spezifischen Wege, die die Gliedmaßenentwicklung begleiten, beschrieben. Darüber hinaus werden die Kaskaden identifiziert, die durch bekannte genetische Mutationen bei Gliedmaßenmalformationen unterbrochen werden.

Abstract

Accumulating data on the molecular interactions that occur during limb development have greatly enhanced our understanding of the process of limb morphogenesis. In this chapter, the key morphologic events are described, the broad categories of molecules involved are defined, the known molecular cascades and specific pathways that orchestrate limb development are reviewed. In addition, cascades disrupted by known genetic mutations associated with limb malformations are identified.

Schlüsselwörter

Embryologie - obere Extremität - Handfehlbildungen - HOX-Gene

Key words

Review - signal transduction - transcription factors - HOX genes - WNT - FGF - BMP - SHH - limb development - patterning - limb anomalies

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Assistant Professor M.D., Ph.D. Kerby C. Oberg

Division of Human Anatomy
Loma Linda University

24745 Stewart St.

Loma Linda, CA 92350

USA

Email: koberg@som.llu.edu