GASTRULATION IN CHICK-III - FORMATION OF PRIMITIVE STREAK & MESODERM

The second step in gastrulation is the formation of primitive streak. At the posterior region of area pellucida in the mid dorsal line primitive streak will appear as a thickened area. It starts eight hours after incubation. The thickening is because convergence of cells of blastoderm towards the centre. Usually in the early stages the primitive streak is short and broad. It is called primitive streak. It gradually extends to the middle of blastoderm. At eighteen to nineteen hours of incubation, primitive streak is well developed. It is caikd definite primitive streak. Along the middle line of primitive streak a narrow furrow is develop called Primitive groove. The edges of groove are thick. They are called primitive folds. At the anterior end of groove a mass of closely packed cells will be present. It is called "hensen's node" or primitive knob. In the centre of this node a pit is present. It is called primitive pit. It represents the vestige of neurenteric canal. The primitive streak elongates along with this, area pellucida will also elongates. As the primitive streaks growing the cells from this region will invigilate into space between epiblast and hypoblast This process is called immigration. The immigrated cells will become prechordal plate, notochord, and mesoderm. Anterior to primitive streak the mesoderm cells will not migrate to primitive streak. This mesoderm free area is called proamnion. At this place head will develop.