cardiac chamber formation

Definition

Target type: biologicalprocess

The developmental process pertaining to the initial formation of a cardiac chamber from unspecified parts. A cardiac chamber is an enclosed cavity within the heart. [GOC:mtg_heart]

Cardiac chamber formation is a complex developmental process that begins early in embryogenesis and involves the coordinated action of multiple signaling pathways, transcription factors, and cellular interactions. Here is a detailed description of the process:

**1. Heart Tube Formation:**
- The heart develops from two primordial heart tubes that arise from the mesoderm, a layer of tissue in the developing embryo.
- These tubes fuse at the midline to form a single, tubular heart that begins to beat around day 21 of human gestation.

**2. Looping and Segmentation:**
- The straight heart tube then undergoes a series of coordinated bends and twists, known as looping, to form a horseshoe-shaped structure.
- This looping process establishes the basic anatomical organization of the heart with the future left ventricle on the left side and the future right ventricle on the right.
- The heart tube is also segmented into four chambers: the atria and ventricles.

**3. Atrial and Ventricular Septation:**
- The formation of the atrial and ventricular septa divides the heart into four distinct chambers.
- The **atrial septum** is formed by two septa, the septum primum and the septum secundum, which grow towards each other and fuse.
- The **ventricular septum** develops from a muscular septum that grows upwards from the floor of the ventricle.

**4. Valve Formation:**
- The heart valves are formed from endocardial cushions, which are masses of specialized tissue that arise from the endocardium, the inner lining of the heart.
- These cushions grow and fuse to form the valves that regulate blood flow between the chambers.

**5. Cardiac Muscle Development:**
- The heart muscle, or myocardium, develops from the mesoderm and forms a thick layer around the chambers.
- The cardiomyocytes, or heart muscle cells, differentiate and begin to contract, generating the rhythmic beat of the heart.

**6. Vascular Development:**
- The heart is connected to the developing circulatory system through the formation of major arteries and veins.
- The aorta, the main artery carrying oxygenated blood from the heart, and the vena cava, the main vein returning deoxygenated blood to the heart, develop alongside the heart chambers.

**7. Remodeling and Maturation:**
- Throughout fetal development, the heart undergoes significant remodeling and maturation.
- The chambers enlarge, the walls thicken, and the valves mature to prepare the heart for independent function after birth.

**8. Birth and Beyond:**
- At birth, the heart undergoes a major shift in its function, as it transitions from a fetal circulation to an adult circulation.
- This transition involves changes in the blood flow patterns and the closure of fetal shunts, which are temporary bypasses in the fetal circulation.

**Overall, cardiac chamber formation is a complex and tightly regulated process that involves a symphony of cellular and molecular events. This developmental process ensures that the heart is structurally and functionally ready to pump blood effectively throughout the body.**'
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