trachea development

Definition

Target type: biologicalprocess

The process whose specific outcome is the progression of a trachea over time, from its formation to the mature structure. The trachea is the portion of the airway that attaches to the bronchi as it branches. [GOC:dph]

Trachea development is a complex process that begins during embryonic development and continues throughout childhood. It involves the coordinated interaction of various cell types and signaling pathways to form the trachea, the airway that connects the larynx to the lungs.

The trachea develops from the ventral part of the foregut, a structure that gives rise to the digestive and respiratory systems. At the end of the fourth week of human gestation, the foregut forms a groove called the tracheoesophageal groove. This groove gradually deepens and separates from the foregut, forming a tube called the tracheoesophageal septum.

As the tracheoesophageal septum develops, it separates the trachea from the esophagus, the tube that connects the mouth to the stomach. The trachea then grows caudally, forming a connection with the developing lungs.

The development of the trachea involves several key steps:

* **Formation of the tracheal epithelium:** The inner lining of the trachea, called the tracheal epithelium, is formed from endoderm, a type of embryonic tissue.
* **Formation of the tracheal cartilage:** The supporting structure of the trachea, called the tracheal cartilage, is formed from mesoderm, another type of embryonic tissue. The cartilage rings are initially hyaline cartilage but later become more fibrocartilaginous.
* **Formation of the tracheal smooth muscle:** The smooth muscle layer surrounding the trachea is formed from mesoderm.
* **Formation of the tracheal blood vessels:** The blood vessels supplying the trachea are formed from mesoderm.

The development of the trachea is tightly regulated by a complex network of signaling molecules, including:

* **Fibroblast growth factors (FGFs):** FGFs play a key role in the proliferation and differentiation of tracheal cells.
* **Sonic hedgehog (Shh):** Shh is a signaling molecule that is essential for the patterning of the tracheoesophageal septum.
* **Wnt proteins:** Wnt proteins regulate the development of the tracheal cartilage.
* **Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs):** BMPs control the differentiation of tracheal epithelial cells.

The trachea continues to grow and develop throughout childhood. During this period, the tracheal cartilage rings become more prominent, and the tracheal epithelium undergoes further differentiation.

The development of the trachea is a critical process for respiratory function. Defects in trachea development can lead to a variety of congenital anomalies, such as tracheoesophageal fistula, tracheal stenosis, and tracheal agenesis.'
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