Normal embryology and teratogenesis: Implications for pathological development from experimental embryology☆
AbstractExperimental and descriptive embryology have given insight into many congenital malformations, but as yet have contributed little toward their elimination or control. Until normal development is well understood, not much can be accomplished in the way of prevention. When malformations are associated with drugs or disease, then it is relatively easy to control abnormal births. However, when structures develop abnormally during a course of apparent normal gestation, it is difficult to conceive of an effective control.Experiments on normal chondrogenic tissues have aded to our understanding of the formation of vertebrae, ribs, and limbs. Much remains to be done to apply the information obtained from experimental embryology to the problem of teratogenesis. Teratogenesis is a manifestation of pathological embryology, a statistical event in the never perfect process of development. As such it will probably never be eliminated as a medical problem, although it may come to be understoo Read more...
James W. Lash
Publication date: 1964/12/01