- Describe the role of the apical ectodermal ridge and zone of polarizing activity in limb development
- Apical Ectodermal Ridge (AER)
- Produces Fibroblast Growth Factors (FGF8) which induces the limb mesenchyme to grow and develop in the proximal-distal axis
- FGF activates the ZPA to express SHH genes
- Zone of Polarizing Activity (ZPA)
- SHH is expressed when the ZPA is activated by FGF. It controls the normal patterning of the limbs along the anterior-posterior axis
- Apical Ectodermal Ridge (AER)
- Define the following congenital anomalies: amelia, phocomelia, meromelia, brachydactyly, syndactyly
- Amelia
- absence of limb or limbs
- Phocomelia
- underdeveloped limbs
- Meromelia
- absence of part of a limb
- Brachydactyly
- Shortened digits
- Syndactyly
- Fused or webbed fingers
- Amelia



