Correct Answer: 6.
the development of the human eye is a complex process that begins early in fetal development. at about three weeks after conception, the first key structures in eye development, known as optic pits, start to form on the sides of the neural tube. these pits are essentially the starting point for the development of the eyes.
shortly after the appearance of the optic pits, around three and a half weeks, the eye stalks begin to develop. these stalks extend from the developing brain and are crucial for the positioning and further development of the eyes. as the fetus continues to develop, these eye stalks will eventually help form the connection between the eyes and the brain, facilitating the optic nerves.
by the fourth week of gestation, the lens placodes, which are thickened regions of ectoderm, start to form. these placodes are critical as they directly give rise to the lenses of the eyes. over the subsequent days, these placodes will invaginate to form lens pits, and by the end of the fourth week, these pits detach from the surface ectoderm to form the lens vesicles. this process marks the beginning of the actual lens formation.
by the sixth week of gestation, the lens of the eye has developed significantly. the lens vesicles transform into the definitive lens, crucial for focusing light onto the retina, which is also concurrently developing. this period is critical as the basic structures necessary for vision are formed and start to mature, setting the stage for further development and refinement of the visual system in later stages of gestation.
thus, by six weeks after conception, the lens in a fetus has developed, marking an important milestone in the complex journey of eye development. this development is part of a precisely coordinated sequence of events that continues throughout gestation, culminating in the sophisticated visual system present at birth.
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