Correct Answer: 4.
the development of the human eye is a complex process that begins early in fetal life. the lens, a crucial component of the eye, starts to form approximately four weeks after conception. this timing is critical as it follows several other key developmental milestones in the embryonic eye formation process.
around three weeks gestation, the initial stages of eye development begin with the formation of the optic pits on the sides of the neural tube, which is the precursor to the central nervous system. these pits will eventually evolve into the optic vesicles. shortly thereafter, around three and a half weeks gestation, the optic vesicles extend to form the optic stalks. these stalks connect the developing eyes to the brain, allowing for the eventual transmission of visual information from the eyes to the brain.
at four weeks gestation, the lens placodes, which are thickened regions of the ectoderm, start to form directly from these optic vesicles. these placodes will invaginate and detach to form the lens vesicles by the end of the fourth week. this detachment is critical as it initiates the development of the lens itself, which will grow and become more sophisticated to focus light onto the retina.
following the formation of the lens vesicles, further differentiation and growth continue. by six weeks gestation, the lens has significantly developed, encapsulating itself and beginning the early stages of transparency and refractive function necessary for vision. the ongoing development of other ocular structures around the lens, including the cornea, retina, and eyelids, also supports the functional maturation of the eye.
therefore, the correct answer to when the lens begins to form in a fetus is four weeks after conception. this is a key period in the embryological schedule of eye development, leading to the progressive formation of a fully functional visual system.
|