One of the main characteristics of the developing brain is that all neurons and the majority of macroglia originate first in the ventricular zone (VZ), next to the lumen of the cerebral ventricles, and later on in a secondary germinal area above the VZ, the subventricular zone (SVZ). The SVZ is a transient compartment mitotically active in humans for several gestational months. It serves as a major source of cortical projection neurons as well as an additional source of glial cells and potentially some interneuron subpopulations. The SVZ is subdivided into the smaller inner (iSVZ) and the expanded outer SVZ (oSVZ). The enlargement of the SVZ and, in particular, the emergence of the oSVZ are evolutionary adaptations that were critical to the expansion and unique cellular composition of the primate cerebral cortex. In this review, we discuss the cell types and organization of the human SVZ during the first half of the 40 weeks of gestation that comprise intrauterine development. We focus on this period as it is when the bulk of neurogenesis in the human cerebral cortex takes place. We consider how the survival and fate of SVZ cells depend on environmental influences, by analyzing the results from in vitro experiments with human cortical progenitor cells. This in vitro model is a powerful tool to better understand human neocortex formation and the etiology of neurodevelopmental disorders, which in turn will facilitate the design of targeted preventive and/or therapeutic strategies.

发育中的大脑的主要特征之一是，所有神经元和大部分的巨胶质细胞首先起源于心室区（VZ），紧接着是脑室管腔，然后起源于VZ上方的第二生发区。脑室下区域（SVZ）。SVZ是一个在人类妊娠数月内有丝分裂活跃的短暂区室。它是皮层投射神经元的主要来源，也是神经胶质细胞和潜在的一些中间神经元亚群的额外来源。SVZ细分为较小的内部SVZ（iSVZ）和扩展的外部SVZ（oSVZ）。SVZ的扩大，尤其是oSVZ的出现，是对灵长类大脑皮层的扩张和独特细胞组成至关重要的进化适应。在这篇评论中，我们讨论了在妊娠40周的前半部分中人SVZ的细胞类型和组织，其中包括宫内发育。我们专注于这一时期，因为此时人类大脑皮层中的大量神经发生发生了。通过分析人类皮质祖细胞的体外实验结果，我们考虑了SVZ细胞的存活和命运如何取决于环境的影响。该体外模型是更好地了解人类新皮层形成和神经发育障碍的病因的有力工具，这反过来将有助于设计针对性的预防和/或治疗策略。我们专注于这一时期，因为此时人类大脑皮层中的大量神经发生发生了。通过分析人类皮质祖细胞的体外实验结果，我们考虑了SVZ细胞的存活和命运如何取决于环境的影响。该体外模型是更好地了解人类新皮层形成和神经发育障碍的病因的有力工具，这反过来将有助于设计针对性的预防和/或治疗策略。我们专注于这一时期，因为此时人类大脑皮层中的大量神经发生发生了。通过分析人类皮质祖细胞的体外实验结果，我们考虑了SVZ细胞的存活和命运如何取决于环境的影响。该体外模型是更好地了解人类新皮层形成和神经发育障碍的病因的有力工具，这反过来将有助于设计针对性的预防和/或治疗策略。