Fate of the CD-1

Germ Layers

The three germ layers (ectoderm, mesoderm
and endoderm) give rise to all the tissues
and organs of the body. Most organs receive
contributions from more than one germ layer.
A summary of the derivatives of each germ
layer is given below.
DERIVATIVES OF ECTODERM
Lining Epithelia
The epithelium lining the following is of
ectodermal origin:
1. Skin, including its pigment cells (from
neural crest cells).
2. Mucous membrane of lips, cheeks, gums,
part of the floor of the mouth, part of
the palate, nasal cavities and paranasal
sinuses.
3. Lower part of anal canal.
4. Terminal part of male urethra.
5. Outer surface of labia minora and whole
of labia majora.
6. Anterior epithelium of cornea, epithelium
of conjunctiva, epithelial layers of ciliary
body and iris.

ECTODERM
Surface ectoderm Neural tube Neural crest
• Epidermis of skin • Brain & spinal cord • Medulla of suprarenal
• Sweet and sebaceous glands • Retina • Pigment cells (melanocytes)
• Mammary gland • Pineal body • Schwann cells
• Hair • Posterior pituitary • Dorsal nerve root ganglia
• Nail • Cranial nerve ganglia
• Enamel of teeth • Sympathetic ganglia
• Epithelium of lip, cheeks, gums • Dentine of teeth
• Lens of eye • Bones of head (skull)
• Anterior pituitary • Connective tissue of head
• Internal ear • Dermis of face and neck
• Outer layer of tympanic membrane • Pharyngeal arch cartilage
• Epithelium of cornea, conjunctiva, • Bulbar and conal ridge in heart
ciliary body & iris

Fig. CD-1.1. Derivatives of ectoderm. Derivatives of surface epithelium, neural tube and neural crest are listed
separately.

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 CD-2 HUMAN EMBRYOLOGY

7. Outer layer of tympanic membrane. DERIVATIVES OF ENDODERM

epithelial lining of membranous labyrinth
including the special end organs. Lining Epithelia
Glands The following lining epithelia are of endodermal
origin.
(a) Exocrine: Sweat glands, sebaceous glands,
1. Epithelium of part of the mouth, part
parotid (and other salivary glands?),
of the palate, tongue, tonsil, pharynx,
mammary gland, lacrimal gland.
oesophagus, stomach, small and large
(b) Endocrine: Hypophysis cerebri, adrenal
intestines and upper part of anal canal.
medulla.
2. Epithelium of pharyngo-tympanic tube,
middle ear, inner layer of tympanic
Other Derivatives membrane, mastoid antrum and air cells.
1. Hair. 3. Epithelium of respiratory tract.
2. Nails. 4. Epithelium of gall bladder and extrahepatic
3. Enamel of teeth. duct system; epithelium of pancreatic
4. Lens of eye; musculature of iris; ciliary ducts.
muscles (from neural crest?); vitreous(?). 5. Epithelium of urinary bladder except
5. Nervous system (brain and spinal cord) trigone (mesoderm); female urethra except
including all neurons, neuroglia (except part of its posterior wall (mesoderm); male
microglia), and Schwann cells (from neural urethra except part of the posterior wall of
crest). its prostatic part (mesoderm) and except
6. Pia-arachnoid (from neural crest). the part of the penile urethra lying in the
7. Branchial cartilage (from neural crest?). glans penis (ectoderm).
8. Substance of cornea, sclera and choroid 6. Epithelium of greater part of vagina, vestibule
(from neural crest?). and inner surface of labia minora.

ENDODERM
Epithelium of G.I. tract Epithelium of Epithelium of
respiratory system pharyngeal pouches
• Gut
• Liver • Trachea • Pharynx
• Gall bladder • Bronchi • Thyroid gland
• Pancreas • Lung alveoli • Tympanic cavity
• Urinary bladder • Auditory tube
• Urethra • Mastoid air cells
• Tonsils
• Thymus
• Parathyroid

Fig. CD-1.2. Derivatives of endoderm listed under three different heads. 1. From epithelial lining of gut (including
urinary bladder). 2. Respiratory system and epithelial lining of pharynx. 3. Derivatives of pharyngeal pouches

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 FACE OF THE GERM LAYERS CD-3

MESODERM
Paraxial Intermediate Lateral
• Skeletal muscle of head trunk and • Gonads and gametes • Pleura, pericardium and peritoneum,
limbs mesenteries
• Skeleton except bones of cranium • Kidney • Skeleton of limbs
• Dermis of skin (partly) • Mesonephric duct • Blood cells
• Connective tissues • Adrenal cortex • Endothelium and endocardium
• Paramesonephric duct • Myocardium
• Vagina, uterus and uterine tubes • Wall of gut
• Wall of respiratory tract

Fig. CD-1.3. Derivatives of mesoderm. Structures derived from paraxial, intermediate and lateral mesoderm are
listed separately.

Glands (ectoderm) and ciliary muscles (neural

crest?).
(a) Endocrine: Thyroid, parathyroid, thymus,
5. Heart, all blood vessels and lymphatics,
islets of Langerhans.
and blood cells.
(b) Exocrine: Liver, pancreas, glands in wall
of gastrointestinal tract, greater part of 6. Kidneys, ureters, trigone of bladder,
prostate (except inner glandular zone) and posterior wall of part of the female urethra,
its female homologues. posterior wall of upper half of prostatic part
of male urethra, and the inner glandular
zone of the prostate.
DERIVATIVES OF MESODERM 7. Ovary, uterus, uterine tubes, upper part of
1. All connective tissues including loose vagina.
areolar tissue filling the interstices between 8. Testis, epidydimis, ductus deferens, seminal
other tissues, superficial and deep fascia, vesicle, ejaculatory duct.
ligaments, tendons, aponeuroses, and the 9. Lining mesothelium of pleural, pericardial
dermis of the skin. and peritoneal cavities; and of tunica
2. Specialized connective tissues like adipose vaginalis.
tissue, reticular tissue, cartilage and 10. Lining mesothelium of bursae and joints.
bone. 11. Substance of cornea; sclera; choroid. (?)
3. Dentine of teeth. 12. Substance of ciliary body and iris.
4. All muscles (smooth, striated and cardiac) 13. Duramater; pia-arachnoid (?); microglia
except the musculature of the iris 14. Adrenal cortex.

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