Last edited: 8/11/2021

1. ENDODERM
Endoderm Medical Editor: Jan Camille M. Santico

OUTLINE

I) EMBRYONIC DEVELOPMENT
II) ENDODERMAL DERIVATIVES
III) REVIEW QUESTIONS
IV) REFRENCES

I) EMBRYONIC DEVELOPMENT
(A) GASTRULATION & NOTOCHORD FORMATION (B) EMBRYONIC FOLDING
Recall: Gastrulation is the process wherein the three (1) Lateral Folding
germ layers and the axial orientation are established in
the embryo [Moore et al, 2016] Lateral folding produces right and left lateral folds which
o The bilaminar disc is transformed into a trilaminar disc fuse to form a cylindrical embryo
Can be visualized through a cross-section of the embryo
The primitive streak and primitive node develop, through o Better for visualizing the gut cavities and sections of
which epiblast cells migrate. the gut tube
The migration of epiblast cells through the primitive streak
forms three new layers:
o Endoderm – epiblast cells invade the hypoblast layer
o Mesoderm – epiblast cells form a new layer in
between the epiblast and hypoblast
o Ectoderm – epiblast cells differentiate into this
Epiblast cells also migrate through the primitive node,
extending cranially to form the notochord.

Figure 1. Lateral Folding [Sadler, 2019]

(2) Longitudinal Folding / Cranio-caudal Folding

Longitudinal folding produces the head and tail folds
Can be visualized through a sagittal section of the
embryo
o Better for:
 visualizing the entire length of the gut tube
 Distinguishing the sections of the gut (foregut,
midgut, hindgut)
 understanding the derivations of the endoderm
o This view shows the connection between the gut and
the yolk sac

Figure 2. Longitudinal Folding [Sadler, 2019]

(C) FUSED MEMBRANES

Buccopharyngeal membrane
o An area of ectoderm directly fused to the endoderm in
the cranial end of the embryo
o Will break down to become the mouth
Cloacal membrane
o An area of ectoderm directly fused to the endoderm in
the caudal end of the embryo
o Will break down to become the anus

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 II) ENDODERMAL DERIVATIVES Table 1. Derivatives of Pharyngeal Pouches
Pharyngeal
The endoderm forms the epithelial lining of the gut tube Derivative
Pouch
The gut tube is divided into three sections/parts: Middle Ear/Tympanic Cavity
o Foregut 1st
Auditory Tube/Eustachian Tube
o Midgut
Tonsils (tubal, pharyngeal, lingual,
o Hindgut 2nd
palatine)
Superior parathyroid gland
Inferior parathyroid gland
3 and 4
rd th
Parafollicular cells (C cells)
Thymus gland

Figure 3. Formation of the Primitive Gut [Sadler, 2019]

(A) FOREGUT DERIVATIVES

Pharynx Figure 4. Pharyngeal Apparatus [Sadler, 2019]
Esophagus
Stomach (E) FUSED MEMBRANES
First two parts of the duodenum
(1) Buccopharyngeal membrane
GIT-associated Organs
o Respiratory bud/diverticulum  respiratory tract Fused ectoderm and endoderm in the cranial region of
o Hepatic  liver, gallbladder, head of pancreas the embryo
o Pancreatic  body and tail of pancreas Will form the mouth
(2) Cloacal Membrane
(B) MIDGUT DERIVATIVES Fused ectoderm and endoderm in the caudal region of
Last two parts of the duodenum the embryo
Jejunum Will form the urethra and anal canal
Ileum The cloaca will bifurcate:
Cecum o One part moves anteriorly to form the urogenital
Ascending colon sinus, which forms the following:
Proximal 2/3 of the transverse colon  bladder
 urethra
(C) HINDGUT DERIVATIVES  prostate gland (in males)
Distal 1/3 of transverse colon o One part moves posteriorly to form the anal canal
Descending colon  The pectinate line separates the endoderm and
Sigmoid colon ectoderm derived portions of the anal canal
Rectum • Superior 2/3 of anal canal – endoderm
Anal canal • Inferior 1/3 – ectoderm
(D) PHARYNX
The primitive pharynx is derived from endoderm
o A bud from the primitive pharynx forms the thyroid
The pharyngeal apparatus is also derived from
endoderm. It consists of:
o Pharyngeal arches
o Pharyngeal pouches
o Pharyngeal grooves
o Pharyngeal membranes
The inner membranes of the pharyngeal apparatus are Figure 5. Bifurcation of the Cloacal Membrane [Sadler, 2019]
lined by endoderm

Remember
Mnemonic for Endodermal Derivatives: ENDO
Epithelial lining of GIT (pharynx to first 2/3 of anal canal)
Neck (thyroid, thymus, parathyroid glands)
Drainer (bladder, urethra)
Organs associated with GIT (lungs, liver, pancreas)

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 III) REVIEW QUESTIONS

Which of the following organs is NOT an

endodermal derivative?
a. Liver
b. Pancreas
c. Spleen
d. Stomach

Which of the following is a derivative of the midgut?

a. First two parts of the duodenum
b. Proximal 2/3 of the transverse colon
c. Sigmoid colon
d. Rectum

The tonsils are derived from which pharyngeal

arch?
a. 1st
b. 2nd
c. 3rd
d. 4th

The cloacal membrane forms which of the following

structures?
a. Urethra and anal canal
b. Ureter and urethra
c. Rectum and anal canal
d. Vas deferens and urethra

Which of the following is NOT a foregut derivative?

a. Pharynx
b. Esophagus
c. Stomach
d. Jejunum

CHECK YOUR ANSWERS

IV) REFRENCES
● Moore, K.; Persaud, T.V.N. & Torchia, M. (2016). The
Developing Human: Clinically Oriented Embryology. 10th Ed.
Elsevier
● Sadler,T.W. (2019). Langman’s Medical Embryology. 14th Ed.
Wolters Kluwer

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