Fate of the 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.

CD-1
1. Skin, including its pigment cells (from neural crest cells). 2. Mucous membrane of lips, cheeks, gums, part of the oor 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.

DERIVATIVES OF ECTODERM Lining Epithelia

The epithelium lining the following is of ectodermal origin:
ECTODERM Surface ectoderm Epidermis of skin Sweet and sebaceous glands Mammary gland Hair Nail Enamel of teeth Epithelium of lip, cheeks, gums Lens of eye Anterior pituitary Internal ear Outer layer of tympanic membrane Epithelium of cornea, conjunctiva, ciliary body & iris Neural tube

Neural crest
Medulla of suprarenal Pigment cells (melanocytes) Schwann cells Dorsal nerve root ganglia Cranial nerve ganglia Sympathetic ganglia Dentine of teeth Bones of head (skull) Connective tissue of head Dermis of face and neck Pharyngeal arch cartilage Bulbar and conal ridge in heart

Brain & spinal cord Retina Pineal body Posterior pituitary

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. epithelial lining of membranous labyrinth including the special end organs.

DERIVATIVES OF ENDODERM Lining Epithelia

The following lining epithelia are of endodermal origin. 1. Epithelium of part of the mouth, part of the palate, tongue, tonsil, pharynx, oesophagus, stomach, small and large intestines and upper part of anal canal. 2. Epithelium of pharyngo-tympanic tube, middle ear, inner layer of tympanic membrane, mastoid antrum and air cells. 3. Epithelium of respiratory tract. 4. Epithelium of gall bladder and extrahepatic duct system; epithelium of pancreatic ducts. 5. Epithelium of urinary bladder except trigone (mesoderm); female urethra except part of its posterior wall (mesoderm); male urethra except part of the posterior wall of its prostatic part (mesoderm) and except the part of the penile urethra lying in the glans penis (ectoderm). 6. Epithelium of greater part of vagina, vestibule and inner surface of labia minora.

Glands
(a) Exocrine: Sweat glands, sebaceous glands, parotid (and other salivary glands?), mammary gland, lacrimal gland. (b) Endocrine: Hypophysis cerebri, adrenal medulla.

Other Derivatives
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Hair. Nails. Enamel of teeth. Lens of eye; musculature of iris; ciliary muscles (from neural crest?); vitreous(?). Nervous system (brain and spinal cord) including all neurons, neuroglia (except microglia), and Schwann cells (from neural crest). Pia-arachnoid (from neural crest). Branchial cartilage (from neural crest?). Substance of cornea, sclera and choroid (from neural crest?).
ENDODERM Epithelium of G.I. tract Gut Liver Gall bladder Pancreas Urinary bladder Urethra Trachea Bronchi

6. 7. 8.

Epithelium of respiratory system

Epithelium of pharyngeal pouches

Pharynx Thyroid gland Tympanic cavity Auditory tube Mastoid air cells Tonsils Thymus Parathyroid

Lung alveoli

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 Skeletal muscle of head trunk and limbs Skeleton except bones of cranium Dermis of skin (partly) Connective tissues Intermediate Gonads and gametes Kidney Mesonephric duct Adrenal cortex Paramesonephric duct Vagina, uterus and uterine tubes

Lateral
Pleura, pericardium and peritoneum, mesenteries Skeleton of limbs Blood cells Endothelium and endocardium Myocardium 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
(a) Endocrine: Thyroid, parathyroid, thymus, islets of Langerhans. (b) Exocrine: Liver, pancreas, glands in wall of gastrointestinal tract, greater part of prostate (except inner glandular zone) and its female homologues. 5. 6.

DERIVATIVES OF MESODERM
1. All connective tissues including loose areolar tissue lling the interstices between other tissues, supercial and deep fascia, ligaments, tendons, aponeuroses, and the dermis of the skin. 2. Specialized connective tissues like adipose tissue, reticular tissue, cartilage and bone. 3. Dentine of teeth. 4. All muscles (smooth, striated and cardiac) except the musculature of the iris

7. 8. 9.

10. 11. 12. 13. 14.

(ectoderm) and ciliary muscles (neural crest?). Heart, all blood vessels and lymphatics, and blood cells. Kidneys, ureters, trigone of bladder, posterior wall of part of the female urethra, posterior wall of upper half of prostatic part of male urethra, and the inner glandular zone of the prostate. Ovary, uterus, uterine tubes, upper part of vagina. Testis, epidydimis, ductus deferens, seminal vesicle, ejaculatory duct. Lining mesothelium of pleural, pericardial and peritoneal cavities; and of tunica vaginalis. Lining mesothelium of bursae and joints. Substance of cornea; sclera; choroid. (?) Substance of ciliary body and iris. Duramater; pia-arachnoid (?); microglia Adrenal cortex.

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