endoderm

Endoderm
Blastodermic vesicle of Vespertilio murinus. (Endoderm labeled as 'entoderm'.)
Gray's	subject #6 49
Days	16
Precursor	hypoblast
Gives rise to	splanchnopleure
MeSH	Endoderm

Endoderm, (sometimes called Entoderm) is one of the germ layers formed during animal embryogenesis. Cells migrating inward along the archenteron form the inner layer of the gastrula, which develops into the endoderm.

The endoderm consists at first of flattened cells, which subsequently become columnar. It forms the epithelial lining of the entire alimentary canal except part of the mouth, pharynx and the terminal part of the rectum (which are lined by involutions of the ectoderm), the lining cells of all the glands which open into the digestive tube, including those of the liver and pancreas, the epithelium of the auditory tube and tympanic cavity, of the trachea, bronchi, and alveoli of the lungs, of the urinary bladder and part of the urethra, and that which lines the follicles of the thyroid gland and thymus.

Production

The following chart shows the products produced by the endoderm.

The Endoderm has differentiated into distinguishable organs as early as 5 weeks of embryonic development.

Additional images

Section through the embryo.

Section through ovum imbedded in the uterine decidua

See also

• Ectoderm
• Germ layer
• Histogenesis
• Mesoderm
• Organogenesis
• Endodermal sinus tumor

Notes

References

Look up endoderm in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

• Evers, Christine A., Lisa Starr. Biology:Concepts and Applications. 6th ed. United States:Thomson, 2006. ISBN 0-534-46224-3.

This article was originally based on an entry from a public domain edition of Gray's Anatomy. As such, some of the information contained within it may be outdated.