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What is the Endoderm?

Niki Foster
Niki Foster
Niki Foster
Niki Foster

The endoderm, or entoderm, is one of the three embryonic germ layers that together give rise to all the mature tissues and organs of the body. From the inside out, the three cell layers are the endoderm, the mesoderm, and the ectoderm. The cell layers arise early in embryonic development, when a cavity called the archenteron forms in the center of the blastula, a tiny ball of undifferentiated cells, and the cells begin to reorganize into germ layers. The endoderm is the first to form, and begins forming in the human embryo at about two weeks after fertilization. By the fifth week, the endoderm has already differentiated into organs.

The three cell layers are roughly equivalent to the position of structures in the fully formed human body, with the endoderm forming internal structures, the ectoderm forming external structures, and the mesoderm forming intermediary structures like the skeleton, skeletal muscle, and heart. Some animals lack a mesoderm. The archenteron is the precursor of the gut, or digestive tract, and its appearance marks the beginning of the formation of the germ layers, a process called gastrulation.

The endoderm forms the airways in the lungs.
The endoderm forms the airways in the lungs.

The cells of the endoderm are flat at first, but become columnar, with their height exceeding their width, as they differentiate. They eventually come to form the lining of the digestive system in the human body, except for parts of the mouth, throat, and rectum. The endoderm also gives rise to much of the internal epithelial tissue that lines organs and glands.

The cells of the endoderm eventually form the lining of the human digestive system.
The cells of the endoderm eventually form the lining of the human digestive system.

The endoderm also forms the airways in the lungs: the trachea, bronchi, and alveoli. It lines all glands that open into the digestive tube, including the pancreas and liver, as well as the follicles of the thymus, which produces T-lymphocytes or T-cells, and the thyroid gland, which produces a number of important regulatory hormones. It also gives rise to the epithelium of the Eustachian tube and tympanic cavity in the ear, and to the bladder and urethra.

Niki Foster
Niki Foster

In addition to her role as a TheHealthBoard editor, Niki enjoys educating herself about interesting and unusual topics in order to get ideas for her own articles. She is a graduate of UCLA, where she majored in Linguistics and Anthropology.

Learn more...
Niki Foster
Niki Foster

In addition to her role as a TheHealthBoard editor, Niki enjoys educating herself about interesting and unusual topics in order to get ideas for her own articles. She is a graduate of UCLA, where she majored in Linguistics and Anthropology.

Learn more...

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    • The endoderm forms the airways in the lungs.
      By: arsdigital
      The endoderm forms the airways in the lungs.
    • The cells of the endoderm eventually form the lining of the human digestive system.
      By: blueringmedia
      The cells of the endoderm eventually form the lining of the human digestive system.
    • The endoderm lines all glands that open into the digestive tube, including the pancreas.
      By: CLIPAREA.com
      The endoderm lines all glands that open into the digestive tube, including the pancreas.
    • The endoderm lines the thyroid gland.
      By: CLIPAREA.com
      The endoderm lines the thyroid gland.
    • The endoderm lines all glands that open into the digestive tube, including the thyroid gland.
      By: stockshoppe
      The endoderm lines all glands that open into the digestive tube, including the thyroid gland.
    • The endoderm forms the airways in the lungs: the trachea, bronchi and alveoli.
      By: snapgalleria
      The endoderm forms the airways in the lungs: the trachea, bronchi and alveoli.
    • The endoderm lines all glands that open into the digestive tube, including the pancreas.
      By: snapgalleria
      The endoderm lines all glands that open into the digestive tube, including the pancreas.