Surface Ectoderm

The surface ectoderm (or external ectoderm) forms the following structures:

  • Skin (only epidermis; dermis is derived from mesoderm) (along with glands, hair, and nails)
  • Epithelium of the mouth and nasal cavity salivary glands, and glands of mouth and nasal cavity
  • Tooth enamel (as a side note, dentin and dental pulp are formed from ectomesenchyme which is derived from ectoderm (specifically neural crest cells and travels with mesenchmyal cells)
  • Epithelium of anterior pituitary
  • Lens, cornea, lacrimal gland, tarsal glands and the conjunctiva of the eye
  • Apical ectodermal ridge inducing development of the limb buds of the embryo.
  • Sensory receptors in epidermis

Famous quotes containing the word surface:

    “We say justly that the weak person is flat, for, like all flat substances, he does not stand in the direction of his strength, that is, on his edge, but affords a convenient surface to put upon. He slides all the way through life.... But the brave man is a perfect sphere, which cannot fall on its flat side and is equally strong every way.”
    —Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)