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:
“In the cold of Europe, under prudish northern fogs, except when slaughter is afoot, you only glimpse the crawling cruelty of your fellow men. But their rottenness rises to the surface as soon as they are tickled by the hideous fevers of the tropics.”
—Louis-Ferdinand Céline (1894–1961)