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’ve forgotten what it’s like not to be able to reach the light switch. We’ve forgotten a lot of the monsters that seemed to live in our room at night. Nevertheless, those memories are still there, somewhere inside us, and can sometimes be brought to the surface by events, sights, sounds, or smells. Children, though, can never have grown-up feelings until they’ve been allowed to do the growing.”
    —Fred Rogers (20th century)