endoderm

[en-duh-durm]

noun

1. Also called endoblast. Embryology.,  the innermost cell layer of the embryo in its gastrula stage.

2. Anatomy.,  the innermost body tissue that derives from this layer, as the gut lining.

endoderm

/ ˈɛndəʊˌdɜːm /

noun

1. the inner germ layer of an animal embryo, which gives rise to the lining of the digestive and respiratory tracts See also ectoderm mesoderm

endoderm

1. The innermost of the primary germ layers of an animal embryo. In vertebrates, the endoderm gives rise to the respiratory tract, gastrointestinal tract (except mouth and anus), glands associated with the gastrointestinal tract, bladder, and urethra.

2. Compare ectoderm mesoderm

Other Word Forms

• endodermal adjective
• endodermic adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of endoderm¹

1825–35; < French endoderme; endo-, -derm

Example Sentences

At the bottom of the cup, a new cell population develops in the outer cell layer, the visceral endoderm.

From Science Daily

After gastrulation, the embryo can be thought of as an onion with three layers: the ectoderm, the mesoderm and the endoderm.

From Science Daily

These disks eventually formed the three main cell layers of the body: the endoderm, mesoderm and ectoderm.

From Scientific American

Beyond that, researchers typically assess pluripotency by confirming that the cells can differentiate into the three primordial germ-layer tissues: endoderm, mesoderm and ectoderm.

From Nature

For instance, the gut tube and liver derive from the endoderm; muscle and connective tissue from the mesoderm; and neural tissue and skin from the ectoderm.

From Nature