From which embryonic germ layer does the nervous system originate during development?

A Endoderm

B Mesoderm

C Ectoderm

D Neural crest

Solution

Correct Answer: Option C

- The nervous system originates from the ectoderm, which is one of the three primary embryonic germ layers formed during early development.
- The ectoderm gives rise to structures such as the epidermis of the skin and the entire nervous system.
- Specifically, the process called neurulation transforms a part of the ectoderm into the neural tube, which eventually develops into the brain and spinal cord, the central components of the nervous system.

- The endoderm primarily forms internal structures such as the lining of the gastrointestinal and respiratory tracts, while the mesoderm forms muscles, bones, the circulatory system, and other organs.

- The neural crest is derived from the ectoderm but is considered a distinct population of cells. Neural crest cells migrate to different parts of the embryo to form diverse structures, including peripheral nerves, melanocytes, and facial cartilage. However, the primary origin of the nervous system as a whole remains the ectoderm.

Reference: Langman’s Medical Embryology, 14th Edition, Chapter 3: The Early Embryo and Germ Layers

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