From which embryonic germ layer does the liver develop?
Solution
Correct Answer: Option A
- The liver develops from the endoderm, one of the three primary germ layers formed during embryogenesis.
- Specifically, it arises from the foregut endoderm, which gives rise to the epithelial cells lining the liver and bile ducts.
- The surrounding mesoderm contributes to the formation of the connective tissue, blood vessels, and Kupffer cells, but the main functional tissue is derived from the endoderm.
- The ectoderm primarily forms structures such as the skin and nervous system, while the neural crest cells originate from the ectoderm and contribute to peripheral nervous system components, not the liver.
Hence, the correct answer is endoderm because it forms the parenchymal cells responsible for the liver’s vital metabolic and synthetic functions.
Reference: Langman’s Medical Embryology, 14th Edition, Chapter 13, Page 210