Which embryonic layer gives rise to the epidermis of the skin?
Solution
Correct Answer: Option C
- The epidermis of the skin is derived from the ectoderm, which is the outermost embryonic layer. During embryonic development, the ectoderm gives rise to structures that form the outer body surface, including the epidermis, hair, nails, and the glands associated with the skin.
To clarify the roles of the other layers:
- The endoderm forms the lining of internal organs such as the gastrointestinal tract and respiratory system.
- The mesoderm develops into structures such as muscles, bones, the circulatory system, and the dermis layer of the skin (which lies beneath the epidermis).
- Neural crest cells originate from the ectoderm but migrate extensively to form diverse structures including peripheral nerves and melanocytes, which are pigment-producing cells within the epidermis but not the epidermal layer itself.
Thus, the correct answer is ectoderm because it specifically gives rise to the outermost layer of the skin — the epidermis.
Reference: Langman's Medical Embryology, 14th Edition, Chapter 8: Integrative Clinical Anatomy of the Skin and Appendages
To clarify the roles of the other layers:
- The endoderm forms the lining of internal organs such as the gastrointestinal tract and respiratory system.
- The mesoderm develops into structures such as muscles, bones, the circulatory system, and the dermis layer of the skin (which lies beneath the epidermis).
- Neural crest cells originate from the ectoderm but migrate extensively to form diverse structures including peripheral nerves and melanocytes, which are pigment-producing cells within the epidermis but not the epidermal layer itself.
Thus, the correct answer is ectoderm because it specifically gives rise to the outermost layer of the skin — the epidermis.
Reference: Langman's Medical Embryology, 14th Edition, Chapter 8: Integrative Clinical Anatomy of the Skin and Appendages
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