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Example Questions
Example Question #1 : Gastrulation And Embryonic Germ Layers
A newly born child is having difficulty breathing and digesting food. A close medical examination has revealed an improperly formed inner lining to the digestive and respiratory systems. Which of the following is the most likely cause of the medical problem?
A disruption of the mesoderm during development
An abnormality has occurred in the development of the endoderm
Genetic abnormalities in both the mesoderm and ectoderm
A disease affecting the ectoderm germ layer
There is not enough information to determine a likely cause
An abnormality has occurred in the development of the endoderm
Gastrulation is the formation of the three layers of the embryo: ectoderm, endoderm, and mesoderm. The endoderm gives rise to the lining of the digestive system and respiratory system. A defect in these tissues suggests a problem of that germ layer during development. The ectoderm gives rise to the nervous system and epidermis. The mesoderm gives rise to the muscle and skeletal systems.
Example Question #1 : Gastrulation And Embryonic Germ Layers
The kidneys arise from which of the three embryonic germ layers?
Endoderm
None of these choices are correct
Mesoderm
Ectoderm
Notochord region
Mesoderm
The three embryonic germ layers are the ectoderm, mesoderm, and endoderm. The mesoderm gives rise to bone, muscle, the urinary system, and the kidneys. Ectoderm develops into the nervous system, dermis, hair, nails, eyes, and ears. The endoderm develops into the lining of internal organs, such as the lungs and the gastrointestinal tract. The notochord is not an embryonic layer and, like the kidneys, arises from the mesoderm.
Example Question #1 : Gastrulation And Embryonic Germ Layers
What happens during the process of gastrulation?
The epiblast and hypoblast are created
The blastomeres undergo compaction
The three primary germ layers are created
The cell divides into the eight-cell stage
The ectoderm differentiates into epithelial tissue
The three primary germ layers are created
The process of gastrulation generates the three primary germ layers (ectoderm, endoderm, mesoderm). This is one of the most important steps of development.
The eight-cell stage signals the beginning of compaction, during which the cells of the blastula adhere to each other and prepare for further divisions. The epiblast and hypoblast are generated before gastrulation, but after implantation. Differentiation occurs long after the primary germ layers are formed.
Example Question #51 : Systems Biology And Tissue Types
A new born is assesed to have congenital nerve conduction defects. From which germ layer would this problem originate?
Blastula
Gastrula
Ectoderm
Mesoderm
Endoderm
Ectoderm
The correct answer is the ectoderm. The ectoderm is responsible for generating nervous tissue and glial cells, among other features.
Ectoderm differntiates into the epidermis, nervous system, eye lens, and hair.
Mesoderm differentiates into muscle, cardiac and skeletal systems, blood, and spleen.
Endoderm differentiates into the lining of internal organs, like the digestive tract and respiratory tract.
Example Question #3 : Gastrulation And Embryonic Germ Layers
Which cell type is occasionally called "the fourth germ layer" due to its migratory properties and critical developmental importance?
Neural crest
Cardiomyocytes
Hepatocytes
Beta cells
Neural crest
The ectoderm is the outer layer of the embryo, which gives rise to the external ectoderm and the neuroectoderm. The neuroectoderm can further be divided into the neural crest and the neural tube. The neural crest migrates from the neural tube early in development. While both external ectoderm and the neural tube form an epithelial layer, the neural crest does not and is actually a highly migratory cell lineage. Furthermore, the neural crest is required for innervation of endodermal organs (forming the enteric nervous system), craniofacial features, innervation of the diaphragm for breathing, and many more critical features. Due to its structural and migratory properties, and its importance in development, the neural crest is often referred to as the "fourth germ layer."
Cardiomyocytes refer to cardiac muscle cells, while hepatocytes are liver cells. Beta cells are found in the pancreas and secrete insulin.
Example Question #1 : Gastrulation And Embryonic Germ Layers
Which of the following structures does not arise from the ectoderm?
Nervous system
Lungs
Lens of the eye
Epidermis
Lungs
The ectoderm gives rise to the nervous system, epidermis, lens of the eye, and the inner ear.
The lungs are derived from the endoderm. Most epithelial linings are located toward the superficial regions of the body, and arise from the ectoderm. The linings of the respiratory and digestive tracts, however, are embedded deep within the body and are derived from the endoderm.
Example Question #2 : Gastrulation And Embryonic Germ Layers
Which of the following structures does not arise from the endoderm?
Lungs
Liver
Pancreas
Muscles
Muscles
The endoderm gives rise to most of the internal organs, including the lining of the digestive tract, the liver and pancreas, and the respiratory system.
Muscles and bones are derived from the mesoderm.
Example Question #61 : Biology
Which of the following structures does not arise from the mesoderm?
Respiratory system
Circulatory system
Genitourinary system
Musculoskeletal system
Respiratory system
The mesoderm gives rise to muscles, bones, the circulatory system, the gonads, and the kidneys. Think of the mesoderm as the means by which your body gets around on a daily basis: muscles and bones, heart to pump blood, and kidneys to excrete waste.
The respiratory system arises from the endoderm.
Example Question #31 : Developmental Physiology
From which of the following germinal layers does the retina of the eye originate?
Ectoderm
Somites, which are not associated with a germ layer
Mesoderm
Endoderm
Ectoderm
The retina of the eye originates as an outpouching of the diencephalon. The diencephalon is one of the five secondary vesicles in the early development of the neural tube, which is derived from the ectodermal germ layer.
The ectoderm gives rise to the epidermis, central nervous system, inner ear, and the lens of the eye.
Somites are small regions of specialized mesoderm, which give rise to the skeletal muscles and bones of the body.
Example Question #63 : Biology
From which of the following germ layers does the circulatory system arise?
Ectoderm
Neural crest
Endoderm
Mesoderm
Mesoderm
The circulatory system arises from the mesoderm. Other mesoderm structures include the muscles, bones, gonads, and kidneys.
The ectoderm gives rise to the epidermis, nervous system, and lens of the eye. The neural crest originates from ectoderm cells.
The endoderm gives rise to several internal organs, including the liver and pancreas, as well as the linings of the digestive and respiratory tracts.
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