mesoderm

Term: ectoderm

Origin: Anc Greek

μέσος/mesos(=middle, intermediate)

δέρμα/derma(==skin beneath the epidermis)

> δέρμα --> δεσμά/desma(=bonds) because skin keeps the body tight

Karl Ernst von Baer (1792 - 1876 )

> δέρω/dero(=to peel, to flay)

Coined

Robert Remak (1815-1865)

German anatomist Christian Heinrich Pander (1794-1865) first described the existence of three germ layers in chick embryos. The concept was later extended by Esthonian embryologist Karl Ernst von Baer (1792 - 1876 ) to include all vertebrates. Finally Prussian embryologist Robert Remak (1815-1865) coined the names of trhee layers.

Definition

Ectoderm is the outmost of the germ layers formed during animal embryogenesis; This type of cell layer produces blood, heart, kidneys, gonads, bones, muscles, connective tissues. The other two layers are the mesoderm and ectoderm.