Surface ectoderm
The surface ectoderm, AKA external ectoderm, is one of the two early embryonic divisions of the ectoderm.
The other early division of the ectoderm is the neuroectoderm.
The surface ectoderm develops into the following structures:
- Skin
- The epithelium of the mouth and nasal cavity
- The glands of the mouth and nasal cavity, namely the saliva glands and the mucosal glands
- Tooth enamel
- The epithelium of the anterior pituitary gland
- The lens, cornea, lacrimal gland, tarsal glands, and the conjunctiva of the eye
- The apical ectodermal ridge, which induces the development of the limb buds of the embryo