noun
- The innermost of the three primary germ layers of an embryo; the layer that gives rise to the digestive tract and associated organs.
Usage: biology; embryology; also called endoderm
Examples
- The endoblast forms the lining of the gastrointestinal tract during early embryonic development.
- In vertebrate embryos, the endoblast differentiates into the epithelium of the digestive and respiratory systems.
- The three primary germ layers—ectoblast, mesoblast, and endoblast—arise during gastrulation.
- Tissues derived from the endoblast include the liver, pancreas, and lungs.