Endoderm, the innermost of the three germ layers, or masses of cells (lying within

ectoderm and mesoderm), which appears early in the development of an animal embryo.
The endoderm subsequently gives rise to the epithelium (tissue that covers, or lines, a
structure) of the pharynx, including the eustachian tube, the tonsils, the thyroid gland,
parathyroid glands, and thymus gland; the larynx, trachea, and lungs; the
gastrointestinal tract (except mouth and anus), the urinary bladder, the vagina (in
females), and the urethra. The term endoderm is sometimes used to refer to the
gastrodermis, the simple tissue that lines the digestive cavity of cnidarians and
ctenophores.

Mesoderm, the middle of the three germ layers, or masses of cells (lying between the
ectoderm and endoderm), which appears early in the development of an animal embryo.
In vertebrates it subsequently gives rise to muscle, connective tissue, cartilage, bone,
notochord, blood, bone marrow, lymphoid tissue, and to the epithelia (surface, or lining,
tissues) of blood vessels, lymphatic vessels, body cavities, kidneys, ureters, gonads (sex
organs), genital ducts, adrenal cortex, and certain other tissues.

Ectoderm, the outermost of the three germ layers, or masses of cells, which appears
early in the development of an animal embryo. In vertebrates, ectoderm subsequently
gives rise to hair, skin, nails or hooves, and the lens of the eye; the epithelia (surface,
or lining, tissues) of sense organs, the nasal cavity, the sinuses, the mouth (including
tooth enamel), and the anal canal; and nervous tissue, including the pituitary body and
chromaffin tissue (clumps of endocrine cells). In adult cnidarians and ctenophores, the
body-covering tissue, or epidermis, is occasionally called ectoderm.