How to Differentiate Kinds of Tissue Germ Layers

A germ layer is a group of cells that form together during embryogenesis, or the fetal development process. There are three embryonic germ layers in the human body: mesoderm, endoderm and ectoderm. All of the cells are derived from one of these three layers. The best way to differentiate the kinds of layers is based upon the type of tissue it forms within the body.

Instructions

• 1

  Determine if the tissue is in one of the following locations: thymus, thyroid, parathyroid glands, larynx, trachea, lung, urinary bladder, vagina, urethra, gastrointestinal (GI) organs or the lining of the GI tract and respiratory tract. If so, the tissue is considered part of the endoderm.

• 2

  Determine if the tissue is in one of the following locations: bone marrow or blood, adrenal cortex, lymphatic tissues, muscle tissues (skeletal, smooth and cardiac), connective tissue, urogenital system and the heart and blood vessels. If so, the tissue is considered part of the mesoderm.

• 3

  Determine if the tissue is in one of the following locations: skin, neural tissue, adrenal medulla, pituitary gland, facial connective tissue, eyes and the ears. If so, the tissue is considered part of the ectoderm.