Embryonic disc

Embryonic disc
Section through embryonic disk of Vespertilio murinus.
Surface view of embryo of a rabbit. (After Kölliker.) arg. Embryonic disk. pr. Primitive streak.
Latin discus embryonicus
Gray's subject #6 47
Carnegie stage 4
Code TE E2.0.1.2.0.0.14

The floor of the amniotic cavity is formed by the embryonic disk (or embryonic disc) composed of a layer of prismatic cells, the embryonic ectoderm, derived from the inner cell-mass and lying in apposition with the endoderm.

In humans, it is the stage of development that occurs after implantation and prior to the embryonic folding (eg. seen between about day 14 to day 21 post fertilization). It is derived from the epiblast layer, which lies between the hypoblast layer and the amnion. The epiblast layer is derived from the inner cell mass. Through the process of gastrulation, the bilaminar embryonic disc becomes trilaminar. The notochord forms thereafter. Through the process of neurulation, the notochord induces the formation of the neural tube in the embryonic disc.

External links

This article was originally based on an entry from a public domain edition of Gray's Anatomy. As such, some of the information contained within it may be outdated.