English
Noun
- the outer layer of a blastula that, after gastrulation, becomes the ectoderm
User Contributed Dictionary
Extensive Definition
In embryology, the epiblast is a
tissue type derived from the inner cell
mass. It lies above the hypoblast.
In mammalian
embryogenesis, the columnar
cells of the epiblast are adjacent to the trophoblast, while the
cuboidal
cells of the hypoblast are closer to the Blastocoele.
The epiblast, whilst referred to as the primary ectoderm,
differentiates to form all three layers of the trilaminar embryonic
disc in a process called gastrulation.
See also
External links
epiblast in German: Epiblast
epiblast in Spanish: Epiblasto