3. Caudal end of genitourinary tract:
- urinary bladder
- female urethra, lower two-thirds of vagina
- male urethra (except the most distal aspect of the male urethra, which is formed by an
invagination of ectoderm), bulbourethral (Cowper’s) glands, urethral (Littre’s) glands
The parenchyma of the following structures is derived from endoderm:
- Submandibular and sublingual salivary glands
- Thyroid gland—follicular cells are derived from endoderm, parafollicular C cells are
derived from neural crest
- Liver, biliary tree, gallbladder
- Pancreas
Branchial (pharyngeal) pouches are lined by endoderm ∴ the following branchial-pouch
derivatives originate from endoderm:
1st branchial pouch → epithelial lining of auditory (eustachian) tube, middle ear cavity,
mastoid air cells
2nd branchial pouch → epithelial lining of palatine tonsils
Dorsal wings of 3rd pouch → inferior parathyroid glands
Dorsal wings of 4th pouch → superior parathyroid glands