Embryonic Development and Membranes
Did you know that you started as a single cell? After fertilization, that cell (the zygote) divided rapidly to form your embryo. The earliest embryonic cells were totipotent, meaning each had the incredible ability to develop into any cell type in your body.
As development continued, three distinct cell layers formed: ectoderm (outer layer), mesoderm (middle layer), and endoderm (inner layer). These germ layers then developed into all your tissues and organs. For instance, your nervous tissue mainly comes from ectoderm, while your muscles develop from mesoderm.
Your body also contains special tissue membranes that fall into two main categories. Connective tissue membranes include synovial membranes that line your joints. Epithelial membranes include mucous membranes (lining digestive and respiratory tracts), serous membranes (lining closed body cavities), and the cutaneous membrane (your skin).
Think About It: Every cell in your body, from brain neurons to skin cells, can be traced back to one of the three embryonic germ layers that formed in your first weeks of development!