Buccopharyngeal membrane

Buccopharyngeal membrane is a thin layer of cells in the embryonic stage of an organism. It is the location where the oral cavity and the foregut meet. The buccopharyngeal membrane is significant in the development of the mouth and the digestive tract.

Etymology

The term "buccopharyngeal" is derived from the Latin words "bucca" meaning cheek and "pharynx" referring to the part of the throat behind the mouth and nasal cavity.

Development

The buccopharyngeal membrane forms during the third week of embryonic development. It is created by the meeting of the ectoderm and endoderm, without any intervening mesoderm. This membrane is initially very thin, but as the embryo develops, it thickens before it ruptures to form the initial opening of the digestive tract.

Function

The primary function of the buccopharyngeal membrane is to separate the primitive mouth from the primitive pharynx during the early stages of embryonic development. Once the membrane ruptures, it creates an opening that forms the beginning of the digestive tract. This opening allows for the first instance of communication between the external and internal environments of the embryo.

Related Terms

• Ectoderm: The outermost layer of cells or tissue of an embryo in early development.
• Endoderm: The innermost layer of cells or tissue of an embryo in early development.
• Mesoderm: The middle layer of an embryo in early development, between the endoderm and ectoderm.
• Pharynx: The part of the throat behind the mouth and nasal cavity, and above the esophagus and larynx.
• Embryo: An unborn or unhatched offspring in the process of development.

See Also

• Embryogenesis
• Gastrulation
• Organogenesis

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