Endocardial tubes

From WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia

Endocardial Tubes are embryonic structures that eventually form the heart in vertebrates. They are the first structures to form in the process of heart development.

Etymology[edit | edit source]

The term "Endocardial" is derived from the Greek words "endon" meaning inside, "kardia" meaning heart, and "tubos" meaning pipe. Thus, the term literally translates to "inside heart pipes".

Formation[edit | edit source]

The Endocardial Tubes are formed from the lateral plate mesoderm during the process of Gastrulation. The mesoderm splits into two layers, the somatic mesoderm and the splanchnic mesoderm. The splanchnic mesoderm forms a pair of tubes, which are the primitive endocardial tubes. These tubes quickly move towards each other and fuse to form a single primitive heart tube.

Development[edit | edit source]

The primitive heart tube undergoes a process of looping and differential growth to form the four chambers of the heart. The endocardial tubes contribute to the formation of the Endocardium, which is the innermost layer of the heart. The endocardium lines the heart chambers and covers the heart valves.

Related Terms[edit | edit source]

  • Endocardium: The innermost layer of the heart, which is formed from the endocardial tubes.
  • Gastrulation: The process during embryonic development that changes the embryo from a simple ball of cells to a multi-layered organism.
  • Mesoderm: One of the three primary germ layers in the very early embryo. The mesoderm is the middle layer.

See Also[edit | edit source]

Endocardial tubes Resources
Wikipedia
WikiMD
Navigation: Wellness - Encyclopedia - Health topics - Disease Index‏‎ - Drugs - World Directory - Gray's Anatomy - Keto diet - Recipes

Search WikiMD

Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound) available.
Advertise on WikiMD

WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia

Let Food Be Thy Medicine
Medicine Thy Food - Hippocrates

WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.

Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD