Endocardial tubes

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

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

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

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

• 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

• Heart Development
• Embryology
• Cardiology