The pancreas has what type of cells?

The pancreas has what type of cells?

• A. Endoderm
• B. Mesoderm
• C. Ectoderm
• D. Neural crest

Answer: (A)

The key idea is embryonic origin: the pancreas arises from endoderm. During development, endodermal lining of the foregut forms the dorsal and ventral pancreatic buds, whose epithelial cells give rise to all pancreatic tissue—both the exocrine acinar cells and the endocrine islet cells. The other germ layers have different destinies: mesoderm becomes muscle, bone, and connective tissues; ectoderm forms skin and nervous system; neural crest arises from ectoderm and contributes to peripheral neurons and other derivatives. So the pancreatic cells are endodermal in origin.

The key idea is embryonic origin: the pancreas arises from endoderm. During development, endodermal lining of the foregut forms the dorsal and ventral pancreatic buds, whose epithelial cells give rise to all pancreatic tissue—both the exocrine acinar cells and the endocrine islet cells. The other germ layers have different destinies: mesoderm becomes muscle, bone, and connective tissues; ectoderm forms skin and nervous system; neural crest arises from ectoderm and contributes to peripheral neurons and other derivatives. So the pancreatic cells are endodermal in origin.