Epiblast
Section through the embryo. (Epiblast visible but not labeled.)
Cell differentiation
Carnegie stage	3
Days	8
Precursor	inner cell mass
Gives rise to	ectoderm, mesoderm
Dorlands/Elsevier	e_11/12336502

In embryology, the epiblast is a tissue type derived from the inner cell mass. It lies above the hypoblast.

In mammalian embryogenesis, the columnar cells of the epiblast are adjacent to the trophoblast, while the cuboidal cells of the hypoblast are closer to the Blastocoele. The epiblast, whilst referred to as the primary ectoderm, differentiates to form all three layers of the trilaminar embryonic disc in a process called gastrulation.

See also

• Embryogenesis
• Mammalian embryogenesis

External links

• http://www.iscr.ed.ac.uk/images/tilo_kunath/Tilo-Web-figure-1.gif
• http://www.embryology.ch/allemand/iperiodembry/carnegie02.html
• http://www.med.umich.edu/lrc/coursepages/M1/embryology/embryo/04secondweek.htm
• http://isc.temple.edu/marino/embryology/EMBII97/sld005.htm