At around 16 days post-ovulation, the layer that will give rise to the hair, nails, and skin is the ectoderm. During the process of embryonic development, the embryo goes through gastrulation, where the three primary germ layers - ectoderm, mesoderm, and endoderm - are formed.
1. The ectoderm is one of these primary germ layers and is responsible for giving rise to the outermost layer of the skin, the nervous system, hair, nails, and parts of the eyes and ears.
2. Specifically, the ectoderm will differentiate into the epidermis (outer layer of the skin), hair follicles, nails, sweat glands, mammary glands, and parts of the nervous system such as the brain and spinal cord.
3. This differentiation and specialization of cells within the ectoderm occur through a process called morphogenesis, where cells take on specific functions and structures to form the various tissues and organs of the body.
In summary, at approximately 16 days post-ovulation, the ectoderm is the primary germ layer that will give rise to structures like hair, nails, and skin during embryonic development.
