What is the origin of the corneal endothelium?

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Multiple Choice

What is the origin of the corneal endothelium?

Explanation:
Corneal endothelium comes from neural crest–derived mesenchyme that migrates into the developing cornea. As eye development proceeds, these neural crest cells populate the corneal stroma and later differentiate to form the endothelial layer (and Descemet’s membrane). The corneal epithelium, in contrast, is derived from surface ectoderm, not neural crest. Mesoderm and endoderm do not give rise to the corneal endothelium in normal development. This neural crest origin best explains why the endothelial layer shares its lineage with other neural crest–derived ocular tissues, while the epithelium comes from a different germ layer.

Corneal endothelium comes from neural crest–derived mesenchyme that migrates into the developing cornea. As eye development proceeds, these neural crest cells populate the corneal stroma and later differentiate to form the endothelial layer (and Descemet’s membrane). The corneal epithelium, in contrast, is derived from surface ectoderm, not neural crest. Mesoderm and endoderm do not give rise to the corneal endothelium in normal development. This neural crest origin best explains why the endothelial layer shares its lineage with other neural crest–derived ocular tissues, while the epithelium comes from a different germ layer.

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