Pharyngeal arch system

System Digestive

Pharyngeal arch system

Definition

A transient embryonic complex that comprises the pharyngeal arches, bulges of tissues of mesoderm and neural crest derivation through which pass nerves and pharyngeal arch arteries. The arches are separated internally by pharyngeal pouches, evaginations of foregut endoderm, and externally by pharyngeal clefts, invaginations of surface ectoderm. The development of the system ends when the stucture it contributes to are forming, which may include (depending on species) the thymus, thyroid, parathyroids, maxilla, mandible, aortic arch, cardiac outflow tract, external and middle ear[GO,modified].

Also known as embryonic pharyngeal complex, pharyngeal apparatus, pharyngeal system — per UBERON

The Pharyngeal arch system is a part of the Digestive.

Also identified as