Fig. 4. Schematic representation of the fibroblast lineage, with the origin in mesoderm and from ectoderm (via the neural crest) for fibroblasts in the head.

Other cell types originating from the mesoderm are also depicted. MSC are shown as a transitory cell type that yield fibroblasts. In fibrosis, wound healing and cancer, fibroblasts likely progress further to become fibrogenic cells, myofibroblasts and CAFs, respectively.