mesoderm

American  

[mez-uh-durm, mes-, mee-zuh-, -suh-] / ˈmɛz əˌdɜrm, ˈmɛs-, ˈmi zə-, -sə- /

noun

Embryology.

1. the middle germ layer of a metazoan embryo.

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mesoderm British  

/ ˈmɛsəʊˌdɜːm /

noun

1. the middle germ layer of an animal embryo, giving rise to muscle, blood, bone, connective tissue, etc See also ectoderm endoderm

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mesoderm Scientific  

/ mĕz′ə-dûrm′ /

1. The middle of the three primary germ layers of the embryos of vertebrates and other complex animals. In vertebrates, the mesoderm gives rise to the muscles, bones, cartilage, connective tissue, blood, blood and lymph vessels, dermis, kidneys, and gonads. The mesoderm develops during gastrulation from either the ectoderm or the endoderm. The embryos of simpler animals lack a mesoderm.

2. Compare ectoderm endoderm

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• mesodermic
  adjective
• mesodermal
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of mesoderm

First recorded in 1870–75; meso- + -derm

Compare meaning

How does mesoderm compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• mesenchyme vs. mesoderm