mesoblast

9.9

Middle layer of cells in an embryo that makes muscles, bones, blood, and connective tissue

noun
/ˈmɛzəˌblæst/

Specialized

: mesodermo

During embryonic development, the mesoblast forms many of the body's vital tissues.

Examples

During gastrulation, the mesoblast forms between the ectoderm and endoderm.
Researchers studied how cells in the mesoblast differentiate into specific organ systems.
Abnormalities in the mesoblast can lead to congenital defects affecting muscles and bones.
The mesoblast is crucial in embryonic development.
Abnormalities in the mesoblast can lead to congenital defects affecting muscles and bones.
During embryonic development, the mesoblast forms many of the body's vital tissues.
Researchers studied how cells in the mesoblast differentiate into specific organ systems.

Synonyms

mesoderm

vsmesoblast

Specialized

1 9.8

The middle layer in a developing animal that becomes muscles, bones, and blood

is the same concept expressed with an alternative scientific term

Surface Forms

mesoblast singular

mesoblasts plural

Morphology

mesoblast = blast (opaque) = meso + blast

The prefix 'meso-' and the combining form '-blast' are specialized biomedical morphemes not familiar to average learners, so the meaning cannot be reliably inferred.

Etymology

The word mesoblast comes from Greek roots meso- 'middle' and -blast 'sprout' or 'young cell'. So a mesoblast is the middle layer of young cells in an embryo that will grow into muscles, bones and other tissues.