mesoderm

1 9.8

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

noun
/ˈmɛzəˌdɜrm/

Specialized

: mesodermo

We found that during morphogenesis, the head mesoderm underlying the cephalic neural crest stiffens.
mesoderm stiffness
mesoderm cells
extension of the mesoderm

Examples

Mesoderm layers form inside the embryo or egg where germ cells live.

Academic text (2015)
Here we just have the ectoderm and the underlying mesoderm, including the notochord.
The cells on top of the endoderm form mesoderm and the cells on the outside form the ectoderm.
The mesoderm is the middle layer, which differentiates to become the circulatory system, bones, muscles, and connecting tissues.

Academic text (2012)
In half of these cases, histology revealed squamous epithelium and cartilage with a mixed pattern of ectoderm and mesoderm.

Academic text (1998)
The mesoderm is the middle layer, which differentiates to become the circulatory system, bones, muscles, and connecting tissues.
Some of the most obvious structures derived from the paraxial mesoderm are bones.
Mesoderm layers form inside the embryo or egg where germ cells live.

Synonyms

mesoblast

vsmesoderm

Specialized

9.9

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

has identical meaning but is an alternative term used in embryology

Surface Forms

mesoderm singular

mesoderms plural

Morphology

mesoderm = derm (semi-transparent) = meso + derm + meso

Formally compositional from the combining forms 'meso-' (middle) + 'derm' (skin), so the meaning 'middle skin/layer' is analysable, but these are technical biological morphemes that may be unfamiliar to general learners.

Etymology

The word mesoderm has two parts: meso- meaning 'middle' and -derm meaning 'skin', as in dermis. So it is the 'middle skin' layer in an embryo, which is why it makes muscles, bones, blood and other tissues.