mesoderm

[ mez-uh-durm, mes-, mee-zuh-, -suh- ]

nounEmbryology.
  1. the middle germ layer of a metazoan embryo.

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Origin of mesoderm

1
First recorded in 1870–75; meso- + -derm

Other words from mesoderm

  • mes·o·der·mal, mes·o·der·mic, adjective

Words Nearby mesoderm

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How to use mesoderm in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for mesoderm

mesoderm

/ (ˈmɛsəʊˌdɜːm) /


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

Derived forms of mesoderm

  • mesodermal or mesodermic, adjective

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Scientific definitions for mesoderm

mesoderm

[ mĕzə-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. Compare ectoderm endoderm.

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