The germ layer mesoderm forms in the embryos of animals more complex than cnidarians, making them triploblastic. Mesoderm forms during gastrulation when some of the cells migrating inward to form the endoderm form an additional layer between the endoderm and the ectoderm.

This key innovation evolved hundreds of millions of years ago and led to the evolution of nearly all large, complex animals. The formation of a mesoderm led to the formation of a coelom. Organs formed inside a coelom can freely move, grow, and develop independently of the body wall while fluid cushions and protects them from shocks.

Categorizing animals

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Not all triploblastic animals have a coelom, like the simplest animals with organs that form from three tissue layers: flatworms. Three different configurations of mesoderm in relation to ectoderm form a method of categorizing animals.

• Acoelomates
  • no coelom
  • tissues and organs packed between gut and body wall
• Pseudocoelomates
  • false coelom
  • unlined or partially lined body cavity between gut and body wall
• Coelomates
  • proper coelom
  • lined cavity between gut and body wall

Derivatives

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General

Note: Not all triploblasts produce all of the items listed.

• bones
• most of the circulatory system, including the heart and major blood vessels
• connective tissues of the gut and integuments
• gastrointestinal tract
• mesenchyme
• mesothelium
• muscles
• peritoneum (lining of the coelom)
• reproductive system
• urinary system, including the kidneys

Vertebrates

Image19.png|thumb|350px|Transverse section of a chick embryo of forty-five hours' incubation.

• Chordamesoderm: yellow, at the notochord.
  
• Paraxial mesoderm: red, comprising the somites.
  
• Intermediate mesoderm: purple, which includes the Wolffian duct.
  
• Lateral plate mesoderm: purple, comprising somatic and splanchic mesoderm.]]

In addition to the general list, the mesoderm of a developing vertebrate differentiates into the following:

• Chordamesoderm
• Paraxial mesoderm
• Intermediate mesoderm
• Lateral plate mesoderm

See also

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• Ectoderm
• Endoderm
• Germ layer
• Histogenesis
• Organogenesis

References

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• Evers, Christine A., Lisa Starr. Biology:Concepts and Applications. 6th ed. United States:Thomson, 2006. ISBN 0-534-46224-3.

External links

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• Develoment of Mesoderm, at unsw.edu.au
• Diagram showing development of types of mesoderm, at temple.edu

Anatomy | Developmental biology | Gastrulation

Mesoderm | Mesodermo | Mezodermo | Mésoderme | Mesoderm | Mezoderma | Mesoderme | Mesoderm | 中胚层