the primordial middle layer of a young embryo before the segregation of the germ layers, capable of becoming the mesoderm
Derived forms
mesoblastic
adjective
Word origin
[1855–60; meso- + -blast]This word is first recorded in the period 1855–60. Other words that entered Englishat around the same time include: barrage, boilerplate, keyword, lavabo, outputmeso- is a combining form meaning “middle,” used in the formation of compound words. Otherwords that use the affix meso- include: Mesolithic, Mesozoic, mesometeorology, mesopelagic, mesoscale; -blast is a suffix meaning “bud, sprout,” “embryo,” “formative cells or cell layer”. Otherwords that use the affix -blast include: megaloblast, myoblast, odontoblast, spongioblast, trophoblast