somite

(noun)

One of the paired masses of mesoderm, distributed along the sides of the neural tube, that will eventually become dermis, skeletal muscle, or vertebrae.

Related Terms

Examples of somite in the following topics:

  • Somite Development

    • Somites develop from the paraxial mesoderm and participate in the facilitation of multiple developmental processes.
    • In the developing vertebrate embryo, somites are masses of mesoderm that can be found distributed along the two sides of the neural tube.
    • The dermatome is the dorsal portion of the paraxial mesoderm somite.
    • The myotome is that part of a somite that forms the muscles.
    • The repetitive somites are marked with the older term primitive segments.

  • Gene Expression for Spatial Positioning

    • A spatial pattern of gene expression reorganizes the mesoderm into groups of cells called somites with spaces between them.
    • The somites will further develop into the ribs, lungs, and segmental (spine) muscle.
    • In this five-week old human embryo, somites are segments along the length of the body.

  • Gastrulation

    • The mesoderm is found between the ectoderm and the endoderm, giving rise to somites.
    • The somites form muscle, the cartilage of the ribs and vertebrae, the dermis, the notochord, blood and blood vessels, bone, and connective tissue.

  • Organogenesis

    • A spatial pattern of gene expression reorganizes the mesoderm into groups of cells called somites, with spaces between them.
    • The somites will further develop into the ribs, lungs, and segmental (spine) muscle.

  • Establishing Body Axes during Development

    • In mammals, secondary neurulation begins around the 35th somite.