mesonephros

[ mez-uh-nef-ros, mes-, mee-zuh-, -suh- ]
/ ˌmɛz əˈnɛf rɒs, ˌmɛs-, ˌmi zə-, -sə- /

noun, plural mes·o·neph·roi [mez-uh-nef-roi, mes-, mee-zuh-, -suh-] /ˌmɛz əˈnɛf rɔɪ, ˌmɛs-, ˌmi zə-, -sə-/. Embryology.

one of the three embryonic excretory organs of vertebrates, becoming the functional kidney of fishes and amphibians and becoming part of the tubules or ductules in the reproductive systems of higher vertebrates.
Compare metanephros, pronephros.

Origin of mesonephros

1875–80; < New Latin, equivalent to meso- meso- + Greek nephrós kidney

OTHER WORDS FROM mesonephros

mes·o·neph·ric, adjective

Words nearby mesonephros

meson, mesonephric duct, mesonephric fold, mesonephric ridge, mesonephroma, mesonephros, mesoneuritis, mesopause, mesopeak, mesopelagic, mesopelagic zone

Example sentences from the Web for mesonephros

British Dictionary definitions for mesonephros

mesonephros
/ (ˌmɛsəʊˈnɛfrɒs) /

noun

the middle part of the embryonic kidney in vertebrates, becoming the adult kidney in fishes and amphibians and the epididymis in reptiles, birds, and mammals See also pronephros, metanephros

Derived forms of mesonephros

mesonephric, adjective

Word Origin for mesonephros

C19: New Latin, from meso- + Greek nephros kidney

Medical definitions for mesonephros

mesonephros
[ mĕz′ə-nĕf′rəs, -rŏs′ ]

n. pl. mes•o•neph•roi (-nĕf′roi′)

The second of the three excretory organs that develop in a vertebrate embryo, replaced by the metanephros in higher vertebrates. wolffian body

Other words from mesonephros

mes′o•neph′ric adj.