Term Name: | mesonephros |
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Synonyms: | amphibian adult kidney, corpus Wolffi, mesonephric kidney, mesonephroi, middle kidney, opisthonephros, opisto nephros, opistonephros, Wolffian body |
Definition: | The second stage of the kidney. It serves as the main excretory organ of aquatic vertebrates and as a temporary embryonic kidney in higher vertebrates. It is composed of the mesonephric duct (also called the Wolffian duct), mesonephric tubules, and associated capillary tufts. A single tubule and its associated capillary tuft is called a mesonephric excretory unit; these units are similar in structure and function to nephrons of the adult kidney. The mesonephros is derived from intermediate mesoderm in the vertebrate embryo. |
Ontology: | Cell Ontology [UBERON:0000080] |