Somites

Definition

Somites are blocks of mesodermal cells located on either side of the neural tube in a developing embryo. These cells differentiate into structures such as vertebrae, ribs, and skeletal muscles.

Related terms

Mesoderm: The middle layer of an embryo from which somites and other organs and tissues develop.

Neural tube: A structure in early development from which the brain and spinal cord form, lying central to the developing somites.

Myogenesis: The process by which muscle tissue forms, particularly from the portion of somites known as myotomes