mesonephros

noun

me·​so·​neph·​ros ˌme-zə-ˈne-frəs 

ˌmē-,

-sə-,

-ˌfräs

plural mesonephroi ˌme-zə-ˈne-ˌfrȯi 

ˌmē-,

-sə-

: either member of the second and midmost of the three paired vertebrate renal organs that functions in adult fishes and amphibians but functions only in the embryo of reptiles, birds, and mammals in which it is replaced by a metanephros in the adult compare metanephros, pronephros

mesonephric

ˌme-zə-ˈne-frik 

ˌmē-

-sə-

adjective

Examples of mesonephros in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Serrano, meanwhile, looked at cells in an organ that exists only in embryos: a temporary kidney, called the mesonephros, that forms near the heart. —Amber Dance, Smithsonian Magazine, 29 Dec. 2022

Once the final kidneys develop, the mesonephros disappears. —Amber Dance, Smithsonian Magazine, 29 Dec. 2022

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from mes- + Greek nephros kidney — more at nephritis

First Known Use

1877, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

mesonephros

noun

me·​so·​neph·​ros ˌmez-ə-ˈnef-rəs  ˌmēz- 

ˌmēs-,

ˌmes-,

-ˌräs

plural mesonephroi -ˌrȯi 

: either member of the second and midmost of the three paired vertebrate renal organs that functions in adult fishes and amphibians but functions only in the embryo of reptiles, birds, and mammals in which it is replaced by a metanephros in the adult

called also Wolffian body

compare pronephros