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
Examples of mesonephros in a Sentence
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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
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Amber Dance, Smithsonian Magazine, 29 Dec. 2022
Once the final kidneys develop, the mesonephros disappears.
—Amber Dance, Smithsonian Magazine, 29 Dec. 2022
Cite this Entry
“Mesonephros.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mesonephros. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
mesonephros
noun
me·so·neph·ros
ˌmez-ə-ˈnef-rəs
ˌmēz-
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 pronephrosLove words? Need even more definitions?
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