Mesenchyme
Mesenchyme showing a typical cell and matrix.

Mesenchyme, or mesenchymal connective tissue, is a type of undifferentiated loose connective tissue that is derived from all three germ layers and located within the embryo .^[1] Mesenchyme is characterized morphologically by a prominent ground substance matrix containing a loose aggregate of reticular fibrils and unspecialized cells.^[2] The cells are capable of developing into connective tissues, such as bone, and cartilage, the lymphatic system, and the circulatory system.^[3][4]

Contents 1 Ectomesenchyme 2 See also 3 References 4 Bibliography 5 External links

[edit] Ectomesenchyme

Ectomesenchyme has similar properties to mesenchyme. The major difference is that ectomesenchyme is usually considered to arise from neural crest cells,^[5] which are a critical group of cells that form in the cranial region during early vertebrate development. Thus, ectomesenchyme plays a critical role in the formation of the hard and soft tissues of the head and neck such as bones, muscles, teeth, and, most important, the branchial arches.

[edit] See also

• Intramembranous ossification
• Mesenchymal stem cell
• Mesoderm
• Mesohyl, the gelatinous matrix in sponges, was formerly also called mesenchyme.

[edit] References

[edit] Bibliography

• Maximow, Alexander A. and William Bloom (1930). Textbook of histology. Philadelphia: W. B. Saunders

[edit] External links

• Overview at University of Edinburgh

Mesenchyme
Latin	mesenchyma
Carnegie stage	6b
Precursor	primarily mesoderm

v · d · eHistology: connective tissue Classification Proper/ Fibrous Loose Areolar · Reticular non-fibrous: Adipose (Brown, White) Dense Dense irregular connective tissue (Submucosa, Dermis) · Dense regular connective tissue (Ligament, Tendon, Aponeurosis) Embryonic Mucous · Mesenchymal Specialized Cartilage · Bone · Blood Composition Extracellular matrix (noncellular) Ground substance Tissue fluid Fibers Reticular fibers: Collagen Elastic fibers: Fibrillin (FBN1, FBN2, FBN3) Cells Resident Fibroblast · Reticular cell · Tendon cell Adipocyte Chondroblast · Osteoblast Wandering cell Mast cell · Macrophage see also soft tissue M: INT, SF, LCT anat/phys/devp noco(i, b, d, q, u, r, p, k, c, v)/cong/tumr(n, e, d), sysi/epon proc, drug (D2/3/4/5/8) M: MUS, DF+DRCT anat (h/n, u, t/d, a/p, l)/phys/hist noco(m, s, c)/cong(d)/tumr, sysi/epon, injr proc, drug (M1A/3)

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