Somites and Somatic Muscles in Vertebrates | Mesodermal Organs | Embryology

The somites, when first formed, are masses of mesodermal cells with a small cavity in the middle. The cells are arranged radially around the central cavity. With further development, the shape of the somites changes; they become extended in the dorsoventral direction and flattened mediolaterally. In the vertebrates with discoidal cleavage, this change in shape leads to the elevation of [...]