Definition

The second of the three organs that help remove waste in the body of a developing vertebrate, which works as a kidney in fish and amphibians but is replaced by another organ in more advanced animals.

Example

In fish and amphibians, the mesonephros serves as the main kidney during their development.

Conversation

Have you ever heard of the mesonephros?

Yeah, I think it's related to kidney development in embryos, right?

Exactly! It's interesting how it functions in fish and amphibians.

I find it fascinating how our bodies evolve from such basic structures.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Mesonephros → It is formed from "meso-" (from Greek "mesos", meaning middle) and "nephros" (from Greek "nephros", meaning kidney). The term refers to the middle kidney, which is a stage in the development of the excretory system in vertebrates.

Memory Tip

Think of 'middle' ('meso-') and 'kidney' ('nephros') to remember that 'mesonephros' refers to the middle kidney in the development of an organism.

Visually Confused Words