mesenchymal cell

Introduction

Fusiform or stellate cells in developing embryos situated between endoderm & ectoderm. There shape in fixed tissues is a result of the migration from their place of origin to areas they would develop into specialized tissues. Most mesenchymal cells are derived from mesoderm, but in the cephalic region, they develop from neural crest or surface ectoderm.

More general terms

• pluripotential stem cell

More specific terms

• angioblast
• mast cell