- mesocardium
- The double layer of splanchnic mesoderm supporting the embryonic heart in the pericardial cavity. It disappears before birth. [meso- + G. kardia, heart]- dorsal m. the part of the m. dorsal to the embryonic heart; it breaks down to form the transverse sinus of the pericardium.- ventral m. the part of the m. ventral to the embryonic cardiac tube; transitory in all vertebrates; in the higher mammals, it breaks through as soon as its component layers of epicardium make contact with each other.
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me·so·car·di·um -'kärd-ē-əm n1) the transitory mesentery of the embryonic heart2) either of two tubular prolongations of the epicardium that enclose the aorta and pulmonary trunk and the venae cavae and pulmonary veins* * *
meso·car·di·um (mez″o-) (me″zo-kahrґde-əm) [meso- + Gr. kardia heart] the part of the embryonic mesentery that connects the heart with the body wall ventrally and the foregut dorsally.
Medical dictionary. 2011.