Protovertebra

1 definition found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Protovertebra \Pro`to*ver"te*bra\, n.; pl. {Protovertebr[ae]} .
     [Proto- + vertebra.] (Anat.)
     One of the primitive masses, or segments, into which the
     mesoblast of the vertebrate embryo breaks up on either side
     of the anterior part of the notochord; a mesoblastic, or
     protovertebral, somite. See Illust. of {Ectoderm}.


     [1913 Webster]
  
     Note: The protovertebr[ae] were long regarded as rudiments of
           the permanent vertebr[ae], but they are now known to
           give rise to the dorsal muscles and other structures as
           well as the vertebral column. See {Myotome}.
           [1913 Webster]