Intermediate mesoderm

Intermediate mesoderm is a type of mesoderm that is located between the paraxial mesoderm and the lateral plate.

It develops into the part of the urogenital system (kidneys and gonads)


 * forms of urogenital system
 * series of short evaginations from each segment grows dorsally caudally
 * vestiges of the future kidney, the pronephros briefly appears.
 * pronephric duct arises in the intermediate mesoderm just ventral to the anterior somites
 * grows caudally until it becomes the cloaca
 * it is distinct from the lateral mesoderm, as it is not influenced by the secretion of BMP-4 by the ectoderm, possibly due to the lack of receptors.