Igama elithi "mesoderm" libhekisela kwesinye sezingqimba ezintathu zamangqamuzana egciwane ekuthuthukisweni kwasekuqaleni kwezinto eziphilayo ezinamangqamuzana amaningi, okuhlanganisa nezilwane. Iwungqimba oluphakathi lwamaseli olwakheka ngesikhathi sokugaya ukudla, oludala izakhiwo nezicubu ezihlukahlukene, njengemisipha, amathambo, izinso nemithambo yegazi. Ezilwaneni ezinomgogodla, i-mesoderm iphinde ibe negalelo ekukhuleni kwenhliziyo, ubende, kanye nama-gonads.