somite

[ soh-mahyt ]

noun

1. any of the longitudinal series of segments or parts into which the body of certain animals is divided; a metamere.
2. Embryology. one member of a series of paired segments into which the thickened dorsal zone of mesoderm is divided.

somite

/ səʊˈmɪtɪk; ˈsəʊmaɪt; ˈsəʊmɪtəl /

noun

1. embryol any of a series of dorsal paired segments of mesoderm occurring along the notochord in vertebrate embryos. It develops into muscle and bone in the adult animal
2. zoology another name for metamere

Derived Forms

• somital, adjective

Other Words From

• so·mi·tal [soh, -mi-tl], so·mit·ic [soh-, mit, -ik], adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of somite¹

First recorded in 1865–70; som(a) ¹ + -ite ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of somite¹

C19: from Greek sōma a body

Example Sentences

Ventral tentacular cirrus of second somite of a thin or foliaceous and asymmetrical form.

From Project Gutenberg

General color yellowish; each somite of anterior region crossed transversely by two fine complete lines of reddish brown color.

From Project Gutenberg

Telson, tel′son, n. the last somite of the pleon or abdomen of certain crustaceans and arachnidans.

From Project Gutenberg

The heart would probably be long and tubular, with a pair of ostia for each somite.

From Project Gutenberg

The two cavities in the cephalic commissure unite dorsally, but ventrally open into the first somite of the trunk.

From Project Gutenberg