Paraxial mesoderm is the area of mesoderm that forms just lateral to the neural tube on both sides.

It differentiates rostrally into somatomeres and caudally into somites.^[1]

It gives rise to the somitomeres/somites and mesoderm of the branchial arches.

• Somites form the vertebral column, dermis and skeletal muscle
• Branchial arches will develop into facial muscle and cartilage, plus other structures.

• eventually differentiates into the axial skeleton, skeletal muscle, part of the dermis
• almost immediately as it is formed, somitomeres develop.
• starts with several pairs in the cranial region, and increasingly more proceed to develop towards the caudal region.
• The original seven pairs form the striated muscles of head and neck, which develop within the pharyngeal arches
• The other somitomeres develop further, to form discrete blocks called somites, starting at approximately 20 days.

References

External links

• Overview at nih.gov
• Diagram and overview at mcgill.ca
• 

ca:Mesoderm paraxial es:Mesodermo paraxial