n. the first kidney tissue that develops in the embryo. It is not functional and soon disappears. Compare mesonephros; metanephros.
either of the paired ridges of tissue that run along the dorsal surface of the abdominal cavity of the embryo. Parts of it develop into the kidney, ovary, or testis and their associated ducts. Intermediate stages of these developments are the *pronephros, *mesonephros, and *metanephros.... nephrogenic cord