A particular kind of stem cell that may give rise to tissues of mesodermal origin, including muscle, bone, and related tissues.

cells derived from various connective tissues that form a population of stem cells with potential to differentiate for repair and replacement of connective and other tissues. Can be found mainly in bone marrow, but also in other places (dermis, lung and heart atria). The bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell (or bone marrow stromal cell) differs from the hematopoietic stem cell (which forms blood cells) and can form bone, cartilage and adipose tissue.

A type of adult stem cell found in bone marrow that gives rise to a number of different kinds of cells (eg, bone cells and fat cells). They are also known as bone marrow stromal cells. For more information see The latest research on bone marrow stem cells (Stem Cells Information Center, American Federation for Aging Research).

A pluripotent cell that differentiates into connective tissue.

Mesenchymal stem cells or MSCs are multipotent stem cells that can differentiate into a variety of cell types. Cell types that MSCs have been shown to differentiate into in vitro or in vivo include osteoblasts, chondrocytes, myocytes, adipocytes, neuronal cells, and, as described lately, into beta-pancreatic islets cells.