The jelly-like layer between the outer epidermis and inner gastrodermis in cnidarians, providing structural support and buoyancy. It consists mainly of water and proteins, giving jellyfish their characteristic gelatinous texture.
From Greek 'mesos' meaning middle and 'glia' meaning glue, literally 'middle glue.' The name describes its position between the two cell layers and its adhesive, gel-like consistency that holds the animal's structure together.
Mesoglea is nature's ultimate jello - it's 99% water but provides enough structural support for some jellyfish to grow larger than blue whales! The secret is in the protein fibers that create a flexible yet strong matrix.
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