Final answer:
Mesenchymal cells originate from the mesoderm and can differentiate into a variety of connective tissue cells. They are crucial in the body's repair processes and are the first connective tissue in the embryo, forming the groundwork for all subsequent connective tissue development.
Step-by-step explanation:
Mesenchymal cells, which are multipotent adult stem cells, derive from the mesoderm, the middle embryonic germ layer. These cells can differentiate into various types of connective tissue cells necessary for the repair and healing of damaged tissue. The process of differentiation begins with mesenchymal cells clustering together in the embryonic skeleton and eventually forming specialized cells, like osteoblasts in bone tissue or capillaries in the circulatory system. Mesenchyme is the first connective tissue to develop in the embryo and is abundant in mesodermal tissue.
In the bone marrow, differentiation continues from mesenchyme and hematopoietic tissue leading to the formation of various connective and muscle tissues. The inherent plasticity of mesenchymal cells allows them to become a critical part of the body's repair mechanism, laying down the matrix that makes up the extracellular component of connective tissue.