developing embryonic structure principal midgut epithelial cell Cell type that corresponds to the majority of midgut rudiment cells in the embryo (Tepass and Hartenstein, 1994). Shortly before and during germ band retraction, these cells reorganize to form the midgut epithelium, undergoing a mesenchymal-epithelial transition, and most become columnar (Tepass and Hartenstein, 1994). FBbt:00005784 fly_anatomy.ontology PMEC somatic precursor cell somatic cell of embryonic/larval midgut primordium