blastula

(blastyo̵̅o̅ lə)

noun pl. blastulas or blastulae

an embryo at the stage of development in which it consists of usually one layer of cells around a central cavity, forming a hollow sphere

Origin: ModL, dim. < Gr blastos, a sprout

Related Forms:

See blastula in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun pl. blas·tu·las or blas·tu·lae (-lēˌ)
An early embryonic form produced by cleavage of a fertilized ovum and consisting of a spherical layer of cells surrounding a fluid-filled cavity. Also called blastosphere.

Origin:

Origin: New Latin

Origin: : from Greek blastos, bud

Origin: + Latin -ula, feminine diminutive suffix

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Related Forms:

  • blasˈtu·lar adjective
  • blasˌtu·laˈtion (-lāˈshən) noun

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