Advertisement
Advertisement
gastrula
[ gas-troo-luh ]
noun
- a metazoan embryo in an early state of germ layer formation following the blastula stage, consisting of a cuplike body of two layers of cells, the ectoderm and endoderm, enclosing a central cavity, or archenteron, that opens to the outside by the blastopore: in most animals progressing to the formation of a third cell layer, the mesoderm.
gastrula
/ ă′ٰə-ə /
, Plural gastrulas ă′ٰə-ŧ′
- An animal embryo at the stage following the blastula. The gastrula develops from the blastula by invagination (inpocketing), forming an inner cavity with an opening and causing the cells to be distributed into an outer layer (ectoderm) and an inner layer (endoderm). In complex animals such as vertebrates, a third layer (mesoderm) also forms. These layers later develop into the organs and tissues of the body. In vertebrates and other deuterostomes, the opening of the gastrula becomes the anus, while in protostomes (such as arthropods), it becomes the mouth.
- ◆ The development of an embryo from blastula to gastrula is called gastrulation.
- Compare blastula
Derived Forms
- ˈٰܱ, adjective
Other 51Թ Forms
- t· adjective
- pre·t· adjective
51Թ History and Origins
51Թ History and Origins
Origin of gastrula1
Compare Meanings
How does gastrula compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:
Example Sentences
As Prof. Holstein underscores, the data obtained paint a new picture of the predatory lifestyle as a primary characteristic of the cnidarian gastrula.
The latest work provides compelling insight into how the early human embryo transitions from a floating hollow ball of cells to a three-layered gastrula attached to the uterus.
Such hybrids typically die before they reach the gastrula stage, the point in embryonic development at which major cell differences first become obvious.
It has usually been regarded as representing both endoderm and mesoderm, and the groove which usually leads to its formation has been compared to the abnormally elongated blastopore of a typical gastrula.
Applied to a gastrula when the blastorope does not entirely up.
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Browse