Blastochyle is a term used in embryology to refer to a portion of the developing egg. The word is spelled as "blast-o-chyle" with the stress on the first syllable. It is pronounced as /ˈblæstoʊˌkaɪl/, where the "blasto" is pronounced with a short "a" sound, like in "blast", and "chyle" is pronounced as "kile" with a long "i" sound. The combination of "blast" and "chyle" in the word refers to the nutritive fluid that surrounds the developing embryo.
Blastochyle is a term used in the field of embryology to refer to a specific type of tissue or fluid that is involved in the early development of certain animals. Specifically, blastochyle is found in the blastocoel, which is the fluid-filled cavity formed during the blastula stage of embryonic development.
This fluid or tissue is formed as a result of the processes of cleavage and blastulation, which occur after fertilization and involve rapid cell division and rearrangement. During blastulation, some of the cells in the developing embryo become part of the blastochyle, which fills the blastocoel.
The blastochyle serves several important functions during early development. It provides nourishment to the developing embryo, supplying essential nutrients and substances necessary for growth and differentiation of cells. Additionally, the blastochyle can serve as a medium for cell migration and communication, as it contains various signaling molecules that facilitate the coordination of cellular activities.
Throughout further development, as the embryo undergoes gastrulation and forms more complex tissues and organs, the blastochyle is gradually replaced or transformed into other specialized tissues. Therefore, its presence is primarily associated with the early stages of embryonic development.
In summary, blastochyle refers to the fluid or tissue found in the blastocoel during early embryonic development. It plays a crucial role in providing nutrients, as well as facilitating cell migration and communication, during the initial stages of an animal's growth and differentiation.
The blastocelic fluid.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
The word blastochyle is derived from two Greek roots: blastos, meaning bud or shoot, and chyle, meaning juice or liquid.