BLASTULATION Meaning and
Definition
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Blastulation refers to the process by which a multicellular embryo undergoes morphological changes and forms a hollow sphere of cells known as a blastula. It is an essential stage of embryonic development in animals, particularly in early embryogenesis.
During blastulation, the zygote, or fertilized egg, undergoes rapid cell divisions called cleavage. These divisions result in the formation of a solid mass of cells called a morula. Subsequently, the morula undergoes further cell divisions and rearrangements, which ultimately lead to the formation of a fluid-filled cavity within the mass. This fluid-filled cavity is called the blastocoel.
The blastula is characterized by a single layer of cells, known as blastomeres, surrounding the blastocoel. These blastomeres are typically of similar size and shape, providing a symmetrical arrangement. The formation of the blastocoel and the establishment of this cell arrangement are crucial for subsequent developmental processes.
In many animal species, blastulation occurs following the stages of fertilization and cleavage, but before gastrulation, which is the next developmental stage where the basic body plan of an organism is established.
Overall, blastulation is a vital stage in early embryonic development, as it sets the foundation for the next developmental processes, and its successful completion is critical for the proper formation of the organism.
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The formation of the blastula or blastosphere.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
Common Misspellings for BLASTULATION
- vlastulation
- nlastulation
- hlastulation
- glastulation
- bkastulation
- bpastulation
- boastulation
- blzstulation
- blsstulation
- blwstulation
- blqstulation
- blaatulation
- blaztulation
- blaxtulation
- bladtulation
- blaetulation
- blawtulation
- blasrulation
- blasfulation
- blasgulation
Etymology of BLASTULATION
The word "blastulation" is derived from the combination of two terms: "blastula" and the suffix "-tion".
The term "blastula" comes from the Greek word "blastos" which means "bud" or "sprout". In embryology, a blastula refers to an early stage of development in animal embryos characterized by a hollow ball of cells called a blastocyst or blastula.
The suffix "-tion" is derived from the Latin suffix "-tio" or "-sio", which indicates an action or a state. It is often used to form nouns indicating a process, action, or result.
Therefore, "blastulation" essentially refers to the process or action of forming a blastula during embryonic development.
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