GASTRULA Meaning and
Definition
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A gastrula is a term used in embryology and developmental biology to describe a specific stage in the early development of an embryo. It is an essential stage in the formation of most multicellular organisms.
During gastrulation, a blastula (an earlier stage in embryonic development) undergoes a series of intricate cellular movements and differentiations, resulting in the formation of three primary germ layers: the ectoderm, mesoderm, and endoderm. These germ layers are the foundation for the development of various tissues and organs in the organism.
The process of gastrulation begins with the invagination, or inward folding, of the blastula from one side, forming a structure known as the gastrula. The invagination creates an opening called the blastopore, which eventually develops into the organism's anus or mouth, depending on its developmental fate.
The three germ layers formed during gastrulation play essential roles in the subsequent development of specific cell types. For instance, the ectoderm gives rise to structures like the skin and nervous system, the mesoderm develops into muscles, bones, and blood vessels, while the endoderm forms the lining of internal organs such as the digestive system and respiratory tract.
Overall, gastrulation is a critical developmental process that transforms a simple hollow ball of cells into a complex embryo with distinct germ layers, playing a crucial role in the formation of tissues, organs, and ultimately the overall body plan of a multicellular organism.
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The embryo in the stage of development following the blastula, consisting of a sac with double wall. endoderm and ectoderm, the cavity being the archenteron. See cut in the next column.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
Common Misspellings for GASTRULA
- fastrula
- vastrula
- bastrula
- hastrula
- yastrula
- tastrula
- gzstrula
- gsstrula
- gwstrula
- gqstrula
- gaatrula
- gaztrula
- gaxtrula
- gadtrula
- gaetrula
- gawtrula
- gasrrula
- gasfrula
- gasgrula
Etymology of GASTRULA
The word "gastrula" comes from the Greek word "gaster" (γαστήρ), meaning "stomach" or "belly". The suffix "-ula" is a diminutive, which indicates a smaller or immature version of something. Therefore, "gastrula" can be translated as "little stomach" or "little belly". The term was first coined by Ernst Haeckel, a German biologist, in 1872 to describe a stage in the embryonic development of animals.
Similar spelling words for GASTRULA
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