How Do You Spell INVAGINATION?

Pronunciation: [ɪnvˌad͡ʒɪnˈe͡ɪʃən] (IPA)

Invagination is a medical term used to describe the inward folding or turning of a portion of an organ or tissue. The spelling of the word can be explained using the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA), which represents the sounds of language. Invagination is pronounced /ɪnvædʒɪˈneɪʃən/. This means that the first syllable is pronounced "in" as in "insect," followed by "va" as in "vanilla," "dʒi" as in "giant," "nei" as in "neighbor," and "shən" as in "station." The phonetic symbols help to clarify the pronunciation and spell the word more accurately.

INVAGINATION Meaning and Definition

1. Invagination is a biological process characterized by the inward folding or infolding of a structure, typically a membrane or layer of tissue. It involves the turning or folding inward of a section or part of an organism, resulting in the formation of a pocket, pouch, or invagination.

   In embryology, invagination refers to the folding in of one layer of cells into another layer during early development. This process plays a crucial role in the formation of various structures and organs in the developing embryo. For instance, during gastrulation, a critical phase of early embryonic development, the invagination of cells in the outermost layer results in the formation of the three primary germ layers: the ectoderm, mesoderm, and endoderm.

   In anatomy and pathology, invagination describes the telescoping or prolapse of one part of a tubular structure, such as the intestine, into another adjacent part. This can lead to a condition known as intussusception, which can cause bowel obstruction or other complications.

   Invagination is also a term used in the field of microbiology to describe the process by which a bacterium or virus enters a host cell. The viral or bacterial membrane invaginates or wraps around the host cell membrane, allowing the pathogen to gain entry and take control of the host cell's machinery.

   Overall, invagination is a vital process observed in various biological contexts, facilitating the development of complex organisms, allowing cellular entry and manipulation by pathogens, as well as occasionally occurring abnormally and causing medical complications.

Etymology of INVAGINATION

The word "invagination" originates from Latin. It can be broken down into two parts: "in" meaning "into" and "vagina" meaning "sheath" or "scabbard". In Latin, "invaginatio" referred to the action of putting something into a sheath or enclosure. Over time, the term came to be used in a medical context to describe the process of folding in or insertion of one part into another, such as when a layer of tissue folds inward or an organ undergoes a telescoping-type of movement.

Similar spelling words for INVAGINATION

• invocation,
• invaginate,
• invigilation.

Plural form of INVAGINATION is INVAGINATIONS