How Do You Spell MEIOLECITHAL?

Pronunciation: [mˈe͡ɪə͡ʊlsˌɪθə͡l] (IPA)

Meiolecithal is a term used in biology to describe an egg that contains an intermediate amount of yolk. The word is spelled as "may-oh-leh-suh-thuh l" and can be broken down phonetically as "mei" (pronounced "may," meaning half), "o" (pronounced "oh," meaning egg) and "lecithal" (pronounced "leh-suh-thuh l," meaning containing yolk). It is important for scientists and students to understand the spelling and pronunciation of specialized vocabulary to communicate effectively among their peers in the field.

MEIOLECITHAL Meaning and Definition

1. Meiolecithal is an adjective used in embryology to describe the distribution and arrangement of yolk in the egg of certain animals. It refers to eggs with a moderate amount of yolk that is distributed relatively evenly throughout the cytoplasm, rather than being concentrated towards one pole or in a specific region.

   In meiolecithal eggs, the yolk is not abundant enough to classify the egg as telolecithal, where the yolk is heavily concentrated at one end of the egg (such as in avian eggs). On the other hand, meiolecithal eggs differ from isolecithal eggs, which have an even distribution of yolk throughout the entire cytoplasm, without any concentration towards specific poles.

   Meiolecithal eggs are often found in amphibians, such as frogs and salamanders, as well as in certain invertebrate species. The even distribution of yolk in these eggs is crucial for the balanced development of the embryo. During embryogenesis, the yolk provides essential nutrients and energy for the developing organism, aiding in its growth and development.

   Understanding the classification of eggs based on yolk distribution, such as meiolecithal, is significant in developmental biology and can provide insights into the reproductive strategies, embryonic development, and life histories of diverse organisms.

Common Misspellings for MEIOLECITHAL

• meolecithal
• Meiocithal
• Myiolecithal
• Meiolecithial
• Myiolecithial

Etymology of MEIOLECITHAL

The word "meiolecithal" is derived from combining two words: "meio" and "lecithal".

1. "Meio" comes from the Greek word "meion" meaning "less" or "smaller". In biology, this prefix is commonly used to denote "reduction" or "incomplete".

2. "Lecithal" is a term used to describe the distribution of yolk in an egg. It originates from the Greek word "lekithos" meaning "yolk". In biology, "lecithal" is used to describe eggs where the yolk is concentrated in one hemisphere, typically the vegetal pole.

Therefore, when combined, "meiolecithal" refers to a type of egg in which the yolk is partially concentrated only at one specific area of the egg.