MEMBRANA VITELLINA Meaning and
Definition
-
Membrana vitellina is a Latin term used in the field of embryology and developmental biology to refer to the thin, translucent membrane that surrounds and isolates the yolk sac during early embryonic development in some vertebrates.
The yolk sac is an important structure in the early stages of embryogenesis, providing essential nutrients and serving as a conduit for waste disposal. The membrana vitellina acts as a protective barrier, separating the developing embryo and yolk contents from the surrounding environment.
The composition and structure of the membrana vitellina can vary among different species and can even differ within the same species during different stages of development. Generally, it is made up of a specialized, single-layered epithelium that surrounds the yolk sac, encasing it like a bag. This epithelium is typically composed of flattened cells that are closely packed together.
Importantly, the membrana vitellina has several crucial functions. It aids in the transport of essential nutrients, oxygen, and waste products between the yolk sac and the developing embryo. Additionally, it prevents contamination and infection, shielding the embryo from potential pathogens in the external environment. As the embryo continues to develop, the membrana vitellina ultimately breaks down or is incorporated into the growing tissues of the embryo, as it is no longer necessary for its survival.
-
The membrane enclosing the ovum; zona pellucida.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
Common Misspellings for MEMBRANA VITELLINA
- membrana vitellinc
- membranavitellinna
- m embrana vitellina
- me mbrana vitellina
- mem brana vitellina
- memb rana vitellina
- membr ana vitellina
- membra na vitellina
- membran a vitellina
- membrana v itellina
- membrana vi tellina
- membrana vit ellina
- membrana vite llina
- membrana vitel lina
- membrana vitell ina
- membrana vitelli na
- membrana vitellin a
Etymology of MEMBRANA VITELLINA
The etymology of the term membrana vitellina can be broken down as follows:
1. Membrana: This Latin word means membrane or thin skin. It comes from the Latin verb membranare, which means to cover with a membrane. The word ultimately derives from the Latin term membrum, meaning limb or member.
2. Vitellina: This word comes from the Latin term vitellus, which means yolk (specifically, the yolk of an egg). The word vitellus itself could have originated from the Latin adjective vitulus, meaning calf, possibly denoting the yellowish color of a newborn calf.
Therefore, combining these etymological components, membrana vitellina refers to the yolk membrane or the membrane covering the yolk.
