How Do You Spell MEROGASTRULA?

1. Merogastrula is a key term in the field of developmental biology and zoology. It refers to a specific stage in the early embryonic development of certain animals, particularly invertebrates such as sponges, cnidarians, and some coelenterates.

   During embryogenesis, the merogastrula stage occurs after the formation of the blastula. At this stage, the embryo undergoes a series of morphological changes, including the invagination of cells to form a cavity known as the gastrula. This process is called gastrulation and is a crucial step in the formation of the germ layers, which give rise to different tissues and organs in the adult organism.

   The term "merogastrula" specifically describes the type of gastrula that develops from a meroblastic egg. A meroblastic egg is one that only undergoes partial cleavage during early development, resulting in a blastoderm layer on top of a large yolk mass. In merogastrulation, the gastrulation process is modified to accommodate the large yolk, leading to the formation of a partial gastrula with an incomplete germ layer development at this stage.

   The merogastrula stage is important in understanding the fundamental processes of embryonic development and tissue differentiation in various organisms. Its study contributes to our knowledge of how different animal species develop and evolve, as well as providing insights into the formation of body plans and the functioning of various organ systems.

2. The gastrula of a meroblastic ovum.

   A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.

Common Misspellings for MEROGASTRULA

The word "merogastrula" is a scientific term derived from two parts: "mero" and "gastrula".

1. "Mero": The prefix "mero-" is derived from the Greek word "meros", meaning "part" or "portion". In scientific terminology, "mero-" is often used to denote something that is partial or incomplete.

2. "Gastrula": The term "gastrula" refers to an early stage in the development of an embryo, particularly in animals. During gastrulation, the embryo forms three primary germ layers - ectoderm, mesoderm, and endoderm - which eventually give rise to different tissues and organs.

Combining these two parts, "merogastrula" suggests a stage of development that is partial or incomplete in its formation of the three embryonic germ layers.