gastrula

American  

[gas-troo-luh] / ˈgæs trʊ lə /

noun

Embryology.

plural

gastrulas, gastrulae

1. a metazoan embryo in an early state of germ layer formation following the blastula stage, consisting of a cuplike body of two layers of cells, the ectoderm and endoderm, enclosing a central cavity, or archenteron, that opens to the outside by the blastopore: in most animals progressing to the formation of a third cell layer, the mesoderm.

---

gastrula British  

/ ˈɡæstrʊlə /

noun

1. a saclike animal embryo consisting of three layers of cells (ectoderm, mesoderm, and endoderm) surrounding a central cavity (archenteron) with a small opening (blastopore) to the exterior See also ectoderm mesoderm endoderm

---

gastrula Scientific  

/ găs′trə-lə /

plural

gastrulas

1. An animal embryo at the stage following the blastula. The gastrula develops from the blastula by invagination (inpocketing), forming an inner cavity with an opening and causing the cells to be distributed into an outer layer (ectoderm) and an inner layer (endoderm). In complex animals such as vertebrates, a third layer (mesoderm) also forms. These layers later develop into the organs and tissues of the body. In vertebrates and other deuterostomes, the opening of the gastrula becomes the anus, while in protostomes (such as arthropods), it becomes the mouth.

2. ◆ The development of an embryo from blastula to gastrula is called gastrulation.

3. Compare blastula

---

Other Word Forms

• gastrular adjective
• pregastrular adjective

Etymology

Origin of gastrula

From New Latin, dating back to 1875–80; gastro-, -ule

Compare meaning

How does gastrula compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• blastula vs. gastrula

Example Sentences

As Prof. Holstein underscores, the data obtained paint a new picture of the predatory lifestyle as a primary characteristic of the cnidarian gastrula.

From Science Daily

The latest work provides compelling insight into how the early human embryo transitions from a floating hollow ball of cells to a three-layered gastrula attached to the uterus.

From Nature

Such hybrids typically die before they reach the gastrula stage, the point in embryonic development at which major cell differences first become obvious.

From Scientific American

It has usually been regarded as representing both endoderm and mesoderm, and the groove which usually leads to its formation has been compared to the abnormally elongated blastopore of a typical gastrula.

From Project Gutenberg

Applied to a gastrula when the blastorope does not entirely up.

From Project Gutenberg