invagination

[in-vaj-uh-ney-shuhn]

noun

1. the act or process of invaginating.

2. Embryology.,  the inward movement of a portion of the wall of a blastula in the formation of a gastrula.

3. Pathology.,  intussusception.

4. a form or shape resulting from an infolded tissue.

Word History and Origins

Origin of invagination¹

First recorded in 1650–60; invaginate + -ion

Example Sentences

White arrow denotes the invagination that forms the shell gland.

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In some cases the inner layer is formed not by invagination but by proliferation or by delamination.

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The pore or opening leading into the cavity of invagination, or archenteron.

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In Myxine a further remarkable peculiarity in regard to the hypophysis, probably adaptive in nature, occurs, inasmuch as the pituitary invagination develops an opening at its posterior end into the pharynx.

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In the majority of the Decapoda there is a saccular invagination of the integument in the basal segment of the antennular peduncle having on its inner surface “auditory” setae of the type just described.

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