invagination

American  

[in-vaj-uh-ney-shuhn] / ɪnˌvædʒ əˈneɪ ʃən /

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.

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invagination British  

/ ɪnˌvædʒɪˈneɪʃən /

noun

1. pathol the process of invaginating or the condition of being invaginated; intussusception

2. pathol an invaginated organ or part

3. an infolding of the outer layer of cells of an organism or part of an organism so as to form a pocket in the surface, as in the embryonic development of a gastrula from a blastula

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Etymology

Origin of invagination

First recorded in 1650–60; invaginate + -ion

Example Sentences

The archenteron develops into the alimentary canal, and a mouth opening is formed by invagination of ectoderm at the pole opposite the blastopore of the gastrula.

From Textbooks • Jan. 1, 2015

White arrow denotes the invagination that forms the shell gland.

From Nature • Oct. 3, 2012

White arrow denotes the invagination that forms the shell gland.

From Nature • Oct. 3, 2012

Attempts to plug the canal have, in most cases, been made by invagination of the skin of the scrotum and its fascia.

From A Manual of the Operations of Surgery For the Use of Senior Students, House Surgeons, and Junior Practitioners by Bell, Joseph

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.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 7, Slice 8 "Cube" to "Daguerre, Louis" by Various