micropyle

American  

[mahy-kruh-pahyl] / ˈmaɪ krəˌpaɪl /

noun

1. Zoology. any minute opening in an ovum through which a spermatozoon can enter, as in many insects.

2. Botany. the minute orifice or opening in the integuments of an ovule.

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micropyle British  

/ ˈmaɪkrəʊˌpaɪl /

noun

1. a small opening in the integuments of a plant ovule through which the male gametes pass

2. a small pore in the shell of an insect's eggs through which the sperm passes

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micropyle Scientific  

/ mī′krə-pīl′ /

1. A minute opening in the ovule of a seed plant through which the pollen tube usually enters.

2. A pore in the membrane covering the ovum of some animals through which a spermatozoon can enter.

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Other Word Forms

• micropylar adjective

Etymology

Origin of micropyle

1815–25; micro- + Greek pýlē gate

Example Sentences

Seeds globular, with a crustaceous coat, ascending, imperfectly anatropous, the rhaphe not adherent quite down to the micropyle, the persistent seed-stalk thus forming a sort of lateral beak.

From Project Gutenberg

At one end a cap-like portion of this forms a detachable operculum, in the middle of which is a minute opening, the micropyle.

From Project Gutenberg

A young ovule consists of a conical nucellus surrounded by a single integument terminating as a two-lipped micropyle.

From Project Gutenberg

This is seen in the passion-flower, where the covering arises from the placenta or extremity of the funicle at the base of the ovule and passes upwards towards the apex, leaving the micropyle uncovered.

From Project Gutenberg

The integuments do not completely invest the apex of the nucellus, but an opening termed the micropyle is left.

From Project Gutenberg