morula

American  

[mawr-oo-luh, -yoo-] / ˈmɔr ʊ lə, -yʊ- /

noun

Embryology.

plural

morulas, morulae

1. the mass of cells resulting from the cleavage of the ovum before the formation of a blastula.

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morula British  

/ ˈmɒrjʊlə /

noun

1. embryol a solid ball of cells resulting from cleavage of a fertilized ovum

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morula Scientific  

/ môr′yə-lə /

plural

morulae

1. The spherical embryonic mass of blastomeres that results from cleavage of the fertilized ovum and develops into the blastula.

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Other Word Forms

• morular adjective
• premorular adjective
• pseudomorular adjective

Etymology

Origin of morula

1855–60; < New Latin, equivalent to Latin mōr ( um ) mulberry + -ula -ule

Compare meaning

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

• morula vs. blastula

Example Sentences

At this stage of development, called the morula, there are 30-60 cells.

From Textbooks • Jun. 9, 2022

Sometimes, Ramos can wait for the embryo to become a morula, which looks like a blackberry, or a blastula, which looks like a soccer ball, before transferring the embryo to the woman's uterus.

From Slate • May 23, 2012

As this quantity of food-yelk fills the centre of the ovum before cleavage begins, there is no difference in this respect between the morula and the blastula.

From The Evolution of Man — Volume 1 by Haeckel, Ernst Heinrich Philipp August

By continued total cleavage the morula, or mulberry-shaped cluster of cells, is formed.

From The Evolution of Man — Volume 2 by Haeckel, Ernst Heinrich Philipp August

Next, within this morula some of the cells become condensed into one particular portion, leaving a space which contains fluid.

From Embryology The Beginnings of Life by Leighton, Gerald R.