blastula

views updated

blastula The stage of development of an animal embryo that results from cleavage of a fertilized egg. This stage generally resembles a hollow ball with the dividing cells (blastomeres) of the embryo forming a layer (blastoderm) around a central cavity (blastocoel). In vertebrates the blastula forms a disc (blastodisc) on the surface of the yolk. In mammals the blastula stage is known as a blastocyst. See also gastrula.

More From encyclopedia.com