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Webster 1913 Edition
Gastrula
‖
Gas′tru-la
,Noun.
pl.
Gastrulæ
(#)
[NL., dim. fr. Gr. [GREEK] the stomach.]
(Biol.)
An embryonic form having its origin in the invagination or pushing in of the wall of the planula or blastula (the blastosphere) on one side, thus giving rise to a double-walled sac, with one opening or mouth (the blastopore) which leads into the cavity (the archenteron) lined by the inner wall (the hypoblast). See Illust. under
– Invagination
. In a more general sense, an ideal stage in embryonic development. See Gastræa
. Adj.
Of or pertaining to a gastrula.