blastocyst
|blas-to-cyst|
/ˈblæstəˌsɪst/
hollow early embryo
Etymology
'blastocyst' originates from Greek, specifically the words 'blastos' and 'kystis', where 'blastos' meant 'bud' and 'kystis' meant 'bladder' or 'sac'.
'blastocyst' changed from the New Latin/Greek-derived form 'blastocystis' used in scientific contexts in the late 19th and early 20th centuries and eventually became the modern English word 'blastocyst'.
Initially it literally combined the ideas of 'bud' and 'sac,' but over time it evolved into the specific biological term for the hollow early embryo stage now known as 'blastocyst'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
an early stage of the mammalian embryo, typically occurring about 5–7 days after fertilization, characterized by a hollow fluid-filled cavity (blastocoel), an outer cell layer (trophoblast), and an inner cell mass that will form the embryo.
The blastocyst implants in the uterine lining about 6–7 days after fertilization.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/09/11 19:55