gastrula
|gas-tru-la|
/ˈɡæstrʊlə/
little stomach → embryonic germ-layer formation
Etymology
'gastrula' originates from New Latin and ultimately from Greek, specifically the word 'gastēr', where 'gastēr' meant 'stomach' and the Latin diminutive suffix '-ula' meant 'little'.
'gastrula' derives from Greek 'gastēr' (γαστήρ) which passed into Latin as 'gaster' and was later formed in New Latin/modern scientific usage as 'gastrula' to denote a small or early structure related to the gut.
Initially it carried the sense 'little stomach' (a diminutive of 'stomach'), but over time it evolved into the technical embryological meaning 'an early embryonic stage when the gut and germ layers begin to form'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
an early stage in embryonic development following the blastula, during which gastrulation occurs and the three primary germ layers (ectoderm, mesoderm, endoderm) are formed.
The embryo developed into a gastrula, and the three germ layers became distinguishable.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2026/01/11 03:47