Blastula
/ˈblæs.tjʊ.lə/noun
A very early embryonic stage in which cells form a hollow sphere.
Did you know?Blastula comes from Greek blastos, meaning “sprout” or “bud,” the same ancient root behind words tied to growth and budding life, not anything occult but deeply symbolic of becoming.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
βλαστός (blastós)
“sprout, bud, germ”
Late 19th Century
Scientific Latin/Greek
blastula
“a diminutive term for an early embryonic form, a small hollow sphere of cells”
Modern English
English
blastula
“the hollow ball of cells formed in early embryonic development”
Modern Scientific Usage
English
blastocyst
“a later mammalian embryonic stage derived from the same Greek root”
Explore more surprising origins