Gastrula
/ˈɡæs.truː.lə/noun
An early embryonic stage in which the embryo becomes a layered, cup-like structure.
Did you know?Gastrula was coined in the 19th century from Greek gaster, “belly” or “stomach,” with the diminutive suffix -ula, so it literally means “little belly.”
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*gʷeh₂-
“to be wide, spacious”
Ancient Greek
Greek
γαστήρ (gastḗr)
“belly, stomach”
Late Latin
Latin
gastr-
“stomach, belly, especially in learned scientific compounds”
19th Century
English
gastrula
“a small embryonic sac or cup-like stage”
Modern English
English
gastrula
“an early embryonic stage in animal development”
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