Mesolecithal
/ˌmɛsoʊˈlɛsɪθəl/noun
Having a moderate amount of yolk distributed through an egg, typically producing partial or unequal cleavage during embryonic development.
Did you know?In mesolecithal eggs, yolk is concentrated enough to obstruct cleavage in part of the egg, helping produce unequal early blastomeres.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*medhyo-
“Middle or in the midst; the remote ancestor of the meso- element.”
Ancient Greek
Greek
μέσος (mesos)
“Middle, situated between, or intermediate.”
Ancient Greek
Greek
λέκιθος (lekithos)
“Yolk, especially the yolk of an egg.”
19th Century
Scientific Greek/Latin
meso- + lecith-
“A scientific compound combining “middle” with “yolk,” referring to an intermediate yolk condition.”
Modern English
English
mesolecithal
“Containing a moderate quantity of yolk, with that yolk affecting the pattern of embryonic cleavage.”
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