gastrula noun. ['gastrʊlǝ] Pl. -lae [-li:], -las. L19.
[mod. Latin, from Greek gastēr, gastr- stomach: see -ULE.]
An embryo at the stage following inward migration of the cells of the blastula, typically consisting of a hollow cup-shaped structure having three layers of cells enclosing the archenteron. Cf. BLASTULA, MORULA noun¹.

■ gastrular adjective M20.

■ gastru'lation noun the process of formation of a gastrula L19.

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