a process that occurs during gastrulation in vertebrates, in which cells on one side of the blastula grow over and surround the remaining cells and yolk and eventually form the ectoderm
Derived forms
epibolic (ˌɛpɪˈbɒlɪk)
adjective
Word origin
C19: from Greek epibolē a laying on, from epiballein to throw on, from epi- + ballein to throw
epiboly in American English
(iˈpɪbəli)
noun
Embryology
the growth of a group of cells around another group, resulting from the more rapid division of the former, as in forming a gastrula
Derived forms
epibolic (ˌepiˈbolic) (ˌɛpɪˈbɑlɪk)
adjective
Word origin
Gr epibolē, a throwing upon < epiballein, to throw upon < epi-, on, upon + ballein, to throw: see ball2