a saclike animal embryo consisting of three layers of cells (ectoderm, mesoderm, and endoderm) surrounding a central cavity (archenteron) with a small opening (blastopore) to the exterior
See also ectoderm, mesoderm, endoderm
Derived forms
gastrular (ˈgastrular)
adjective
Word origin
C19: New Latin: little stomach, from Greek gastēr belly
gastrula in American English
(ˈgæstrulə)
nounWord forms: pluralˈgastruˌlae (ˈgæstruˌli; ˈgæstrulaɪ) or ˈgastrulas
an embryo in an early stage of development, consisting of a sac with two layers, the ectoderm and endoderm, enclosing a central cavity, the archenteron, that opens to the outside through the blastopore