blastoderm

blas·to·derm  (blst-dûrm)

n.

1. The layer of cells that develops on the surface of the yolk in an avian or reptilian egg and gives rise to the germinal disk from which the embryo develops.

2. The layer of cells formed by the cleavage of a fertilized mammalian egg. It later divides into the three germ layers from which the embryo develops.

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blasto·dermic, blasto·der·matic (-dr-mtk) adj.

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blastoderm [ˈblæstəʊˌdɜːm]

n Embryol

1. (Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Biology) the layer of cells that surrounds the blastocoel of a blastula

2. (Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Biology) a flat disc of cells formed after cleavage in a heavily yolked egg, such as a bird's egg Also called blastodisc

blastodermic  adj

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

blastoderm - a layer of cells on the inside of the blastula blastodisc, germinal area, germinal disc layer - thin structure composed of a single thickness of cells