noun
- Plural of amnion; the innermost membrane that surrounds and protects the embryo or fetus in mammals, birds, and reptiles.
Usage: technical; biology
Examples
- The amnia form a protective sac filled with amniotic fluid around the developing fetus.
- In embryology, the amnia are among the first extraembryonic membranes to develop.
- The amnia help regulate temperature and cushion the growing embryo during development.