noun
- The fluid-filled cavity within a blastula, the early stage of embryonic development in animals.
Usage: biology; embryology; also spelled blastocele
Examples
- The blastocoel forms during early cell divisions and provides space for the developing embryo.
- In amphibian embryos, the blastocoel is particularly prominent and easy to observe under a microscope.
- As development progresses, the blastocoel gradually decreases in size.
- The fluid within the blastocoel helps cushion and support the developing cells.
- Biologists study the blastocoel to understand how embryos organize their internal structures.