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Glite Dictionary
germinal disc

germinal disc

9.9
A small group of cells on the surface of an egg that grows into a young animal
  • noun
  • /ˈdʒɜrmɪnəl dɪsk/
  • Specialized
translation icon : disco germinal
  • The germinal disc can be seen as a small white spot on the surface of a bird's egg yolk.

Examples

  • If the germinal disc is fertilized, it will give rise to a chick embryo.

  • Scientists studied changes in the germinal disc during early embryonic development.

  • The germinal disc is crucial for embryo development.

  • During fertilization, the germinal disc forms on the ovum.

  • If the germinal disc is fertilized, it will give rise to a chick embryo.

  • Scientists studied changes in the germinal disc during early embryonic development.

  • The germinal disc can be seen as a small white spot on the surface of a bird's egg yolk.

Synonyms

blastodisc
vsgerminal disc
  • Specialized
9.9

A thin layer of cells on the surface of an egg yolk where the young animal begins to form

is a small localized surface region that produces the embryo
blastoderm
vsgerminal disc
  • Specialized
9.9

A layer of cells that forms on the inside of an early embryo around the yolk

is a small outer surface region rather than a continuous inner layer
germinal area
vsgerminal disc
  • Specialized
9.7

A layer of cells inside an embryo that makes early body tissues

is a focused outer surface region that forms the whole embryo

Surface Forms

germinal disc singular
germinal discs plural

Morphology

germinal + disk

The compound combines 'germinal' (relating to origin or early development) with 'disc/disk' (a small round plate), so a learner who knows both constituents could infer it refers to a small plate-like structure involved in early development. However, the precise anatomical sense — a specific region of cells on the ovum's surface from which the embryo develops — is technical and not fully predictable from general-word meanings, so it is only partially transparent.

Etymology

Germinal disc names the tiny round spot on an egg where an animal starts to grow. The name joins germinal (like the 'germ' or 'seed') and disc (a small round shape), so it refers to the small area of cells that will become the 'embryo'.