vitellus
- noun
- /vɪˈtɛləs/
- Specialized
- The vitellus provides essential nutrients for the developing embryo within the egg.
Examples
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In bird eggs, the vitellus is easily visible as the large yellow portion.
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Researchers studied how the vitellus changes during the incubation process.
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The vitellus provides essential nutrients for the developing embryo.
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Birds rely on the vitellus to nourish their eggs.
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In bird eggs, the vitellus is easily visible as the large yellow portion.
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The vitellus provides essential nutrients for the developing embryo within the egg.
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Researchers studied how the vitellus changes during the incubation process.
Synonyms
The yellow part inside an egg that holds most of its food
The yellow part inside an egg that feeds a developing chick and makes food richer
The yolk inside an egg or the yolk sac that feeds an embryo
Surface Forms
Etymology
A helpful way to remember the word vitellus is that it comes from Latin and was understood as 'little life' or the yolk, and it is like vital and the root vita, which mean 'life'. So vitellus is the egg's yolk, the part that gives food and life to the developing embryo.