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Glite Dictionary
blastopore

blastopore

9.9
An opening that forms in an embryo and leads to the early gut
  • noun
  • /ˈblæstəˌpɔr/
  • Specialized
: blastoporo
  • During gastrulation, the blastopore forms and gives rise to the digestive tract.

Examples

  • The fate of the blastopore can determine whether an animal is a protostome or deuterostome.

  • Scientists observed the early stages of embryo development, focusing on the formation of the blastopore.

  • The blastopore is crucial for gut formation.

  • During development, the blastopore becomes the mouth.

  • During gastrulation, the blastopore forms and gives rise to the digestive tract.

  • Scientists observed the early stages of embryo development, focusing on the formation of the blastopore.

  • The fate of the blastopore can determine whether an animal is a protostome or deuterostome.

Surface Forms

blastopore singular
blastopores plural

Morphology

blastopore = pore (semi-transparent) = blasto + pore

The combining form 'blasto-' indicates embryonic or bud-related structures and is a technical element that may be unfamiliar to general learners.

Etymology

Blastopore comes from the Greek parts blasto- meaning 'bud' or 'sprout' and -pore meaning 'opening' or 'passage', and -pore is the same root as the common word pore. So a blastopore is literally a 'bud opening' and is the first small hole in an embryo that becomes the path to the future gut.