neurula

noun neu·ru·la \ ˈnu̇r-ə-lə , ˈnyu̇r- , -yə-lə \

|Updated on: 12 Jun 2018

Definition of neurula

plural neurulae play \ˈnu̇r-ə-ˌlē, ˈnyu̇r-, -yə-lə\ or neurulas

: an early vertebrate embryo which follows the gastrula and in which nervous tissue begins to differentiate and the basic pattern of the vertebrate begins to emerge

—

neurulation

play \ˌnu̇r-ə-ˈlā-shən, ˌnyu̇r-, -yə-\ noun

Origin and Etymology of neurula

borrowed from New Latin (in a French context), "cluster of embryonic cells in marine gastropods that develop into the nervous system and eyes," from Greek neûron "sinew, tendon, nerve" + New Latin -ula (in gastrula gastrula) — more at ¹nerve

Note: Term apparently introduced by the Swiss embryologist Hermann Fol (1845-92) in "Sur le dèveloppement des hétéropodes," Comptes rendus hebdomadaires des séances de l'Académie des Sciences, tome 81 (juillet-décembre 1875), pp. 472-74. In reference to vertebrate embryology the word was employed later by the German embryologist August Rauber (1841-1917) in Primitivstreifen und Neurula der Wirbelthieren, in normaler und pathologischer Beziehung (Leipzig, 1877).

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1878

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

Medical Dictionary

neurula

noun neu·ru·la \ ˈn(y)u̇r-(y)ə-lə \

medical Definition of neurula

plural neurulae play \-ˌlē\ or neurulas

: an early vertebrate embryo which follows the gastrula and in which nervous tissue begins to differentiate and the basic pattern of the vertebrate begins to emerge

—