neurula

noun

neu·​ru·​la ˈnu̇r-ə-lə How to pronounce neurula (audio)
ˈnyu̇r-,
-yə-lə How to pronounce neurula (audio)
plural neurulae ˈnu̇r-ə-ˌlē How to pronounce neurula (audio)
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
ˌnu̇r-ə-ˈlā-shən How to pronounce neurula (audio)
ˌnyu̇r-
-yə-
noun

Word History

Etymology

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 nerve entry 1

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).

First Known Use

1878, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of neurula was in 1878

Dictionary Entries Near neurula

neurotypical

neurula

Neuse

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“Neurula.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/neurula. Accessed 30 Nov. 2024.

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Medical Definition

neurula

noun
neu·​ru·​la ˈn(y)u̇r-(y)ə-lə How to pronounce neurula (audio)
plural neurulae -ˌlē How to pronounce neurula (audio) 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
neurular
-lər How to pronounce neurula (audio)
adjective
neurulation
ˌn(y)u̇r-(y)ə-ˈlā-shən How to pronounce neurula (audio)
noun

More from Merriam-Webster on neurula

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about neurula

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