morula

(noun)

A spherical mass of blastomeres that forms following the splitting of a zygote; it becomes the blastula.

Related Terms

  • zygote
  • cleavage
  • trophoblast

Examples of morula in the following topics:

  • Cleavage of the Zygote

    • The process of cleavage is the step of embryogenesis where the zygote divides to produce a cluster of cells known as the morula.
    • At least four initial cell divisions occur, resulting in a dense ball of at least sixteen cells called the morula.
    • In amniotes, the cells of the morula are at first closely aggregated.
    • Fluid collects between the trophoblast and the greater part of the inner cell mass, and thus the morula, is converted into the blastodermic vesicle (also called the blastocyst or blastula).
  • Blastocyst Formation

    • This stageĀ is preceded by the morula.
    • The morula is a solid ball of about 16 undifferentiated, spherical cells.
    • As cell division continues in the morula, the blastomeres change their shape and tightly align themselves against each other.
  • Gene Expression in Stem Cells

    • Only cells from an earlier stage of the embryo, known as the morula, are totipotent, able to become all tissues in the body and the extraembryonic placenta.
  • Tissue Development

    • After about three days, the zygote forms a solid mass of cells by mitotic division, called a morula.
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