neurula

noun

neu·​ru·​la ˈnu̇r-ə-lə 

ˈnyu̇r-,

-yə-lə 

plural neurulae 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

ˌnu̇r-ə-ˈlā-shən 

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

Medical Definition

neurula

noun

neu·​ru·​la ˈn(y)u̇r-(y)ə-lə 

plural neurulae -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

neurular

-lər 

adjective

neurulation

ˌn(y)u̇r-(y)ə-ˈlā-shən 

noun