sporocyst

[ spawr-uh-sist, spohr- ]

noun

, Biology.

1. a walled body resulting from the multiple division of a sporozoan, which produces one or more sporozoites.
2. a stage in development of trematodes that gives rise, asexually, to cercaria.

sporocyst

/ ˈspɒ-; ˈspɔːrəʊˌsɪst /

noun

1. a thick-walled rounded structure produced by sporozoan protozoans, in which sporozoites are formed
2. the saclike larva of a trematode worm that produces redia larvae by asexual reproduction
3. any similar structure containing spores

Other Words From

• spo·ro·cys·tic [spawr-, uh, -, sis, -tik, spohr-], adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of sporocyst¹

First recorded in 1860–65; sporo- + -cyst

Example Sentences

The sporocyst generally develops from an egg, but in its turn produces other larvæ by internal budding, or by the subdivision of a part or all of its contents into a number of minute germs.

From Project Gutenberg

The period of development varies from ten to twenty weeks; each sporocyst may give rise to from five to eight redia and each redia to from twelve to twenty cercaria.

From Project Gutenberg

The sporocyst, as it is now called, develops into a third generation known as redia which escape from the cyst.

From Project Gutenberg