blastema

[ bla-stee-muh ]

noun

, Embryology.

, plural blas·te·mas, blas·te·ma·ta [bla-, stee, -m, uh, -t, uh].

1. an aggregation of cells in an early embryo, capable of differentiation into specialized tissue and organs.

blastema

/ blæˈstiːmə; blæˈstiːmɪk; -ˈstɛm- /

noun

1. a mass of undifferentiated animal cells that will develop into an organ or tissue: present at the site of regeneration of a lost part

Derived Forms

• blastemic, adjective

Other Words From

• blas·temal blas·te·mat·ic [blas-t, uh, -, mat, -ik], blas·te·mic [bla-, stee, -mik, -, steem, -ik], adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of blastema¹

1840–50; < New Latin < Greek blástēma ( blastē- verbid stem of blasteîn to sprout + -ma noun suffix denoting result of action)

Word History and Origins

Origin of blastema¹

C19: from New Latin, from Greek: offspring, from blastos bud

Example Sentences

Jellyfish, along with other cnidarians such as corals and sea anemones, exhibit high regeneration abilities, but how they form the critical blastema has remained a mystery until now.

From Science Daily

In both cases, populations of stem cells called neoblasts cluster to form a mass called a blastema at the wound site in the tissue fragment, which in turn can regenerate different organs and tissues14.

From Nature

In the second, a mound of unspecialized cells called a blastema has formed atop the stump as a precursor to regrowth.

From Scientific American

Most regeneration research focuses on the stub—or blastema—that forms over the wound of a severed limb.

From Scientific American

Most regeneration research focuses on the stub — or blastema — that forms over the wound of a severed limb.

From Nature