Blastocoel
Historical document, translated for reference. It reflects medical knowledge of the 1920s–30s and is not medical advice.
Summary
This article defines the blastocoel, a cavity within the blastula, and describes its variations in different types of blastulas, such as the amphiblastula and discoblastula.
Encyclopedia entry (1928–1936)
BLASTOCOELE (from Greek blastos-germ and koilos-hollow), the cavity of the blastula, an embryological term (see Blastula) introduced by Haeckel. The typical blastula has the appearance of a vesicle with a thin wall and a large blastocoel filled with fluid; in the amphiblastula, due to the thickness of its walls and base, the blastocoel is smaller and located eccentrically. In the discoblastula of eggs with partial cleavage, a cleft (subgerminal cavity) is formed beneath the blastoderm (see); since blastomeres are found at the bottom of the cavity and the yolk itself may contain nuclei, this cavity is considered the blastocoel.
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“Blastocoel.” Soviet Medical Encyclopedia. English translation of Bolshaya Meditsinskaya Entsiklopediya, 1st ed. (Moscow, 1928–1936), ed. N. A. Semashko. https://sovietmedicalencyclopedia.pages.dev/article/blastocoel/