The morula is a stage in early embryonic development, formed after the zygote undergoes a series of rapid cell divisions called cleavage. The cells in a morula are tightly packed together, forming a solid ball.
Here's a breakdown:
* Zygote: The single cell formed when a sperm fertilizes an egg.
* Cleavage: Series of rapid cell divisions that occur in the zygote.
* Morula: Solid ball of cells resulting from cleavage.
* Blastocyst: The next stage of development after the morula, where the cells form a hollow sphere with an inner cell mass.
The morula is a crucial step in embryonic development because it sets the stage for the formation of the blastocyst, which will eventually implant in the uterine lining.
