vitellus
nounUK /vɪˈtɛləs/
US /vaɪˈtɛləs/
The yellow part of an egg that feeds the baby bird inside.
The chick grows by eating the vitellus before it hatches.
SYNONYMS
OTHER MEANINGS
2. The nutrient-rich cytoplasm of an egg cell that supports early development.
Scientists studied the vitellus to understand how the embryo gets its food.
3. A small yolk-like spot in some plant or animal cells.
Under the microscope, the vitellus appeared as a tiny colored dot.
4. In biology, the stored food material within an egg.
The amount of vitellus varies among different species of fish.