YOLK SAC

Pronunciation (US):

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does yolk sac mean? 

• YOLK SAC (noun)
  The noun YOLK SAC has 2 senses:

1. membranous structure that functions as the circulatory system in mammalian embryos until the heart becomes functional

2. membranous structure enclosing the yolk of eggs in birds, reptiles, marsupials, and some fishes; circulates nutrients to the developing embryo

  Familiarity information: YOLK SAC used as a noun is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• YOLK SAC (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Membranous structure that functions as the circulatory system in mammalian embryos until the heart becomes functional

Classified under:

Nouns denoting animals

Synonyms:

umbilical vesicle; vesicula umbilicus; vitelline sac; yolk sac

Hypernyms ("yolk sac" is a kind of...):

sac (a structure resembling a bag in an animal)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Membranous structure enclosing the yolk of eggs in birds, reptiles, marsupials, and some fishes; circulates nutrients to the developing embryo

Classified under:

Nouns denoting animals

Hypernyms ("yolk sac" is a kind of...):

sac (a structure resembling a bag in an animal)

 Context examples 

In the early development of a fetus, erythropoiesis takes place in the yolk sac, spleen, and liver.

(Erythropoiesis, NCI Dictionary)

A yolk sac tumor that arises from the ovary and is characterized by the presence of extensive differentiation into endodermal type glandular structures.

(Ovarian Yolk Sac Tumor, Glandular Pattern, NCI Thesaurus)

The most common combination of germ cell elements is dysgerminoma and yolk sac tumor.

(Ovarian Mixed Germ Cell Tumor, NCI Thesaurus)

Representative examples include teratoma and yolk sac tumor.

(Liver Germ cell Tumor, NCI Thesaurus)

Representative examples include teratoma, embryonal carcinoma, yolk sac tumor, and dysgerminoma.

(Ovarian germ cell tumor, NCI Thesaurus)

A yolk sac tumor that arises from the liver.

(Liver Yolk Sac Tumor, NCI Thesaurus)

This category includes teratoma, choriocarcinoma, embryonal carcinoma, and yolk sac tumor.

(Nongerminomatous Germ Cell Tumor, NCI Thesaurus)

A yolk sac tumor that arises from the testis during childhood.

(Childhood Testicular Yolk Sac Tumor, NCI Thesaurus)

Representative examples include: germinoma, embryonal carcinoma, yolk sac tumor, choriocarcinoma, and teratoma.

(Central Nervous System Germ Cell Tumor, NCI Thesaurus)

A yolk sac tumor that arises from the ovary and is characterized by the presence of multiple dilated spaces lined by cells that resemble mesothelial cells.

(Ovarian Yolk Sac Tumor, Polyvesicular Vitelline Pattern, NCI Thesaurus)