Epiboly

Epiboly is a developmental process during early embryogenesis where the outer layers of cells spread and thicken to envelop the entire embryo. Imagine a skin-like sheet of cells gradually covering and enclosing a ball-shaped structure beneath. This movement is crucial for forming the embryo's outer tissues, such as the skin and other protective layers. Epiboly involves coordinated cell migration and expansion, driven by cell shape changes and the collective movement of cell layers. It's a fundamental step in shaping the embryo and establishing its body plan during development.