germinativas

Germinativas is a term used in biology to describe germinal or germinative tissues and cells. In Spanish-language literature the feminine plural form appears in phrases such as células germinativas (germinal cells) and zona germinativa (germinative zone). The root is Latin germinativus, from germen meaning seed.

In embryology and histology, germinative refers to tissues and cells that generate other cell types. The germinative zone of the developing brain comprises regions of rapid cell proliferation, including the ventricular zone and subventricular zone, where neural progenitor (germinative) cells divide and differentiate into neurons and glia, contributing to cortical development.

In reproductive biology, germinative cells are germ cells, the lineage that forms gametes. Primordial germ cells migrate to the developing gonads and give rise to oogonia in females and spermatogonia in males; these cells are variously referred to as germinative cells in older or regional texts.

In pathology, germ cell tumors arise from germ cells and are often described as germinative tumors. This group includes germinomas and teratomas and can occur in the gonads or midline locations such as the mediastinum or pineal region.

Etymology: from Latin germen 'seed' and the suffix -ativus, forming germinativus, meaning germinating or seed-bearing.

See also: germinal, germinal epithelium, zona germinativa, germinoma, germ cell.