acephalocyst

/əˈsɛfəloʊsɪst/

acephalocyst

English Noun

Definition

A larval entozoön in the form of a subglobular or oval vesicle, or hydatid, filled with fluid, sometimes found in the tissues of man and the lower animals; -- so called from the absence of a head or visible organs on the vesicle. These cysts are the immature stages of certain tapeworms. Also applied to similar cysts of different origin.

Etymology

From Ancient Greek ἀκέφαλος (aképhalos, “headless”) + κύστις (kústis, “bladder”).