from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Germinal \Ger"mi*nal\, a. [See {Germ}.]
1. Pertaining or belonging to a germ; as, the germinal
vesicle.
[1913 Webster]
2. (Biol.) Of or pertaining to the germ, or germ cells, as
distinguished from the somatic cells.
[Webster 1913 Suppl.]
{Germinal layers} (Biol.), the two layers of cells, the
ectoblast and entoblast, which form respectively the outer
covering and inner wall of the gastrula. A third layer of
cells, the mesoblast, which is formed later and lies
between these two, is sometimes included.
{Germinal membrane}. (Biol.) Same as {Blastoderm}.
{Germinal spot} (Biol.), the nucleolus of the ovum.
{Germinal vesicle}, (Biol.), the nucleus of the ovum of
animals.
[1913 Webster]