The thickened area of the blastocyst from which the embryo develops is called the ________.

A) inner cell mass
B) trophoblast
C) blastocele
D) morula
E) zygote

Blastocyst

An early-stage embryo consisting of a sphere of cells surrounding an inner fluid-filled cavity, occurring before implantation into the uterine wall.

Inner Cell Mass

The inner cell mass is a cluster of cells inside the early embryo (blastocyst) that will eventually give rise to the embryo proper and some of the extraembryonic tissues.

Embryo Development

Embryo development is the process by which an embryo forms and develops, involving cell division, and differentiation, leading to the development of tissues and organs of a living organism.