acephalocyst

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

• (General American) IPA^(key): /ɑˈsɛfəloʊsɪst/, /əˈsɛfəloʊsɪst/

acephalocyst (plural acephalocysts)

1. (zoology) 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.