[W/K] :: segmentation

  Segmentation \Seg`men*ta"tion\, n.
     The act or process of dividing into segments; specifically
     (Biol.), a self-division into segments as a result of growth;
     cell cleavage; cell multiplication; endogenous cell
     formation.
     [1913 Webster]
  
     Segmentation cavity (Biol.), the cavity formed by the
        arrangement of the cells in segmentation or cleavage of
        the ovum; the cavity of the blastosphere. In the gastrula
        stage, the segmentation cavity in which the mesoblast is
        formed lies between the entoblast and ectoblast. See
        Illust. of Invagination.
  
     Segmentation nucleus (Biol.), the body formed by fusion of
        the male and female pronucleus in an impregnated ovum. See
        the Note under Pronucleus.
  
     Segmentation of the ovum, or Egg cleavage (Biol.), the
        process by which the embryos of all the higher plants and
        animals are derived from the germ cell. In the simplest
        case, that of small ova destitute of food yolk, the ovum
        or egg divides into two similar halves or segments
        (blastomeres), each of these again divides into two, and
        so on, thus giving rise to a mass of cells (mulberry mass,
        or morula), all equal and similar, from the growth and
        development of which the future animal is to be formed.
        This constitutes regular segmentation. Quite frequently,
        however, the equality and regularity of cleavage is
        interfered with by the presence of food yolk, from which
        results unequal segmentation. See Holoblastic,
        Meroblastic, Alecithal, Centrolecithal,
        Ectolecithal, and Ovum.
  
     Segmentation sphere (Biol.), the blastosphere, or morula.
        See Morula.
        [1913 Webster]

  segmentation
       n 1: (embryology) the repeated division of a fertilised ovum
            [syn: cleavage]
       2: the act of dividing or partitioning; separation by the
          creation of a boundary that divides or keeps apart [syn: division,
           partition, partitioning, sectionalization, sectionalisation]

  46 Moby Thesaurus words for "segmentation":
     abstraction, alienation, analysis, analyzation, anatomizing,
     anatomy, assay, assaying, breakdown, breaking down, breaking up,
     breakup, detachment, disarticulation, disassociation,
     disconnectedness, disconnection, discontinuity, disengagement,
     disjointing, disjunction, dislocation, dissection, disunion,
     division, divorce, divorcement, docimasy, gravimetric analysis,
     incoherence, isolation, luxation, parting, partition,
     proximate analysis, quantitative analysis, reduction to elements,
     removal, resolution, semimicroanalysis, separation, separatism,
     subdivision, subtraction, withdrawal, zoning
  
  

  segmentation
       
           (Or "segmentation and reassembly", SAR) Breaking
          an arbitrary size packet into smaller pieces at the
          transmitter.  This may be necessary because of restrictions in
          the communications channel or to reduce latency.  The pieces
          are joined back together in the right order at the receiver
          ("reassembly").  Segmentation may be performed by a router
          when routing a packet to a network with a smaller maximum
          packet size.
       
          The term "segmentation" is used in ATM, in TCP/IP, it is
          called "fragmentation" an is performed at the IP layer
          before the "fragments" are passed to the transport layer.
       
          See for example ATM forum UNI 4.0 specification.
       
          [Better reasons?]
       
          (1999-06-14)