ectoderm

[ ek-tuh-durm ]
See synonyms for ectoderm on Thesaurus.com
nounEmbryology.
  1. the outer germ layer in the embryo of a metazoan.

Origin of ectoderm

1
First recorded in 1860–65; ecto- + -derm

Other words from ectoderm

  • ec·to·der·mal, ec·to·der·mic, adjective
  • ec·to·der·moi·dal [ek-toh-der-moid-l], /ˌɛk toʊ dərˈmɔɪd l/, adjective
  • sub·ec·to·der·mal, adjective
  • sub·ec·to·der·mic, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

British Dictionary definitions for ectoderm

ectoderm

exoderm

/ (ˈɛktəʊˌdɜːm) /


noun
  1. the outer germ layer of an animal embryo, which gives rise to epidermis and nervous tissue: See also mesoderm, endoderm

Derived forms of ectoderm

  • ectodermal or ectodermic, adjective

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Scientific definitions for ectoderm

ectoderm

[ ĕktə-dûrm′ ]


  1. The outermost of the primary germ layers of an animal embryo. In vertebrates, the ectoderm gives rise to the epidermis and associated tissues (such as hair and sweat glands), enamel of the teeth, sense organs, nervous system, and lining of the nose, mouth, and anus. Compare endoderm mesoderm.

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