ectoderm

[ ek-tuh-durm ]
/ ˈɛk təˌdɜrm /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR ectoderm ON THESAURUS.COM

noun Embryology.

the outer germ layer in the embryo of a metazoan.
Also called ectoblast.

Origin of ectoderm

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

Words nearby ectoderm

ectocardia, ectocervix, ectocommensal, ectocornea, ectocrine, ectoderm, ectodermal dysplasia, ectodermosis, ectoenzyme, ectogenesis, ectogenous

Words related to ectoderm

leather, wool, fur, skin, fleece, shell, hide, pelt, crust, husk, scale, membrane, rind, integument, pellicle, epidermis, felt, pelage, peltry, scarfskin

Example sentences from the Web for ectoderm

British Dictionary definitions for ectoderm

ectoderm

exoderm

/ (ˈɛktəʊˌdɜːm) /

noun

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

Medical definitions for ectoderm

ectoderm
[ ĕk′tə-dûrm′ ]

n.

The outermost of the three primary germ layers of an embryo, from which the epidermis, nervous tissue, and sense organs develop. ectoblast

Other words from ectoderm

ec′to•der′mal null adj.

Scientific definitions for ectoderm

ectoderm
[ ĕk′tə-dûrm′ ]

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.