tapetum

American  

[tuh-pee-tuhm] / təˈpi təm /

noun

tapeta plural

1. Botany. a layer of cells often investing the archespore in a developing sporangium and absorbed as the spores mature.

2. Anatomy, Zoology. any of certain membranous layers or layered coverings, as in the choroid of the eyes of certain animals.

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tapetum British  

/ təˈpiːtəm /

noun

1. a layer of nutritive cells in the sporangia of ferns and anthers of flowering plants that surrounds developing spore cells

2. 1. a membranous reflecting layer of cells in the choroid of the eye of nocturnal vertebrates

   2. a similar structure in the eyes of certain nocturnal insects

3. anatomy a covering layer of cells behind the retina of the eye

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• tapetal
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• tapeta
  plural

Etymology

Origin of tapetum

1705–15; < New Latin, special use of Medieval Latin tapētum coverlet ( Latin, only plural) < Greek tapēt- (stem of tápēs ) carpet, rug

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

tapetum tapeta

But the blue tapetum also lets up to 60% of ultraviolet light pass through to the eye's color sensors.

From Science Daily ● Dec. 15, 2023

The tapetum, which some other animals, such as cats and cattle, also possess, sits behind the retina and reflects light back onto it, giving the receptors a second chance to gather more visual detail.

From Scientific American ● Oct. 4, 2023

An inner layer of cells, known as the tapetum, provides nutrition to the developing microspores and contributes key components to the pollen wall.

From Textbooks ● Jan. 1, 2015

There is green “eye shine” from the tapetum lucidum, and a more pronounced superciliary arch.

From Forbes ● Jun. 7, 2013

There is no processus falciformis or tapetum lucidum, but the class is interesting in that it shows the first rudiments of the ciliary muscle, although accommodation is brought about by shifting the lens.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 10, Slice 1 "Evangelical Church Conference" to "Fairbairn, Sir William" by Various

At 7:50 a.m. on Tuesday, he worked a half mile in 48.40 seconds under the exercise rider Dimitrios Dimitropoulos on Sagamore’s tapeta training track.

From New York Times ● Jun. 8, 2011

The lynx's pupils were wide open, and the golden-yellow tapeta in the backs of her eyeballs were glowing like incandescent lamps.

From Forest Neighbors Life Stories of Wild Animals by Hulbert, William Davenport