ectoderm

American  

[ek-tuh-durm] / ˈɛk təˌdɜrm /

noun

Embryology.

1. the outer germ layer in the embryo of a metazoan.

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ectoderm British  

/ ˈɛktəʊˌdɜːm /

noun

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

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ectoderm Scientific  

/ ĕk′tə-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.

2. Compare endoderm mesoderm

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Other Word Forms

• ectodermal adjective
• ectodermic adjective
• ectodermoidal adjective
• subectodermal adjective
• subectodermic adjective

Etymology

Origin of ectoderm

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

Example Sentences

Because both the brain and skin develop from the same embryonic layer called the ectoderm, the scientists set out to explore how these two systems might be connected.

From Science Daily

Also, single cell RNA sequencing analysis suggested the differentiation pathway for amniotic ectoderm, where surface ectoderm genes are expressed before the activation of the amniotic ectoderm gene programme.

From Science Daily

In an unexpected twist, no part of the sea star ectoderm expresses a "trunk" genetic patterning program, suggesting that sea stars are mostly headlike.

From Science Daily

After gastrulation, the embryo can be thought of as an onion with three layers: the ectoderm, the mesoderm and the endoderm.

From Science Daily

These disks eventually formed the three main cell layers of the body: the endoderm, mesoderm and ectoderm.

From Scientific American

Related Words

• fur
• leather
• skin
• wool