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

Vitally, Dr Nakanoh identified that the distinction between the two cell types depends on cell density; where cells become amniotic ectoderm in sparse conditions.

From Science Daily • Mar. 4, 2024

In contrast, high density culturing led to cells that expressed markers for surface ectoderm but not amniotic ectoderm.

From Science Daily • Mar. 4, 2024

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

From Science Daily • Sep. 19, 2023

The inner layer is the endoderm, and the outer layer is the ectoderm.

From Textbooks • Jan. 1, 2015

As a general rule the ectoderm and endoderm, which may be called the primary layers, come first, and later the mesoderm is developed from one or other of them.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 9, Slice 3 "Electrostatics" to "Engis" by Various

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