exoskeleton

[ek-soh-skel-i-tn]

noun Zoology.

an external covering or integument, especially when hard, as the shells of crustaceans (opposed to endoskeleton).

Origin of exoskeleton

First recorded in 1840–50; exo- + skeleton

Related formsex·o·skel·e·tal, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for exoskeletal

Historical Examples of exoskeletal

The skin of the Newt is quite devoid of any exoskeletal structures.
The Vertebrate Skeleton
Sidney H. Reynolds
In Teleostei dental plates are usually developed as an exoskeletal covering on parts of the branchial arches.
The Works of Francis Maitland Balfour, Volume III (of 4)
Francis Maitland Balfour
Frequently, however, this exoskeletal somite may be differentiated into various regions.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 7, Slice 7
Various
The skin of the frog is smooth and quite devoid of scales or other exoskeletal structures.
The Vertebrate Skeleton
Sidney H. Reynolds
The teeth are exoskeletal structures, partly of dermal, partly of epidermal origin.
The Vertebrate Skeleton
Sidney H. Reynolds

British Dictionary definitions for exoskeletal

exoskeleton

noun

the protective or supporting structure covering the outside of the body of many animals, such as the thick cuticle of arthropodsCompare endoskeleton

Derived Formsexoskeletal, 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

Word Origin and History for exoskeletal

exoskeleton

1847, from exo- + skeleton. Introduced by English anatomist Sir Richard Owen (1804-1892).

exoskeletal in Medicine

exoskeleton

[ĕk′sō-skĕl′ĭ-tn]

n.

All hard parts, such as hair, teeth, and nails, that develop from the ectoderm or mesoderm in vertebrates.

A hard outer structure, such as the shell of an insect, that provides protection or support for an organism.

exoskeletal in Science

exoskeleton

[ĕk′sō-skĕl′ĭ-tn]

A hard, protective outer body covering of an animal, such as an insect, crustacean, or mollusk. The exoskeletons of insects and crustaceans are largely made of chitin. Compare endoskeleton.