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

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

Inside the pollen sac is a layer called the tapetum, and within this ring are the microspore mother cells.

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

Surrounding the pitted wall of the ovum there is a definite layer of large cells, no doubt representing a tapetum, which, as in cycads and conifers, plays an important part in nourishing the growing egg-cell.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 12, Slice 7 "Gyantse" to "Hallel" by Various