ectoderm

ec·to·derm

E0033400 (ĕk′tə-dûrm′)n.1. The outermost of the three primary germ layers of an embryo, from which the epidermis, nervous tissue, and, in vertebrates, sense organs develop.2. The outer layer of a diploblastic animal, such as a jellyfish.

ec′to·der′mal, ec′to·der′mic adj.

ectoderm

(ˈɛktəʊˌdɜːm) or

exoderm

n (Biology) the outer germ layer of an animal embryo, which gives rise to epidermis and nervous tissue. See also mesoderm, endoderm ˌectoˈdermal, ˌectoˈdermic adj

ec•to•derm

(ˈɛk təˌdɜrm)

n. the outer germ layer in the embryo of a metazoan. [1860–65] ec`to•der′mal, ec`to•der′mic, adj. ec`to•der•moi′dal (-dərˈmɔɪd l) adj.

ectoderm

An embryo’s outer germ layer, which develops into structures including the brain and skin. See endoderm,mesoderm

Thesaurus

Noun

ectoderm - the outer germ layer that develops into skin and nervous tissueectoblast, exodermgerm layer - (embryology) any of the 3 layers of cells differentiated in embryos following gastrulationneural tube - a tube of ectodermal tissue in the embryo from which the brain and spinal cord develop

Translations

ectoderma

ectoderm

ectoderm,

layer of cells that covers the surface of an animal embryo after the process of gastrulation has occurred. This outer layer, together with the endodermendoderm
, in biology, inner layer of tissue formed in the gastrula stage of the developing embryo. At the end of the blastula stage, cells of the embryo are arranged in the form of a hollow ball.
..... Click the link for more information. , or inner layer, is present in all early embryos. In the development of animals of the phyla PoriferaPorifera
[Lat.,=pore bearer], animal phylum consisting of the organisms commonly called sponges. It is the only phylum of the animal subkingdom Parazoa and represents the least evolutionarily advanced group of the animal kingdom.
..... Click the link for more information. , CtenophoraCtenophora
, a small phylum of exclusively marine, invertebrate animals, commonly known as comb jellies. Because they are so delicate that specimens are difficult to collect, little was known about them until the advent of blue-water scuba and submersible collecting.
..... Click the link for more information. , and CnidariaCnidaria
or Coelenterata
, phylum of invertebrate animals comprising the sea anemones, corals, jellyfish, and hydroids. Cnidarians are radially symmetrical (see symmetry, biological).
..... Click the link for more information. , these two primary layers give rise to all the tissues and organs of the animals, a process known as diploblastic development. In higher animals, such as those of the phyla EchinodermataEchinodermata
[Gr.,=spiny skin], phylum of exclusively marine bottom-dwelling invertebrates having external skeletons of calcareous plates just beneath the skin. The plates may be solidly fused together, as in sea urchins, loosely articulated to facilitate movement, as in sea
..... Click the link for more information. and ChordataChordata
, phylum of animals having a notochord, or dorsal stiffening rod, as the chief internal skeletal support at some stage of their development. Most chordates are vertebrates (animals with backbones), but the phylum also includes some small marine invertebrate animals.
..... Click the link for more information. , a third, middle layer, the mesodermmesoderm,
in biology, middle layer of tissue formed in the gastrula stage of the developing embryo. At the end of the blastula stage, cells of the embryo are arranged in the form of a hollow ball.
..... Click the link for more information. , is formed between the ectoderm and endoderm during gastrulation, and the process is termed triploblastic development. In most embryos, differentiation of ectodermal tissue gives rise to epidermis and its specialized structures (scales, feathers, nails, and hair); some exocrine glands (sweat and sebaceous glands); some endocrine glands (the pineal body and the pituitary gland); the nervous system; and the organs of special sense (ear and eye). In animals of some phyla, such as the MolluscaMollusca
, taxonomic name for the one of the largest phyla of invertebrate animals (Arthropoda is the largest) comprising more than 50,000 living mollusk species and about 35,000 fossil species dating back to the Cambrian period.
..... Click the link for more information. and AnnelidaAnnelida
[Lat., anellus=a ring], phylum of soft-bodied, bilaterally symmetrical (see symmetry, biological), segmented animals, known as the segmented, or annelid, worms.
..... Click the link for more information. , the fate of particular cells of the embryo is determined in the earliest stages of the fertilized egg and may even be fixed at or before fertilization.

Ectoderm

(1) The outermost germ layer; the external layer of the embryo of multicellular animals in the gastrular stage. From the ectoderm are formed the integuments, nervous system, sensory organs, anterior and posterior sections of the digestive tract, external gills, and ectomesenchyme. In the Deuterostomia, all the elements derived from the ectoderm are formed as a result of the action upon it of the chordomesoderm, the entoderm, and their derivatives.

(2) The external wall of the body of coelenterates. The ectoderm consists of a single layer of cells—epithelial, epithelio-muscular, interstitial, and sensory cells, as well as stinging capsules.

ectoderm

[′ek·tə‚dərm] (embryology) The outer germ layer of an animal embryo. Also known as epiblast. (invertebrate zoology) The outer layer of a diploblastic animal.

ectoderm

[ek´to-derm] the outermost of the three primary germ layers of the embryo; from it are derived the epidermis and epidermic tissues such as nails, hair, and glands of the skin; the nervous system; external sense organs such as the eye and ear; and the mucous membranes of the mouth and anus. adj., adj ectoder´mal, ectoder´mic.

ec·to·derm

(ek'tō-dĕrm), The outer layer of cells in the embryo, after establishment of the three primary germ layers (ectoderm, mesoderm, endoderm), the germ layer in contact with the amnionic cavity. Synonym(s): ectoblast (1) [ecto- + G. derma, skin]

ectoderm

(ĕk′tə-dûrm′)n.1. The outermost of the three primary germ layers of an embryo, from which the epidermis, nervous tissue, and, in vertebrates, sense organs develop.2. The outer layer of a diploblastic animal, such as a jellyfish.

ec′to·der′mal, ec′to·der′mic adj.

ec·to·derm

(ek'tō-dĕrm) The outer layer of cells in the embryo, after establishment of the three primary germ layers (e.g., ectoderm, mesoderm, endoderm).
Synonym(s): ectoblast (1) . [ecto- + G. derma, skin]

ectoderm

The outermost of the three primary germ layers of an embryo, the others being the MESODERM and the ENDODERM. The ectoderm develops into the skin, the nervous system, and the sense organs.

ectoderm

ectoblast

the germ layer lying on the outside of the developing embryo that eventually gives rise largely to the EPIDERMIS, but also to nervous tissue and, where present, nephridia (see NEPHRIDIUM). Compare ENDODERM.

ectoderm

The outermost of the three primary germinal layers of an embryo (the other layers being mesoderm and endoderm) from which the eye is derived. It differentiates into outer surface ectoderm and inner neuroectoderm, which gives rise to neural crest cells. The surface ectoderm gives rise to the crystalline lens, the lacrimal gland, the meibomian glands, the corneal and conjunctival epithelium and the epidermis of the eyelids. The neuroectoderm (neural ectoderm) will form the retina, retinal pigment epithelium, the pigmented and non-pigmented layers of the ciliary and iris epithelium, the dilator and sphincter muscles of the iris and the optic nerve fibres. Neural crest cells will form the corneal stroma and endothelium, sclera, iris and choroidal stroma, ciliary muscle and trabecular meshwork. See optic cup; mesoderm; optic vesicles.

ec·to·derm

(ek'tō-dĕrm) Outer layer of cells in the embryo, after establishment of the three primary germ layers (ectoderm, mesoderm, endoderm). [ecto- + G. derma, skin]

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Synonyms for ectoderm

noun the outer germ layer that develops into skin and nervous tissue

Synonyms

Related Words