cortex

[ kawr-teks ]

noun

, plural cor·ti·ces [kawr, -t, uh, -seez].

1. Anatomy, Zoology.
   1. the outer region of an organ or structure, as the outer portion of the kidney.
   2. the cerebral cortex.
2. Botany.
   1. the portion of a stem between the epidermis and the vascular tissue; bark.
   2. any outer layer, as rind.
3. Mycology. the surface tissue layer of a fungus or lichen, composed of massed hyphal cells.

cortex

/ ˈkɔːtɛks; ˈkɔːtɪkəl /

noun

1. anatomy the outer layer of any organ or part, such as the grey matter in the brain that covers the cerebrum ( cerebral cortex ) or the outer part of the kidney ( renal cortex )
2. botany
   1. the unspecialized tissue in plant stems and roots between the vascular bundles and the epidermis
   2. the outer layer of a part such as the bark of a stem

cortex

/ kôr′tĕks′ /

1. The outer layer of an organ or body part, such as the cerebrum or the adrenal glands.
2. The region of tissue lying between the epidermis (the outermost layer) and the vascular tissue in the roots and stems of plants. It is composed of collenchyma, parenchyma, and sclerenchyma. In roots the cortex transfers water and minerals from the epidermis to the vascular tissue, which distributes them to other parts of the plant. The cortex also provides structural support and stores food manufactured in the leaves.
3. See illustration at xylem

Derived Forms

• cortical, adjective
• ˈcortically, adverb

Other Words From

• sub·cortex noun plural subcortices

Word History and Origins

Origin of cortex¹

1650–60; < Latin: bark, rind, shell, husk

Word History and Origins

Origin of cortex¹

C17: from Latin: bark, outer layer

Example Sentences

The brain's functional properties arise from the varied cell types within its cortex, the outermost layer responsible for many complex mental tasks.

From Science Daily

Sensory cortices on the other hand play an important role in how we perceive our environment and make appropriate movements, and how our brains determine what to focus on and what to ignore.

From Science Daily

Using mice, the researchers pinpointed a group of brain cells in the frontal cortex that connects to the brainstem, where vital actions like breathing are controlled.

From Science Daily

That moment when Jake sings an off-key version of “...Baby One More Time” is “burned into my frontal cortex,” he says.

From Los Angeles Times

Researchers led by the University of California, Irvine are the first to reveal how two neural circuits located in the brain's retrosplenial cortex are directly linked to spatial navigation and memory storage.

From Science Daily