endoplasm

American  

[en-duh-plaz-uhm] / ˈɛn dəˌplæz əm /

noun

Cell Biology.

1. the inner portion of the cytoplasm of a cell.

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endoplasm British  

/ ˈɛndəʊˌplæzəm /

noun

1. cytology the inner cytoplasm in some cells, esp protozoa, which is more granular and fluid than the outer cytoplasm See ectoplasm

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Other Word Forms

• endoplasmic adjective

Etymology

Origin of endoplasm

First recorded in 1880–85; endo- + -plasm

Explanation

The dense, interior layer of a cell's cytoplasm is its endoplasm. Most cellular processes take place in the endoplasm. Endoplasm comes from Greek roots endon, "within or inside," and plasm, "shape." It's the innermost part of a cell, aside from the nucleus. Endoplasm is often granular, in contrast to the watery ectoplasm which lies between it and the cell wall. If your biology teacher mentions endoplasm, she’s probably talking about those tiny, single-celled organisms called amoebas.

Example Sentences

The endoplasm is more fluid, and contains numerous inclusions of a granular nature, as well as vacuoles of varying size.

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

A delicate layer of ectoplasm surrounds the granular endoplasm, and pseudopodia formation is eruptive, beginning with the accumulation of ectoplasm.

From Marine Protozoa from Woods Hole Bulletin of the United States Fish Commission 21:415-468, 1901 by Calkins, Gary N. (Gary Nathan)

A smaller form than the preceding, more elliptical in outline, with a thinner shell and with large granules throughout the endoplasm.

From Marine Protozoa from Woods Hole Bulletin of the United States Fish Commission 21:415-468, 1901 by Calkins, Gary N. (Gary Nathan)

The endoplasm is granular and contains foreign food-bodies.

From Marine Protozoa from Woods Hole Bulletin of the United States Fish Commission 21:415-468, 1901 by Calkins, Gary N. (Gary Nathan)

The endoplasm is colorless and finely granular, not regionally differentiated.

From Marine Protozoa from Woods Hole Bulletin of the United States Fish Commission 21:415-468, 1901 by Calkins, Gary N. (Gary Nathan)