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

• ˈcortically, adverb
• cortical, adjective

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

Kids are still developing their prefrontal cortex, that guides controlled behaviors and adherence to other norms in society.

From Freakonomics

It would also pass these signals to the olfactory cortex, whose neuro-machinery would determine the quality and the concentration of the smells.

From Nautilus

Rather, using state-of-the-art brain imaging, scientists began honing down towards the front of the brain, sitting right behind the forehead—the prefrontal cortex—as the piece of the brain that captures another’s beliefs and thoughts.

From Singularity Hub 

In one mind-blowing study, his team grew two separate portions of the brain into blobs, one representing the cortex, the other a deeper part of the brain known to control reward and movement, called the striatum.

From Singularity Hub 

If the taste cortex was highly organized, damage in one spot could mean you lose one taste entirely.

From Science News For Students

Its distinctiveness arises from a key region, the frontal cortex, not being fully developed.

From The Daily Beast

Rocket has a “cybernetic skeletal structure, enhanced phalange and metacarpal bones, and a genetically augmented cerebral cortex.”

From The Daily Beast

Brain death implies the complete and permanent absence of neurological function in the cortex and the brainstem.

From The Daily Beast

LSD affects the gating process—so much more information is sent to the cortex to be processed.

From The Daily Beast

Relax your mind to unleash those lucrative alpha waves; mobilize your pre-frontal cortex and make a million bucks.

From The Daily Beast

A cell of another form, from the superficial or outer part of the greater brain (cortex cerebri).

From Project Gutenberg

The cortex of a person of average intelligence, if spread out on a flat surface, measures about four square feet.

From Project Gutenberg

Much more disastrous results can be traced directly to the action of the mycelium in the cortex.

From Project Gutenberg

But then we have achieved a very considerable improvement in the utilization of the The Brain's cortex capacity.

From Project Gutenberg

In this case the outermost sporangia are often consolidated to form a cortex more or less dense and shining.

From Project Gutenberg