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 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)

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)

In this condition ectoplasm and endoplasm could be made out with the clearest definition.

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 usually, but not always, contains a bright red eye-spot.

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

The pansporoblasts originate, in a growing Sarcosporidian, at the two poles of the body, where the peripheral endoplasm with its nuclei is chiefly aggregated.

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