How Do You Spell ECTOLECITHAL?

Pronunciation: [ˈɛktə͡ʊlsˌɪθə͡l] (IPA)

Ectolecithal is a biological term that describes a type of egg-laying process in some animals, such as certain fish and amphibians. The word is pronounced /ˌɛktəʊˈlɛsɪθəl/ and is spelled with 'ecto-' meaning 'outside' and 'lecithal' meaning 'having yolk'. The phonetic transcription breaks down the sounds by syllables and shows the stress on the second syllable. This is helpful as it clarifies how to pronounce the word correctly. Overall, understanding the spelling of words like 'Ectolecithal' is important in the study of biology and scientific research.

ECTOLECITHAL Meaning and Definition

  1. Ectolecithal is an adjective used to describe the characteristic of certain organisms, particularly in the field of biology, relating to the pattern of development and distribution of yolk in their eggs. The term derives from the Greek words "ektos" meaning "outside" and "lekythos" meaning "egg yolk."

    Specifically, ectolecithal refers to organisms that produce eggs in which the yolk is primarily located outside the protoplasm or embryonic cells. In these organisms, the yolk is often concentrated in a distinct region of the egg, called the vegetal pole, which is opposite to the animal pole where the embryo develops.

    This pattern of yolk distribution has important implications for embryonic development and the nourishment of the growing organism. Ectolecithal organisms typically rely on other mechanisms for providing nutrients to the developing embryo, such as the absorption of nutrients from the environment or the utilization of specialized structures within the egg.

    Examples of ectolecithal organisms include certain types of marine invertebrates, such as sea urchins, starfish, and mollusks. These organisms have evolved various adaptations to optimize the utilization of the yolk in their eggs and ensure successful embryonic development.

    In summary, ectolecithal describes the distribution of yolk outside the protoplasm in the eggs of certain organisms, playing a crucial role in the nourishment and development of the embryo.

Common Misspellings for ECTOLECITHAL

  • wctolecithal
  • sctolecithal
  • dctolecithal
  • rctolecithal
  • 4ctolecithal
  • 3ctolecithal
  • extolecithal
  • evtolecithal
  • eftolecithal
  • edtolecithal
  • ecrolecithal
  • ecfolecithal
  • ecgolecithal
  • ecyolecithal
  • ec6olecithal
  • ec5olecithal
  • ectilecithal
  • ectklecithal
  • ectllecithal

Etymology of ECTOLECITHAL

The word "ectolecithal" is derived from two root words: "ecto-" and "lecithal".

1. "Ecto-" is a prefix derived from the Greek word "ektos", meaning "outside" or "external". This prefix is commonly used in scientific terms to refer to something that is situated on the outside or exterior.

2. "Lecithal" is a term derived from the Greek word "lekithos", which means "egg yolk". In biology, "lecithal" refers to organisms or eggs that contain a significant amount of yolk.

Therefore, "ectolecithal" combines these two root words to describe organisms or embryos whose yolk is situated outside the embryo itself, as opposed to being incorporated within its cells.

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