GERM LAYER

Pronunciation (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does germ layer mean? 

• GERM LAYER (noun)
  The noun GERM LAYER has 1 sense:

1. (embryology) any of the 3 layers of cells differentiated in embryos following gastrulation

  Familiarity information: GERM LAYER used as a noun is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• GERM LAYER (noun)

Meaning:

(embryology) any of the 3 layers of cells differentiated in embryos following gastrulation

Classified under:

Nouns denoting animals

Hypernyms ("germ layer" is a kind of...):

embryonic tissue (tissue in an embryo)

Domain category:

embryology (the branch of biology that studies the formation and early development of living organisms)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "germ layer"):

ectoblast; ectoderm; exoderm (the outer germ layer that develops into skin and nervous tissue)

mesoblast; mesoderm (the middle germ layer that develops into muscle and bone and cartilage and blood and connective tissue)

endoblast; endoderm; entoblast; entoderm; hypoblast (the inner germ layer that develops into the lining of the digestive and respiratory systems)