notochord
/ˈnəʊtə(ʊ)kɔːd
/noun Zoology
A cartilaginous skeletal rod supporting the body in all embryonic and some adult chordate animals.In those chordates which lack bone, muscles work against the notochord to move the animal....
- In the evolution of vertebrates, long bodies with continuously flexible notochords and segmental muscles existed before the appearance of segmental vertebrae.
- They all have, at some embryonic stage, a notochord, flanked by muscle, and a dorsal neural tube.
Origin
Mid 19th century: from Greek nōton 'back' + chord2.
- family picture
- family piece
- family planning
- family planning clinic
- family portrait
- family practice
- family practitioner
- family resemblance
- family romance
- family room
- family seat
- family service
- family silver
- family-size
- family-sized
- family skeleton
- family style
- family therapist
- family therapy
- family tie
- family tree
- family unit
- family values
- family viewing
- famine