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Glite Dictionary
notochordal

notochordal

9.9
Relating to the notochord, a flexible rod in early animal embryos
  • adjective
  • Specialized
: notocordal
  • The notochordal structure is essential for the development of the spine in many vertebrates.

Examples

  • Chordomas are rare tumors of notochordal origin that arise along the vertebral axis.

    Academic text (2008)

  • Chordomas are malignant, nonepithelial neoplasms derived from notochordal tissue.

    Academic text (2005)

  • Muller in 1958 linked the tumor to notochordal tissue and renamed it "ecchordosis physaliphora" because of the presence of the physaliphorous cells.

    Academic text (2005)

  • In the early stages of development, embryos exhibit a clear notochordal feature that supports the body.

  • Researchers studied the notochordal cells to understand their role in fetal vertebrate growth.

Surface Forms

notochordal positive

Morphology

notochordal = notochord (transparent) = noto + chord + al

The adjective is formed in the standard way from the noun 'notochord' plus '-al', so its meaning is directly recoverable for a learner who knows the base word.

Etymology

Notochordal comes from two Greek parts: noto- meaning 'back' and chord meaning 'string' or 'cord' (like the word 'cord'). So, notochordal literally means a 'back cord' and describes tissue that has or relates to the flexible rod along the back of embryos that helps early development.