Meaning & use
cortex
The outer layer of an organ or structure, especially the brain, or the outer layer of a plant stem.
See it in a sentence
The cerebral cortex controls higher functions such as reasoning and language.
A thin cortex of bark protects the inner tissue of the tree from damage.
A note on using this word
In anatomy, cortex almost always refers to the brain's outer layer unless another organ is specified, as in 'adrenal cortex.'
Words with a similar meaning
outer layer
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