Library / English Dictionary

FETAL MEMBRANE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Any membrane that functions for the protection or nourishment or respiration or excretion of a developing fetus

Classified under:

Nouns denoting body parts

Hypernyms ("fetal membrane" is a kind of...):

membrane; tissue layer (a pliable sheet of tissue that covers or lines or connects the organs or cells of animals or plants)

Meronyms (parts of "fetal membrane"):

amnion; amnios; amniotic sac (thin innermost membranous sac enclosing the developing embryo of higher vertebrates (reptiles, birds and mammals))

chorion (the outermost membranous sac enclosing the embryo in higher vertebrates (reptiles, birds and mammals))

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "fetal membrane"):

allantois (the vascular fetal membrane that lies below the chorion and develops from the hindgut in many embryonic higher vertebrates (reptiles, birds and mammals))

caul; embryonic membrane; veil (the inner membrane of embryos in higher vertebrates (especially when covering the head at birth))

umbilical; umbilical cord (membranous duct connecting the fetus with the placenta)

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