CORTEX

noun (plural cortices or ~es) see: cuirass Date: 1677 1. a. the outer or superficial part of an organ or bodily structure (as the kidney, adrenal gland, or cerebellum or a bone), the proteinaceous usually pigmented layer of a hair below the cuticle, the outer part of some organisms (as paramecia), a plant bark or rind (as cinchona) used medicinally, 3. the typically parenchymatous layer of tissue external to the vascular tissue and internal to the corky or epidermal tissues of a green plant, an outer or investing layer of various algae, lichens, or fungi