• Theca

    Origin

    From New Latin, from Latin theca, from Ancient Greek θήκη (thēkē, "a case, box, receptacle"), from τίθημι (tithēmi, "put, set, place").

    Full definition of theca

    Noun

    theca

    (plural thecas or thecae)
    1. (biology) Any external case or sheath.
    2. (botany) The pollen producing organ usually found in pairs and forming an anther.
    3. (medicine) The twin layers of cells surrounding the basal lamina of an ovarian follicle
    4. (microbiology, planktology) The membrane complex enveloping the cells of certain plankton including diatoms and dinoflagellates
    5. (coral science) The calcareous wall of a corallite, the exoskeleton of a coral polyp

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