3. (Anat.) The outer or superficial part of an organ; as, the cortex or gray exterior substance of the brain.
Cor"ti*cal (k?r"t?-kal), a. [L. cortex bark: cf. F. cortical.] Belonging to, or consisting of, bark or rind; resembling bark or rind; external; outer; superficial; as, the cortical substance of the kidney.
{ Cor"ti*cate (k?r"t?-k?t), Cor"ti*ca`ted (- k?`t?d), } a. [L. corticatus.] Having a special outer covering of a nature unlike the interior part.
Cor*tic"i*fer (k?r-t?s"?-f?r), n. (Zo÷l.) One of the Gorgoniacea; -- so called because the fleshy part surrounds a solid axis, like a bark.
Cor`ti*cif"er*ous (k?r`t?-s?f"?r-?s), a. [L. cortex, corticis, bark -- -ferous: cf. F. corticif&?;re.] 1. Producing bark or something that resembling that resembles bark.