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What does ecto- mean in medical terms?
ecto-
Meaning: outside, outer
Type: Prefix
A prefix goes at the very start of a word, before the root. On this page: what ecto- means, and real medical words that use it, each broken down into its parts.
Example words using ecto-
ectopic
ecto- (outside) + topic (place) = occurring in an abnormal place, outside the normal position
ecto- (outside) + topic (place) = occurring in an abnormal place, outside the normal position
ectoderm
ecto- (outer) + derm (skin, layer) = the outer germ layer of an embryo
ecto- (outer) + derm (skin, layer) = the outer germ layer of an embryo
Shortened forms
Charts and notes shorten long terms — see the Medical Abbreviations guide for the short forms you will meet in real records.
Please note: This section teaches the language of medicine — what word parts mean and how terms are built. It is an educational reference, not medical advice. For the meaning of a word in your own medical record, ask the clinician who wrote it.