A placental structure or embryonic tissue that develops on the outside of an embryo, particularly in certain insects and other animals.
From Greek 'ekto-' (outside) + 'placenta' (flat cake, the organ where embryo attaches). An embryological term from 19th-century developmental biology.
Some insects have ectoplacentas where nutrients flow from the mother through external tissue connections—it's nature experimenting with different ways to nourish developing babies!
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