glycocalyx

Term: glycocalyx

Literally meaning: sweet husk

Origin: Anc Greek

 γλυκός/glykos(=sweet)

κάλυξ/kalyx(=to envelope) > καλύπτω/calypto(=to cover)

Coined/History

In 1963 by Stanley Bennett in his paper “Morphological aspects of extracellular polysaccharites”(J Histochem Cytochem 11:14-23)

Definition

Glycocalyx is the extracellular coating of polysaccharides that covers the outside of some some bacteria, epithelia and other cells.