Zool. [f. Gr. στόμα mouth + χορδή CHORD sb.1, after notochord.] Name proposed by Willey for the so-called ‘notochord’ of Enteropneusta: see quots. Hence Stomochordal a., pertaining to or having a stomochord.
1899. Willey, in Q. Jrnl. Microscop. Sci., XLII. 234. MM. Delage and Hérouard retain the designation notochord applied by Bateson to the diverticulum from the throat which projects into the proboscis, where it acquires a rigid consistency and sustaining properties. I prefer to call this structure by a non-committal name, and propose the term stomochord.
1902. G. H. Fowler, in Encycl. Brit., XXIX. 251/1. The stomochord is a forward dorsal diverticulum of the gut in the collar region, which pushes before it the wall of the præ-oral body cavity or protocœle.
