# cortical

> English word · Adjective · IPA /ˈkɔː.tɪ.kəl/ · frequency rank #26,736

## Definitions
1. Pertaining to the outer layer of an internal organ or body structure, such as the kidney or the brain.
2. Pertaining to the cortex of a stem or root—the tissue that lies inward from the epidermis, but exterior to the vascular tissue.

## Etymology
From Latin cortex (“bark”), stem cortic-, + -al.

## Easily confused with
- **critical** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/cortical-vs-critical)
- **cortisol** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/cortical-vs-cortisol)
- **comical** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/comical-vs-cortical)
- **conical** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/conical-vs-cortical)
- **cordial** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/cordial-vs-cortical)
- **Corsica** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/corsica-vs-cortical)
- **cervical** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/cervical-vs-cortical)

## Common misspellings (12)
`ccortical`, `coritcal`, `corrtical`, `cortcial`, `cortiacl`, `corticall`, `corticcal`, `corticla`, `corttical`, `cotrical`, `crotical`, `ocrtical`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/cortical