Charles Richet created the word ectoplasm to first describe physical manifestations that appeared from psychic mediums during the late 1800's while in trances.  Ectoplasm was purportedly secreted from the medium's orifices, such as the ears, nose or mouth.  However, ectoplasm of this type was more of a hoax during the rise of spiritualism and fraudulent mediumship.

Today, ectoplasm has come to represent physical manifestations of mists believed to be ghosts.