me·dul·la (m -d l  )n. pl. me·dul·las or me·dul·lae (-d l ) 1. The inner core of certain organs or body structures, such as the marrow of bone. 2. The medulla oblongata. 3. See myelin. 4. Botany a. The pith in the stems or roots of certain plants. b. The central portion of a thallus in certain lichens and red or brown algae. [Middle English, from Latin, perhaps alteration (influenced by medius, middle; see medial) of *merulla.] me·dul lar, medul·lar y (m dl-r, m-dl-r) adj. |
medulla [mɪˈdʌlə]
n pl -las, -lae [-liː]
1. (Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Anatomy) Anatomy
a. the innermost part of an organ or structure
b. short for medulla oblongata
2. (Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Botany) Botany another name for pith [4]
[from Latin: marrow, pith, probably from medius middle]
medullary , medullar adj
medulla (m-dl, m-d l) Plural medullas or medullae (m -dl) 1. See medulla oblongata. 2. The central portion of an anatomical structure, such as the adrenal gland or the kidney. |
ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
| Noun | 1. |  medulla - a white fatty substance that forms a medullary sheath around the axis cylinder of some nerve fibersmedullary sheath, myelin sheath - a layer of myelin encasing (and insulating) the axons of medullated nerve fibers fat - a soft greasy substance occurring in organic tissue and consisting of a mixture of lipids (mostly triglycerides); "pizza has too much fat" |
| 2. |  medulla - lower or hindmost part of the brain; continuous with spinal cord; (`bulb' is an old term for medulla oblongata); "the medulla oblongata is the most vital part of the brain because it contains centers controlling breathing and heart functioning"neural structure - a structure that is part of the nervous system brain stem, brain-stem, brainstem - the part of the brain continuous with the spinal cord and comprising the medulla oblongata and pons and midbrain and parts of the hypothalamus respiratory center - the center in the medulla oblongata and pons that integrates sensory information about the level of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the blood and determines the signals to be sent to the respiratory muscles | |
| 3. | medulla - the inner part of an organ or structure in plant or animal animal tissue - the tissue in the bodies of animals adrenal medulla - the medulla of the adrenal gland; secretes epinephrine plant tissue - the tissue of a plant cortex - the tissue forming the outer layer of an organ or structure in plant or animal |
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