medulla

/məˈdʌlə/
/məˈdʌlə/
IPA guide

Other forms: medullas; medullae

Definitions of medulla
  1. noun
    the inner part of an organ or structure in plant or animal
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    antonyms:
    cortex
    the tissue forming the outer layer of an organ or structure in plants or animals
    types:
    adrenal medulla
    the medulla of the adrenal gland; secretes epinephrine
    type of:
    animal tissue
    the tissue in the bodies of animals
    plant tissue
    the tissue of a plant
  2. noun
    a white fatty substance that forms a medullary sheath around the axis cylinder of some nerve fibers
    synonyms: myelin, myeline
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    type of:
    fat
    a soft greasy substance occurring in organic tissue and consisting of a mixture of lipids (mostly triglycerides)
  3. noun
    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”
    synonyms: bulb, medulla oblongata
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    type of:
    neural structure
    a structure that is part of the nervous system
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