amygdala

[uh-mig-duh-luh] Example Sentences Origin

a·myg·da·la

[uh-mig-duh-luh]
noun, plural a·myg·da·lae [-lee] . Anatomy.
1.
an almond-shaped part, as a tonsil.
2.
a ganglion of the limbic system adjoining the temporal lobe of the brain and involved in emotions of fear and aggression.

Origin:
before 950; < Medieval Latin: almond, tonsil, Latin: almond < Greek amygdálē; replacing Middle English amygdal, Old English amigdal almond < Latin amygdalon < Greek amýgdalon; compare almond
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Amygdala is always a great word to know.
So is pupil. Does it mean:
a series of paired nerves that originate in the spinal cord and emerge, branching out to the region of the neck, trunk, or limbs
the expanding and contracting opening in the iris of the eye, through which light passes to the retina
Example Sentences
  • The amygdala is a peanut-size nucleus found deep in the midbrain.
  • The amygdala is the emotional center of the brain and has an influence over all stages of memory, from encoding to recollection.
  • The amygdala integrates the information flow from the olfactory bulb cells and projects to areas governing behavior responses.
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Collins
World English Dictionary
amygdala (əˈmɪɡdələ)
 
n , pl -lae
anatomy an almond-shaped part, such as a tonsil or a lobe of the cerebellum
 
[C16: from Medieval Latin: almond]

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History

amygdala
"the tonsils," 1540s, from L., from Gk. amygdale "almond" (see almond). The anatomical use is as a direct transl, of Arabic al-lauzatan "the two tonsils," lit. "the two almonds," so called by Arabic physicians for fancied resemblance.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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American Heritage
Medical Dictionary

amygdala a·myg·da·la (ə-mĭg'də-lə)
n. pl. a·myg·da·lae (-lē)

  1. An almond-shaped mass of gray matter in the front part of the temporal lobe of the cerebrum. Also called amygdaloid nucleus.

  2. The cerebellar tonsil.

  3. Any of the lymphatic tonsils.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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American Heritage
Science Dictionary
amygdala   (ə-mĭg'də-lə)  Pronunciation Key 
Plural amygdalae (ə-mĭg'də-lē)
An almond-shaped mass of gray matter in the front part of the temporal lobe of the cerebrum that is part of the limbic system and is involved in the processing and expression of emotions, especially anger and fear.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2002. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.
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