medulla definition | Dictionary.com

me⋅dul⋅la

[muh-duhl-uh]

–noun, plural -dul⋅las, -dul⋅lae [-duhl-ee]

Anatomy.

a.	the marrow of the bones.

b.	the soft, marrowlike center of an organ, as the kidney or adrenal gland.

c.	medulla oblongata.

2.	Botany. the pith of plants.

Origin:
1635–45; < L: marrow, pith

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
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American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

me·dul·la (mĭ-dŭl'ə) Pronunciation Key
n. pl. me·dul·las or me·dul·lae (-dŭl'ē)

The inner core of certain organs or body structures, such as the marrow of bone.
The medulla oblongata.
See myelin.
Botany
1. The pith in the stems or roots of certain plants.
2. 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, med'ul·lar'y (měd'l-ěr'ē, mə-dŭl'ə-rē) adj.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

my·e·lin (mī'ə-lĭn) Pronunciation Key
n. A white fatty material, composed chiefly of lipids and lipoproteins, that encloses certain axons and nerve fibers. Also called medulla.
my'e·lin'ic adj.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
medulla

1651, "hindmost segment of the brain," from L., lit. "marrow," also "pith of plants," of unknown origin, perhaps related to or influenced by medius "middle" (but cf. also O.Ir. smiur, Welsh mer "marrow").

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This

medulla
noun
1.	a white fatty substance that forms a medullary sheath around the axis cylinder of some nerve fibers [syn: myelin]
2.	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" [syn: medulla oblongata]
3.	the inner part of an organ or structure in plant or animal [ant: cortex]

WordNet® 3.0, © 2006 by Princeton University.
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The American Heritage Science Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

medulla (mĭ-dŭl'ə, mĭ-d

'lə) Pronunciation Key
Plural medullas or medullae (mĭ-dŭl'ē)

See medulla oblongata.
The central portion of an anatomical structure, such as the adrenal gland or the kidney.

The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2002 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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American Heritage Stedman's Medical Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

medulla me·dul·la (mĭ-dŭl'ə)
n. pl. me·dul·las or me·dul·lae (-dŭl'ē)
The inner core of certain organs or body structures, such as the marrow of bone. Also called medullary substance.

me·dul'lar or med'ul·lar'y (měd'l-ěr'ē, mə-dŭl'ə-rē) adj.

Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
Main Entry: me·dul·la
Pronunciation: m&-'d&l-&, -'dul-
Function: noun
Inflected Form: plural me·dul·las or me·dul·lae /-(")E, -"I/
1 plural medullae a : BONEMARROW b : MEDULLA OBLONGATA
2 a : the inner or deep part of an organor structure medulla> b : MYELIN SHEATH

U.S. Gazetteer - Cite This Source - Share This

Medulla, FL (CDP, FIPS 43925)
Location: (27.962551, -81.980790)
Population (2000): 6,637 (2,739 housing units)
Area: 5.675822 sq mi (land), 0.017590 sq mi (water)

U.S. Gazetteer, U.S. Census Bureau
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Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Medulla

Me*dul"la\, n. [L.]

1. Marrow; pith; hence, essence. [Obs.] --Milton.

2. (Anat.) The marrow of bones; the deep or inner portion of an organ or part; as, the medulla, or medullary substance, of the kidney; specifically, the medula oblongata.

3. (Bot.) A soft tissue, occupying the center of the stem or branch of a plant; pith.

Medulla oblongata. [L., oblong medulla] (Anat.), the posterior part of the brain connected with the spinal cord. It includes all the hindbrain except the cerebellum and pons, and from it a large part of the cranial nerves arise. It controls very largely respiration, circulation, swallowing, and other functions, and is the most vital part of the brain; -- called also bulb of the spinal cord. See Brain.

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