medulla

[ muh-duhl-uh ]

noun

, plural me·dul·las, me·dul·lae [m, uh, -, duhl, -ee].

1. Anatomy.
   1. the marrow of the bones.
   2. the soft, marrowlike center of an organ, as the kidney or adrenal gland.
   3. medulla oblongata.
2. Botany. the pith of plants.

medulla

/ mɪˈdʌlə /

noun

1. anatomy
   1. the innermost part of an organ or structure
   2. short for medulla oblongata
2. botany another name for pith

medulla

/ mĭ-dŭl′ə,mĭ-do̅o̅′lə /

, Plural medullas mĭ-dŭl′ē

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

Derived Forms

• meˈdullary, adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of medulla¹

1635–45; < Latin: marrow, pith

Word History and Origins

Origin of medulla¹

C17: from Latin: marrow, pith, probably from medius middle

Example Sentences

There she studied how organic osmolytes protect the kidney medulla—the inner part of the kidney—from the high levels of salt there that would otherwise destroy DNA and proteins in its cells.

From MIT Technology Review

Medulla means “middle,” and refers to the center of the bone structure.

From Science News For Students

One of his works, his ‘Medulla Theologiæ,’ I believe, adorned the walls of the paternal study.

From Project Gutenberg

The actual performance of the action is then taken up by the cerebellum, medulla, and spinal ganglia.

From Project Gutenberg

But they were only stylized gestures leading to conditioned reflexes deep in the medulla.

From Project Gutenberg

Posteriorly is situated the hind-brain, now consisting of the medulla oblongata and cerebellum.

From Project Gutenberg

In Scyllium, however, indications appear in the hind-brain of its future division into a cerebellum and medulla oblongata.

From Project Gutenberg