substantia nigra

[ suhb-stan-shee-uh nahy-gruh, nig-ruh ]

noun

, plural sub·stan·ti·ae ni·grae [suhb-, stan, -shee-ee , nahy, -gree, nig, -ree], substantia nigras.

1. a deeply pigmented area of the midbrain containing dopamine-producing nerve cells.

substantia nigra

/ səbˈstænʃə ˈnaɪɡrə /

noun

1. a layer of grey matter in the brain that produces dopamine and contains pigmented nerve cells, loss of which has been associated with Parkinson's disease

Word History and Origins

Origin of substantia nigra¹

1880–85; < New Latin: black substance

Word History and Origins

Origin of substantia nigra¹

C20: from Latin, literally: dark material