medulla

C2 Topic:General Vocabulary

US /məˈdʌlə/ UK /məˈdʌlə/ See IPA manual

Freq #49325

Meanings

1

noun
the medulla oblongata, the lowest part of the brainstem, which helps regulate breathing, heart rate, and other automatic functions

Damage to the medulla can disrupt breathing and cardiovascular control.
2

noun
the inner region of an organ or other biological structure, contrasted with its outer cortex

The renal medulla contains structures that help the kidney concentrate urine.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · the medulla oblongata, the... medulla oblongatalower brainstem

2 noun · the inner region of an... inner regionpith

Opposites

cortex

Word family

Forms medullary

Derived forms medullarymedullarmedullated

Related forms brainstemmarrowrenal medullaadrenal medulla

Appears in

Phrases (1)

See all

adrenal medulla
the inner part of an adrenal gland, which releases adrenaline

Adjective + noun

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin medulla ("marrow, pith, innermost part"), probably related to medius ("middle"). Anatomists retained the Latin word for central or inner tissue and for the medulla oblongata at the base of the brain.

Topics

General Vocabulary

External links

# medulla

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2
**Part of speech:** noun
**IPA (US):** /məˈdʌlə/
**IPA (UK):** /məˈdʌlə/
**Frequency rank:** 49325

## Meanings
1. the medulla oblongata, the lowest part of the brainstem, which helps regulate breathing, heart rate, and other automatic functions
2. the inner region of an organ or other biological structure, contrasted with its outer cortex

## Examples
- Damage to the medulla can disrupt breathing and cardiovascular control.
- The renal medulla contains structures that help the kidney concentrate urine.

## Synonyms
- medulla oblongata
- lower brainstem
- inner region
- pith

## Antonyms
- cortex

## Derived Forms
- medullary
- medullar
- medullated

## Related Forms
- brainstem
- marrow
- renal medulla
- adrenal medulla

## Etymology
Borrowed from Latin medulla ("marrow, pith, innermost part"), probably related to medius ("middle"). Anatomists retained the Latin word for central or inner tissue and for the medulla oblongata at the base of the brain.

## Topics
- General Vocabulary

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