White matter

White matter
The part of the brain that contains myelinated nerve fibers. The white matter is white because it is the color of myelin, the insulation covering the nerve fibers. The white matter is as opposed to the gray matter (the cortex of the brain which contains nerve cell bodies).

* * *

white matter n neural tissue esp. of the brain and spinal cord that consists largely of myelinated nerve fibers bundled into tracts, has a whitish color, and typically underlies the gray matter

* * *

nerve tissue of the central nervous system that is paler in colour than the associated grey matter because it contains more nerve fibres and thus larger amounts of the insulating material myelin. In the brain the white matter lies within the grey layer of cerebral cortex; in the spinal cord it is between the arms of the X-shaped central core of grey matter.

* * *

substantia alba.

Medical dictionary. 2011.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать курсовую

Look at other dictionaries:

  • white matter — n. whitish nerve tissue of the brain and spinal cord, consisting chiefly of medullated nerve fibers: distinguished from GRAY MATTER (sense 1) …   English World dictionary

  • White matter — Infobox Anatomy Name = White matter Latin = substantia alba GraySubject = GrayPage = Caption = The formation of the spinal nerve from the dorsal and ventral roots. (White matter labeled at right.) Caption2 = System = MeshName = MeshNumber =… …   Wikipedia

  • white matter — nerve tissue of the central nervous system that is paler in colour than the associated grey matter because it contains more nerve fibres and thus larger amounts of the insulating material myelin. In the brain the white matter lies within the grey …   The new mediacal dictionary

  • white matter — white′ mat ter n. anat. nerve tissue, esp. of the brain and spinal cord, that primarily contains myelinated fibers and is nearly white in color Compare gray matter 1) • Etymology: 1830–40 …   From formal English to slang

  • white matter — Anat. nerve tissue, esp. of the brain and spinal cord, which primarily contains myelinated fibers and is nearly white in color. Cf. gray matter (def. 1). [1830 40] * * * …   Universalium

  • white matter — UK / US noun [uncountable] medical the white substance in your brain and spinal cord that consists mainly of nerve fibres See: grey matter …   English dictionary

  • white matter — noun Date: 1833 neural tissue especially of the brain and spinal cord that consists largely of myelinated nerve fibers bundled into tracts, has a whitish color, and typically underlies the cortical gray matter …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • white matter — /ˈwaɪt mætə/ (say wuyt matuh) noun nervous tissue, especially of the brain and spinal cord, containing fibres only, and nearly white in colour …  

  • white matter — noun A region of the central nervous system containing myelinated nerve fibres and no dendrites …   Wiktionary

  • white matter — noun the paler tissue of the brain and spinal cord, consisting mainly of nerve fibres with their myelin sheaths …   English new terms dictionary

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”