Lexic.us

Definition of Gray matter

1. Noun. Greyish nervous tissue containing cell bodies as well as fibers; forms the cerebral cortex consisting of unmyelinated neurons.

Definition of Gray matter

1. Noun. (alternative spelling of grey matter) ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Medical Definition of Gray matter

1. The cortex of the brain which contains nerve cell bodies. The gray matter is in contrast to the white matter, the part of the brain that contains myelinated nerve fibres. The gray matter is so named because it in fact appears gray. The white matter is white because that is the colour of myelin, the insulation covering the nerve fibres. In the mysterious affair at styles (1920), agatha christie first quoted the fictional belgian detective hercule poirot in regard to his gray matter: 'this affair must be unravelled from within.' he tapped his forehead. 'these little grey cells. It is up to them as you say over here.' (12 Dec 1998)

Lexicographical Neighbors of Gray Matter

Literary usage of Gray matter

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. Anatomy, Descriptive and Surgical by Henry Gray (1901)
"The gray matter of the cerebellum is found in two situations : (1) on the surface, forming the cortex ; (2) as independent masses in the interior. ..."

2. Encyclopaedia Britannica: A Standard Work of Reference in Art, Literature (1907)
"A portion of the fibres of the posterior roots ends in the gray matter on the same side, but many cross to the gray matter on the opposite side. ..."

3. A Text Book of Physiology by Michael Foster (1893)
"The Superficial gray matter. § 626. The whole of the surface of each cerebral hemisphere for some little depth inward consists of gray matter, ..."

4. Monographic Medicine by William Robie Patten Emerson, Guido Guerrini, William Brown, Wendell Christopher Phillips, John Whitridge Williams, John Appleton Swett, Hans Günther, Mario Mariotti, Hugh Grant Rowell (1916)
"Clinically, we subdivide the cases of myelitis into (a) myelitis, involving both white and gray matter, and (2) poliomyelitis involving the gray matter ..."

5. A Text-book of Physiology for Medical Students and Physicians by William Henry Howell (1905)
"This group of cells lies at the inner angle of the posterior horn of gray matter (5, Fig. 71), and forms a column usually described as extending from the ..."

6. A Text-book of Physiology for Medical Students and Physicians by William Henry Howell (1911)
"This group of cells lies at the inner angle of the posterior column of gray matter (5, Fig. 76), and forms a column usually described as extending from the ..."

7. Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease by Philadelphia Neurological Society, American Neurological Association, Chicago Neurological Society, New York Neurological Association (1903)
"If one therefore studies the vascular supply of the spinal cord it is found that the gray matter of the anterior horns receives its chief supply from ..."

8. Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease by American Neurological Association, Philadelphia Neurological Society, Chicago Neurological Society, New York Neurological Association, Boston Society of Psychiatry and Neurology (1903)
"If one therefore studies the vascular supply of the spinal cord it is found that the gray matter of the anterior horns receives its chief supply from ..."

Other Resources: