substantia nigra

sub·stan·tia ni·gra

noun
\səb-ˌstan(t)-shē-ə-ˈnī-grə, -ˈni-\

plural sub·stan·ti·ae ni·grae\-chē-ˌē-ˈnī-(ˌ)grē, -ˈni-\

Definition of SUBSTANTIA NIGRA

: a layer of deeply pigmented gray matter situated in the midbrain and containing the cell bodies of a tract of dopamine-producing nerve cells whose secretion tends to be deficient in Parkinson's disease

Origin of SUBSTANTIA NIGRA

New Latin, literally, black substance

First Known Use: circa 1882