corpus striatum

noun

Definition of corpus striatum

plural corpora striata

: either of a pair of masses of nervous tissue within the brain that contain two large nuclei of gray matter separated by sheets of white matter

Origin and Etymology of corpus striatum

New Latin, literally, striated body

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First Known Use: 1851

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

Medical Dictionary

corpus striatum

noun corpus stri·a·tum \ -ˌstrī-ˈāt-əm \

medical Definition of corpus striatum

plural corpora striata play \-ˈāt-ə\

: either of a pair of masses of nerve tissue which lie beneath and external to the anterior cornua of the lateral ventricles of the brain and form part of their floor and each of which contains a caudate nucleus and a lentiform nucleus separated by sheets of white matter to give the mass a striated appearance in section