substantia nigra

[ suh b-stan-shee-uh nahy-gruh, nig-ruh ]
/ səbˈstæn ʃi ə ˈnaɪ grə, ˈnɪg rə /

noun, plural sub·stan·ti·ae ni·grae [suhb-stan-shee-ee nahy-gree, nig-ree] /sʌbˈstæn ʃiˌi ˈnaɪ gri, ˈnɪg ri/, substantia nigras.

a deeply pigmented area of the midbrain containing dopamine-producing nerve cells.

Origin of substantia nigra

1880–85; < New Latin: black substance

Words nearby substantia nigra

substantia, substantia alba, substantia gelatinosa, substantia grisea, substantia medullaris, substantia nigra, substantial, substantialism, substantialize, substantiate, substantival

British Dictionary definitions for substantia nigra

substantia nigra
/ (səbˈstænʃə ˈnaɪɡrə) /

noun

a layer of grey matter in the brain that produces dopamine and contains pigmented nerve cells, loss of which has been associated with Parkinson's disease

Word Origin for substantia nigra

C20: from Latin, literally: dark material

Medical definitions for substantia nigra

substantia nigra
[ nī′grə, nĭg′rə ]

n.

A layer of large pigmented nerve cells in the mesencephalon that produce dopamine and whose destruction is associated with Parkinson's disease. nigra