thalamus
[ thal-uh-muh s ]
/ ˈθæl ə məs /
noun, plural thal·a·mi [thal-uh-mahy] /ˈθæl əˌmaɪ/.
Anatomy.
the middle part of the diencephalon through which sensory impulses pass to reach the cerebral cortex.
Botany.
a receptacle or torus.
Also called thalamium.
an apartment for women in an ancient Greek house.
Origin of thalamus
1695–1705; < New Latin; Latin: bedroom < Greek
thálamos
OTHER WORDS FROM thalamus
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Example sentences from the Web for thalamus
British Dictionary definitions for thalamus
thalamus
/ (ˈθæləməs) /
noun plural -mi (-ˌmaɪ)
either of the two contiguous egg-shaped masses of grey matter at the base of the brain
both of these masses considered as a functional unit
the receptacle or torus of a flower
Derived forms of thalamus
thalamic (θəˈlæmɪk), adjective thalamically, adverbWord Origin for thalamus
C18: from Latin, Greek
thalamos inner room; probably related to Greek
tholos vault
Medical definitions for thalamus
thalamus
[ thăl′ə-məs ]
n. pl. thal•a•mi (-mī′)
A large ovoid mass of gray matter that forms the larger dorsal subdivision of the diencephalon and is located medial to the internal capsule and to the body and tail of the caudate nucleus. It functions in the relay of sensory impulses to the cerebral cortex.
Other words from thalamus
tha•lam′ic (thə-lăm′ĭk) adj.Scientific definitions for thalamus
thalamus
[ thăl′ə-məs ]
Plural thalami (thăl′ə-mī′)
The part of the vertebrate brain that lies at the rear of the forebrain. It relays sensory information to the cerebral cortex and regulates the perception of touch, pain, and temperature.