cisterna

noun

cis·​ter·​na si-ˈstər-nə 

plural cisternae si-ˈstər-ˌnē 

: cistern sense 3: such as

a

: one of the large spaces under the arachnoid membrane

b

: one of the flattened vesicles comprising the Golgi apparatus and the part of the endoplasmic reticulum studded with ribosomes

cisternal

si-ˈstər-nəl 

adjective

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Latin, reservoir

First Known Use

circa 1860, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

cisterna

noun

cis·​ter·​na sis-ˈtər-nə 

plural cisternae -ˌnē 

: cistern: as

a

: cisterna magna

b

: cisterna chyli

c

: one of the interconnected flattened vesicles or tubules comprising the endoplasmic reticulum