corpus striatum

noun

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

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from New Latin corpus striātum "furrowed body"

First Known Use

1851, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

corpus striatum

noun

corpus stri·​a·​tum -ˌstrī-ˈāt-əm 

plural corpora striata -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