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Definition of Gray matter
1. Noun. Greyish nervous tissue containing cell bodies as well as fibers; forms the cerebral cortex consisting of unmyelinated neurons.
Generic synonyms: Nerve Tissue, Nervous Tissue
Terms within: Neuropil, Neuropile
Substance meronyms: Cerebral Cortex, Cerebral Mantle, Cortex, Pallium
Medical Definition of Gray matter
1. The cortex of the brain which contains nerve cell bodies. The gray matter is in contrast to the white matter, the part of the brain that contains myelinated nerve fibres. The gray matter is so named because it in fact appears gray. The white matter is white because that is the colour of myelin, the insulation covering the nerve fibres. In the mysterious affair at styles (1920), agatha christie first quoted the fictional belgian detective hercule poirot in regard to his gray matter: 'this affair must be unravelled from within.' he tapped his forehead. 'these little grey cells. It is up to them as you say over here.' (12 Dec 1998)