Meaning & use

substantia nigra

noun·Advanced

A layer of brain tissue in the midbrain that produces dopamine and helps control movement.

See it in a sentence

Loss of dopamine-producing cells in the substantia nigra is a hallmark of Parkinson's disease.

Researchers imaged the substantia nigra to track changes in the patient's brain over time.

A note on using this word

Latin for 'black substance,' named for its dark pigmentation; central to Parkinson's disease research.

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