See Also: Gray matter(health)
Gray matter(medicine)
matter, gray(medicine)
pontine gray matter(medicine)
heterotopic gray matter(medicine)
Cirrhosis and gray matter degeneration(health)
Diffuse degeneration of gray matter with cirrhosis(health)
Herbal medicine (botanical medicine, herbology, phytomedicine)(health)
gray level also gray value(medicine)
Medicine Lodge Memorial Hospital- Medicine Lodge(health)

Gray matter (medicine)


gray matter


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.'