pl. -·glia or -·gli·ons
- a mass of nerve cells serving as a center from which nerve impulses are transmitted
- a center of force, energy, activity, etc.
- a cystic tumor on a tendon sheath
Origin of ganglionspecial use of Late Latin ganglion, a swelling ; from Gr, tumor, probably reduplicated, reduplication ; from Indo-European base an unverified form gel-, to form into a ball from source cling, clod
nounpl. gan·gli·a or gan·gli·ons
- A group of nerve cells forming a nerve center, especially one located outside the brain or spinal cord.
- Medicine A benign cystic lesion resembling a tumor, occurring in a tendon sheath or joint capsule.
- A center of power, activity, or energy.
Origin of ganglionFrom Greek, cystlike tumor, nerve bundle.
(plural ganglions or ganglia)
- An encapsulated collection of nerve-cell bodies, located outside the brain and spinal cord.
- Any of certain masses of gray matter in the brain, as the basal ganglia.
- (by extension) A centre of intellectual or industrial force, activity, etc.
- (pathology) A cystic tumour on a tendon sheath or joint capsule; a ganglion cyst
From Ancient Greek γάγγλιον (ganglion, “encysted tumour on a tendon, anything gathered into a ball”).