medullaire

Medullaire, or medullary in English, is an anatomical adjective meaning related to the medulla, the inner part of an organ, or to bone marrow. The root comes from the Latin medulla, meaning “marrow” or the soft inner portion. The term is used across medical and scientific contexts to indicate a central or marrow-containing region of a structure.

In anatomy and medicine, medullary is commonly applied to several well-known regions and conditions. The medullary cavity of long bones is a central channel that houses the bone marrow. The adrenal medulla is the inner part of the adrenal gland, which produces catecholamines such as adrenaline and noradrenaline. The brainstem contains the medulla oblongata, a region essential for autonomic and vital functions. In the lymphatic system, the medullary region of a lymph node comprises medullary cords and medullary sinuses. Medullary carcinoma refers to cancers arising from medullary tissue, notably medullary thyroid carcinoma, which originates from parafollicular C-cells and may secrete calcitonin. Renal medullary sponge kidney is a congenital disorder affecting the collecting ducts in the renal medulla.

Beyond humans, the term is used in zoological and comparative anatomy to describe analogous inner regions or marrow-containing tissues in other organisms. In summary, medullaire indicates an inner, central, or marrow-associated portion of an organ, with context-dependent meanings in bones, glands, the brain, and other systems.