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Glite Dictionary
decussation

decussation

1 9.9
A place where two nerve paths cross like an X
  • noun
  • /ˌdɛkəˈseɪʃən/
  • Specialized
translation icon : decusación
  • The optic nerves undergo a decussation at the optic chiasm.

Examples

  • The pattern of decussation is critical in understanding how the brain processes visual information.

  • The decussation of nerve fibers occurs in the brainstem.

  • Damage to the area of decussation can result in loss of sensory function on the opposite side of the body.

  • During embryonic development, decussations form crucial pathways.

  • The anatomy lesson covered the decussation of nerve fibers that cross over in the brain.

  • In the spinal cord, the decussation of pathways allows for the coordination of movement on opposite sides of the body.

  • The researcher explained how decussation plays a crucial role in visual processing by having optic nerves cross.

Synonyms

chiasm
vsdecussation
  • Specialized
2 9.9

A place where two nerves cross in an X shape

focuses more on crossings of nerve tracts rather than vessels
chiasma
vsdecussation
  • Specialized
9.9

An X-shaped place where two nerve fibers or chromosomes cross

is broader, applying to crossings of various anatomical tracts

Surface Forms

decussation singular
decussations plural

Morphology

decussation = decussate (opaque) = decussate + ation

The noun is a regular nominalization formed from the verb 'decussate' by the suffix '-ation'.

Etymology

Decussation comes from the Latin word decussis, which meant 'X' or the Roman sign for 'ten'. So a decussation is where two things cross in an 'X' shape, for example nerve fibres in the brain that cross to the opposite side.