1. Plural of ganglion; clusters of nerve cell bodies located outside the brain and spinal cord.
Usage: anatomy; medical
2. In invertebrate animals, concentrations of nerve tissue that serve as local control centers.
Usage: biology; zoology

Examples

• The basal ganglia in the brain help control movement and coordination.
• Damage to the spinal ganglia can affect nerve function throughout the body.
• Insects have ganglia distributed along their body segments instead of a centralized brain.
• The dorsal root ganglia contain sensory nerve cell bodies.
• Autonomic ganglia relay signals between the nervous system and internal organs.
• Swollen ganglia near the neck can indicate an infection.