HealthAugust 8, 2026
medullary
MED-uh-ler-ee
Definition
Relating to or located in the medulla, often referring to the inner portion or core of an organ like the kidney or the thyroid gland.
Etymology
Derived from the Latin word 'medulla', meaning 'marrow' or 'center'. It entered English to describe anatomical structures that resemble marrow or form the central core of an organ.
In the news
In the context of GLP-1 medications, the term is used to describe a specific type of thyroid cancer (medullary thyroid cancer) which is a key safety consideration and potential contraindication for these drugs.
7 GLP-1 facts you should know before you start
Read the full article ↗Rolling Out