ganglion
noun
gan·gli·on
ˈgaŋ-glē-ən 
plural ganglia
ˈgaŋ-glē-ə
also ganglions
also ganglions
1
: a small cystic tumor connected either with a joint membrane or tendon sheath
2
a
: a mass of nerve tissue containing cell bodies of neurons external to the brain or spinal cord
also
: nucleus sense 2b
b
: something likened to a nerve ganglion
a ganglion of cables and wires
Examples of ganglion in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
That's because there is a higher concentration of retinal ganglion cells in the center of their field of vision, making vision sharper and giving such dogs binocular depth vision.
—
Jennifer Ouellette, ArsTechnica, 18 Sep. 2025
The ventral ganglion is a collection of nerves found on an arrow worm’s belly and is a biological feature unique only to them.
—Stephanie Edwards, Discover Magazine, 25 July 2025
The whale had, at most, 180 retinal ganglion cells per square millimeter; humans, meanwhile, have up to about 40,000 in the same area.
—Margherita Bassi, Smithsonian Magazine, 21 May 2025
Researchers say that happens when bright light enters the inner surface of the retina where neurons called retinal ganglion cells are located.
—Anuradha Varanasi, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024
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Jennifer Ouellette, ArsTechnica, 18 Sep. 2025
The ventral ganglion is a collection of nerves found on an arrow worm’s belly and is a biological feature unique only to them.
—Stephanie Edwards, Discover Magazine, 25 July 2025
The whale had, at most, 180 retinal ganglion cells per square millimeter; humans, meanwhile, have up to about 40,000 in the same area.
—Margherita Bassi, Smithsonian Magazine, 21 May 2025
Researchers say that happens when bright light enters the inner surface of the retina where neurons called retinal ganglion cells are located.
—Anuradha Varanasi, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024
See All Example Sentences for ganglion
Cite this Entry
“Ganglion.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ganglion. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
ganglion
noun
gan·gli·on
ˈgaŋ-glē-ən
plural ganglia
-glē-ə
also ganglions
also ganglions
: a mass of nerve tissue lying outside the brain or spinal cord and containing neurons
also
: nucleus sense c
Medical Definition
ganglion
noun
gan·gli·on
ˈgaŋ-glē-ən
plural ganglia
-glē-ə
also ganglions
also ganglions
1
: a small cystic tumor (as on the back of the wrist) containing viscid fluid and connected either with a joint membrane or tendon sheath
2
a
: a mass of nerve tissue containing cell bodies of neurons that is located outside the central nervous system and forms an enlargement upon a nerve or upon two or more nerves at their point of junction or separation
b
: a mass of gray matter within the brain or spinal cord : nucleus sense 2 see basal ganglion
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