Decussate

Decussate is a term used in biology and medicine to describe a crossing over, in the shape of an X, of two structures. It is derived from the Latin word decussis which means "a ten-as" or "a coin worth ten asses". This term is used in various contexts in medicine and biology, such as in the description of certain plant leaves and the crossing over of nerve fibers in the brain.

Anatomy and Physiology

In the field of anatomy and physiology, the term decussate is used to describe the crossing over of nerve fibers from one side of the body to the other. This is seen in various parts of the nervous system, including the brain and spinal cord. For example, the pyramidal tracts in the brain decussate, or cross over, in the medulla oblongata, a part of the brainstem. This crossing over is important for the control of voluntary movements.

Botany

In botany, decussate is used to describe the arrangement of leaves on a stem where each pair is perpendicular to the pair above or below it. This results in a pattern that appears to cross over when viewed from above. This pattern is seen in many plant species, including those in the mint family, Lamiaceae.

Medicine

In medicine, decussation refers to the crossing over of nerve fibers, particularly in the brain and spinal cord. This is important in the transmission of nerve impulses from one side of the body to the other. For example, the decussation of the pyramidal tracts in the medulla oblongata is crucial for the control of voluntary movements on the opposite side of the body.

See also

• Anatomy
• Botany
• Medicine
• Nervous system
• Pyramidal tracts
• Lamiaceae

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