oligodendroglia

noun

ol·i·go·den·drog·lia ˈä-li-gō-den-ˈdrä-glē-ə -ˈdrō-

ˈō-;

ə-ˌli-gə-

: glia that is made up of oligodendrocytes

oligodendroglial

ˈä-li-gō-den-ˈdrä-glē-əl

-ˈdrō-,

ˈō-;

ə-ˌli-gə-

adjective

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Spanish oligodendroglía, from oligo- oligo- + dendro- dendro- + glía glia

Note: The term was introduced by the Spanish neuroscientist Pío del Río Hortega (1882-1945) in "La glía des escasas radiaciones (oligodendroglía)," Boletín de la Real Sociedad Española de Historia Natural, tomo 21 (1921), pp. 63-92.

First Known Use

1924, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of oligodendroglia was in 1924

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oligodendrocyte

oligodendroglia

oligomer

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Style

“Oligodendroglia.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/oligodendroglia. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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Medical Definition

oligodendroglia

noun

oli·go·den·drog·lia -den-ˈdräg-lē-ə -ˈdrōg-

: glia made up of oligodendrocytes

oligodendroglial

-lē-əl

adjective

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oligodendroglia

noun

Word History

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