皮层 (pí céng) — (anatomy) cortex | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

noun

(anatomy) cortex

Measure word · 层

Examples

。
Dà nǎo pí céng fù zé gāo jí rèn zhī gōng néng.
The cerebral cortex is responsible for higher cognitive functions.
。
Zhòng fēng kě néng sǔn shāng dà nǎo pí céng qū yù.
A stroke can damage areas of the cerebral cortex.
皮层。
Yán jiū xiǎn shì cháng qī xùn liàn néng zēng hòu pí céng.
Research shows that long-term training can thicken the cortex.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

皮 suggests a skin-like outer part, and 层 a layer, giving cortex.

Characters in this word

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

皮 shows a hand pulling fur off an animal pelt, with the pelt drawn at the upper left.

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 層; 层 is its simplified writing.

尸曾層

Meaning part形符xíngfú

Sound part声符shēngfú

曾

曾céng層céng

Same sound today

The traditional form 層 uses 尸 for the meaning and 曾 for the sound; the simplified 层 is a later abbreviation.

Appears in

Organs & Anatomy

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