What does gyri mean?
Gyri is the plural of gyrus and refers to the raised folds or ridges that cover the cerebral cortex, the brain's outer layer. These folds are separated by shallower and deeper grooves known as sulci, creating the characteristic wrinkled appearance of the human brain. Gyri are especially important in anatomy and neuroscience because their locations and connections are associated with particular regions involved in movement, sensation, language, and other functions. In everyday descriptions, gyri are often called cortical folds or convolutions, although these terms can be used more broadly. The word is normally plural and appears in formal medical and scientific contexts, including descriptions of brain anatomy, neurological conditions, and imaging findings. Its singular form, gyrus, is used when one fold is being discussed.
nounGyri are the raised folds or ridges on the surface of the cerebral cortex, separated by deeper grooves called sulci. The word is the plural of gyrus.
- The plural of gyrus, denoting the raised folds or ridges on the cerebral cortex.
"The MRI scan showed unusual signal activity in several gyri of the cerebral cortex."
"MRI scans can reveal abnormal changes in the gyri of the cerebral cortex."
"Neuroscientists mapped neural activity across the gyri of the human brain."
The standard plural of gyrus, used particularly in anatomical and neurological contexts.
"The scanner produced detailed images of the cerebral gyri."
The brain's famous wrinkles are its gyri: raised ridges that help pack a vast sheet of cortex into the skull.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does gyri come from?
Gyri is the plural of gyrus, which was borrowed from Latin gyrus, “a circle or curved line,” from Greek gyros, meaning “circle” or “wheel.” The anatomical meaning reflects the winding, circular form of the cerebral folds. The same Greek and Latin root appears in English words such as gyre, gyrate, and gyration, referring variously to circular movement or rotation.
Related word forms
How gyri is actually used
This is primarily formal anatomical terminology. Because gyri is plural, a singular reference requires gyrus.
Easily confused with gyri
A gyrus is one individual raised fold in the cerebral cortex, whereas gyri is the plural form referring to several such folds.
A gyre is a circular or spiral form, especially in a fluid or geological context, while gyri are folds in the cerebral cortex.