Bell–Magendie law

the principle that the ventral roots of the spinal cord are motor in function and the dorsal roots are sensory. [Charles Bell (1774–1842), Scottish surgeon and anatomist; François Magendie (1783–1855), French physiologist]

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Psychology term of the day

January 19th 2025

homoplasy

n. a similarity of form in bodily structures of species that are not descended from a common ancestor (e.g., the body forms of a tuna and a dolphin). This superficial resemblance often arises through the process of convergent evolution because the species live in the same environment. Compare homology. See also analogy. —homoplastic adj.