noun
brain; encephalon
Medical term for the brain as an organ; in everyday language, 脳 (のう) is more common.
脳髄の解剖図を見ながら、医学生が構造を学んでいる。
Medical students are learning the structure while looking at an anatomical diagram of the brain.
脳 is the common word for 'brain' in everyday contexts; 脳髄 is a formal medical term.
Compound of 脳 (のう, 'brain') and 髄 (ずい, 'marrow, pith'), literally 'brain marrow'. The exact historical derivation is uncertain.