Bulbar

Part of speech: adjective

Definitions

1. Relating to the medulla oblongata, the lower part of the brainstem that connects to the spinal cord ; affecting the muscles of speech and swallowing as a result of nerve damage in that region
2. Of or pertaining to the medulla oblongata at the base of the brain ; describing a condition in which weakness impairs chewing, speaking and swallowing because of brainstem nerve involvement
3. Concerning the bulb-shaped lower brainstem region known as the medulla ; characterized by paralysis or weakness of the throat and tongue muscles caused by damage to the cranial nerves

Etymology: "Bulbar" looks like it should describe something shaped like an onion, but its meaning has nothing to do with bulbs in the garden sense. It is a medical term, and it is the medulla oblongata, the swelling at the base of the brain, that the word points to. The bulb in question is that anatomical bulge, which anatomists long ago compared to a plant bulb because of its rounded, swollen form. The word is formed simply: "bulb" with the adjective-forming suffix "-ar," meaning "of or relating to." So a bulbar nerve or bulbar palsy is one that involves the medulla. The "-ar" ending follows the same pattern as words like "lunar" or "vulgar," built from a Latin-derived base with a suffix attached. Because it is a technical coinage from anatomical terminology rather than an ordinary everyday word, it was adopted into English through medical writing, and it is used almost exclusively in clinical settings today.