Origin: Latin suffix -al
Neural has 3 different meanings across 1 category:
Of, or relating to the nerves, neurons or the nervous system.
"The neural pathways in his brain were damaged during the accident."
In plain English: Neural means relating to nerves and how they send signals throughout your body.
"The new medical device uses neural signals to help paralyzed patients move their limbs again."
Usage: Use "neural" specifically when referring to structures like neurons or signals within the brain and spinal cord, rather than general body sensations. This term is often confused with "nervous," which describes the entire organ system including peripheral nerves outside the central brain area.
The word neural comes from the Ancient Greek neûron, which originally meant a sinew or nerve. It entered English with this core meaning related to nerves and nervous tissue intact.