'aneuronal' originates from Modern English, formed by the negative prefix 'a-' (from Greek 'a-' meaning 'not, without') attached to 'neuronal' (from Greek 'neûron' meaning 'nerve').

'neuron' comes from Greek 'neûron' ('nerve'), entered scientific/Modern Latin usage as 'neuron'/'neuronal', and the prefix 'a-' was later attached in Modern English scientific contexts to form 'aneuronal'.

Originally the elements meant 'not' + 'nerve'; over time the combined term came to be used specifically in scientific contexts to mean 'lacking neurons' or 'not composed of nerve cells'.