mesencephalon

[ mes-en-sef-uh-lon, -luhn, mez- ]

noun,plural mes·en·ceph·a·la [mes-en-sef-uh-luh, mez-], /ˌmɛs ɛnˈsɛf ə lə, ˌmɛz-/, mes·en·ceph·a·lons.
  1. Anatomy. the midbrain.

Origin of mesencephalon

1
First recorded in 1840–50; mes- + encephalon

Other words from mesencephalon

  • mes·en·ce·phal·ic [mes-en-suh-fal-ik, mez-], /ˌmɛs ɛn səˈfæl ɪk, ˌmɛz-/, adjective

Words Nearby mesencephalon

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

British Dictionary definitions for mesencephalon

mesencephalon

/ (ˌmɛsɛnˈsɛfəˌlɒn) /


noun
  1. the part of the brain that develops from the middle portion of the embryonic neural tube: Nontechnical name: midbrain Compare prosencephalon, rhombencephalon

Derived forms of mesencephalon

  • mesencephalic (ˌmɛsɛnsɪˈfælɪk), adjective

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