diencephalon

American  

[dahy-en-sef-uh-lon] / ˌdaɪ ɛnˈsɛf əˌlɒn /

noun

Anatomy.

plural

diencephalons, diencephala

1. the posterior section of the forebrain.

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diencephalon British  

/ ˌdaɪɛnsɪˈfælɪk, ˌdaɪɛnˈsɛfəˌlɒn /

noun

1. the part of the brain that includes the basal ganglia, thalamus, hypothalamus, and associated areas

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Other Word Forms

• diencephalic adjective

Etymology

Origin of diencephalon

From New Latin, dating back to 1880–85; di- ³, encephalon

Example Sentences

The diencephalon is between the cerebrum and the rest of the nervous system and can be described as the region through which all projections have to pass between the cerebrum and everything else.

From Textbooks • Jun. 19, 2013

The retina, which began as part of the diencephalon, is primarily connected to the diencephalon.

From Textbooks • Jun. 19, 2013

Humans, as two-legged animals, have a bend in the neuraxis between the brain stem and the diencephalon, along with a bend in the neck, so that the eyes and the face are oriented forward.

From Textbooks • Jun. 19, 2013

The adult brain is separated into four major regions: the cerebrum, the diencephalon, the brain stem, and the cerebellum.

From Textbooks • Jun. 19, 2013

Output from the cerebrum passes through the diencephalon.

From Textbooks • Jun. 19, 2013