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hindbrain

American  
[hahynd-breyn] / ˈhaɪndˌbreɪn /

noun

Anatomy.
  1. the most posterior of the three primary divisions of the brain in the embryo of a vertebrate or the part of the adult brain derived from this tissue, including the cerebellum, pons, and medulla oblongata; rhombencephalon.


hindbrain British  
/ ˈhaɪndˌbreɪn /

noun

  1. the nontechnical name for rhombencephalon

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

hindbrain Scientific  
/ hīndbrān′ /
  1. The rearmost part of the vertebrate brain. In humans, it consists of the pons and the medulla oblongata.

  2. Compare forebrain midbrain


Etymology

Origin of hindbrain

First recorded in 1885–90; hind 1 + brain

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Something malicious and alive, an indicator of a deeper rot, has crept into your space while you weren’t paying attention, your pest-wary hindbrain yells.

From Salon • Nov. 7, 2025

As a result, the system organized itself to mimic the forebrain, midbrain, hindbrain and spinal cord in a way that mirrors embryonic development.

From Science Daily • Feb. 26, 2024

In addition, if hindbrain formation is a conserved feature for all vertebrates, other mechanisms must be responsible to explain their incredible diversity.

From Science Daily • Feb. 21, 2024

As shown in this video, that establish the forebrain, midbrain, and hindbrain.

From Textbooks • Jun. 19, 2013

There were the cerebral lobes, or largest part of the forebrain, enormously developed and overhanging the cerebellum, or great lobe of the hindbrain, and completely covering the lobes of the midbrain.

From Byways of Ghost-Land by O'Donnell, Elliott

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