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.

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hindbrain British  

/ ˈhaɪndˌbreɪn /

noun

1. the nontechnical name for rhombencephalon

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hindbrain Scientific  

/ hīnd′brān′ /

1. The rearmost part of the vertebrate brain. In humans, it consists of the pons and the medulla oblongata.

2. Compare forebrain midbrain

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Etymology

Origin of hindbrain

First recorded in 1885–90; hind ¹ + brain

Example Sentences

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

"Sea lampreys have provided an additional clue. Now we need to look even further back in evolutionary time to discover when the gene circuitry governing hindbrain formation first evolved."

From Science Daily • Feb. 21, 2024

Humans have approximately 50,000 LC-NE neurons in the hindbrain, where the locus coeruleus is.

From Science Daily • Nov. 17, 2023

In summary, the primary vesicles help to establish the basic regions of the nervous system: forebrain, midbrain, and hindbrain.

From Textbooks • Jun. 19, 2013

It includes all the hindbrain except the cerebellum and pons, and from it a large part of the cranial nerves arise.

From The Gutenberg Webster's Unabridged Dictionary Section M, N, and O by Project Gutenberg