mesencephalon

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

noun

, plural mes·en·ceph·a·la [mes-en-, sef, -, uh, -l, uh, mez-], mes·en·ceph·a·lons.

1. Anatomy. the midbrain.

mesencephalon

/ ˌmɛsɛnˈsɛfəˌlɒn; ˌmɛsɛnsɪˈfælɪk /

noun

1. See rhombencephalon, prosencephalon
   the part of the brain that develops from the middle portion of the embryonic neural tube Nontechnical namemidbrain Compare prosencephalon rhombencephalon

Derived Forms

• mesencephalic, adjective

Other Words From

• mes·en·ce·phal·ic [mes-en-s, uh, -, fal, -ik, mez-], adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of mesencephalon¹

First recorded in 1840–50; mes- + encephalon