mesencephalon

[mes-en-sef-uh-lon, -luh n, mez-]

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

Anatomy. the midbrain.

Origin of mesencephalon

First recorded in 1840–50; mes- + encephalon

Related formsmes·en·ce·phal·ic

[mes-en-suh-fal-ik, mez-] /ˌmɛs ɛn səˈfæl ɪk, ˌmɛz-/, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

British Dictionary definitions for mesencephalon

mesencephalon

noun

the part of the brain that develops from the middle portion of the embryonic neural tubeNontechnical name: midbrain Compare prosencephalon, rhombencephalon

Derived Formsmesencephalic (ˌmɛsɛnsɪˈfælɪk), adjective

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

mesencephalon in Medicine

mesencephalon

[mĕz′ĕn-sĕf′ə-lŏn′]

n.

The portion of the vertebrate brain that develops from the middle section of the embryonic brain.midbrain