midbrain

American  

[mid-breyn] / ˈmɪdˌbreɪn /

noun

Anatomy.

1. the middle 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; mesencephalon.

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midbrain British  

/ ˈmɪdˌbreɪn /

noun

1. the nontechnical name for mesencephalon

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midbrain Scientific  

/ mĭd′brān′ /

1. The middle part of the vertebrate brain. In most animals except mammals, the midbrain processes sensory information. In mammals, it serves primarily to connect the forebrain with the hindbrain.

2. Compare forebrain hindbrain

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Etymology

Origin of midbrain

First recorded in 1870–75; mid- + brain

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

midbrain

Published in Science Advances, the study reports that several methods used to grow midbrain cells also generated unwanted cells originating from other brain regions.

From Science Daily ● Nov. 3, 2025

Associative learning, which takes place in the midbrain, can be impaired in some cases of obesity as a result of poor signaling to the brain from the GLP-1 peptides in the intestine.

From Salon ● Jan. 24, 2025

Researchers then had the same bats repeat the task but with a critical auditory pathway in the midbrain temporarily blocked.

From Science Daily ● Nov. 25, 2024

So far, midbrain activity has been under-explored when it comes to how it enables different species of animals — humans included — to communicate vocally, whether through fishy hums or human sentences.

From Salon ● Jan. 8, 2024

On the front and under surface, the midbrain separates slightly as if to form two pillars, which are called the crura cerebri, or cerebral peduncles.

From Physiology and Hygiene for Secondary Schools by Walters, Francis M.