midbrain

[ mid-breyn ]

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.

midbrain

/ ˈmɪdˌbreɪn /

noun

1. the nontechnical name for mesencephalon

midbrain

/ 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

Word History and Origins

Origin of midbrain¹

First recorded in 1870–75; mid- + brain

Example Sentences

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

From Science Daily

Northwestern's Zhou found correlations to BMI in the circuit between the olfactory tubercle and the midbrain region, the periaqueductal gray.

From Science Daily

"We developed an efficient method for stimulating stem cell differentiation to produce neural cells in the midbrain," said Andy Yang, first author on the study and a PhD student at the Donnelly Centre.

From Science Daily

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

And when it comes to piping up or figuring out what patterns to sing, it’s the midbrain section of the fish’s brains which plays a central role.

From Salon