mesencephalon

English

Etymology

From Latin, from Ancient Greek μέσος (mésos, “middle”) + ἐγκέφαλος (enképhalos, “cephalon, brain”); see also cephalon.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˌmɛzənˈsɛfələn/
• IPA^(key): /ˌmɛzənˈsɛfəlɒn/

Noun

mesencephalon (plural mesencephalons or mesencephala)

1. A part of the brain located rostral to the pons and caudal to the thalamus and the basal ganglia, composed of the tectum (dorsal portion) and the tegmentum (ventral portion).

Synonyms

• midbrain

Meronyms

• tectum
• tegmentum

Derived terms

• hemimesencephalon
• mesencephalic

Translations

midbrain — see midbrain