mesencephalon

[ mes-en-sef-uh-lon, -luh n, mez- ]
/ ˌmɛs ɛnˈsɛf əˌlɒn, -lən, ˌmɛz- /

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

OTHER WORDS FROM mesencephalon

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

Words nearby mesencephalon

mesembryanthemum, mesencephalic, mesencephalic flexure, mesencephalic tegmentum, mesencephalitis, mesencephalon, mesencephalotomy, mesenchyme, mesenchymoma, mesenteric artery, mesenteric ganglion

British Dictionary definitions for mesencephalon

mesencephalon
/ (ˌmɛsɛnˈsɛfəˌlɒn) /

noun

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

Derived forms of mesencephalon

mesencephalic (ˌmɛsɛnsɪˈfælɪk), adjective

Medical definitions for mesencephalon

mesencephalon
[ mĕz′ĕn-sĕf′ə-lŏn′ ]

n.

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