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midbrain
noun
mid·brain
ˈmid-ˌbrān
: the middle of the three primary divisions of the developing vertebrate brain or the corresponding part of the adult brain between the forebrain and hindbrain that includes the tectum, tegmentum, and substantia nigra
called also mesencephalon
see brain illustrationExamples of midbrain in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
And because the growth was in his midbrain stem, there was no way to remove the tumor, said his mom, Huifan Chan.
—Jason Mastrodonato, The Mercury News, 10 Aug. 2024
Dopamine neurons receive inputs from a large swath of the brain: your sensory, motor, and limbic systems all send information to the midbrain.
—Celia Ford, Vox, 22 May 2024
Parallel research into Parkinson’s disease led to a breakthrough: Neurologists realized the disease’s characteristic tremors and muscle stiffness were tied to the loss of dopamine-producing cells in a part of the midbrain that controls movement.
—Celia Ford, Vox, 22 May 2024
There are three basic units of an vertebrate brain–the midbrain, forebrain, and the hindbrain.
—Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 22 Feb. 2024
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Word History
First Known Use
1864, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near midbrain
Cite this Entry
“Midbrain.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/midbrain. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.
Kids Definition
midbrain
noun
mid·brain
ˈmid-ˌbrān
: the middle division of the three primary divisions of the developing brain of a vertebrate animal or the parts of the adult brain that develop from it that contains the optic lobes and is situated between the forebrain and the hindbrain
Medical Definition
midbrain
noun
mid·brain
ˈmid-ˌbrān
: the middle division of the three primary divisions of the developing vertebrate brain or the corresponding part of the adult brain that includes a ventral part containing the cerebral peduncles and a dorsal tectum containing the corpora quadrigemina and that surrounds the aqueduct of Sylvius connecting the third and fourth ventricles
called also mesencephalon
More from Merriam-Webster on midbrain
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about midbrain
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