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plural pontes
ˈpän-ˌtēz
: a broad mass of chiefly transverse nerve fibers in the mammalian brain stem lying ventral to the cerebellum at the anterior end of the medulla oblongata see brain illustration
Examples of pons in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
In subjects unable to void brain activation was documented in the frontal lobe and posterior cingulate gyrus but not in the pons, thalamus or anterior cingulate gyrus.
—Ncbi Rofl, Discover Magazine, 10 July 2012
These results are interesting because the dorsal pons has previously been found to be hyperactive during migraine.
—Neuroskeptic, Discover Magazine, 22 May 2016
Damage to the pons can short-circuit its ability to paralyze the sleeping body.
—Jen Rose Smith, CNN, 10 May 2022
Damage done to the pons by neurological disorders can also affect the brain's ability to paralyze the body during sleep.
—Jen Rose Smith, CNN, 10 May 2022
That structure, called the pons, is located on the brainstem.
—Jen Rose Smith, CNN, 10 May 2022
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'pons.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
New Latin, short for pons Varolii
First Known Use
1671, in the meaning defined above
Phrases Containing pons
Dictionary Entries Near pons
Cite this Entry
“Pons.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pons. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.
Medical Definition
Biographical Definition
More from Merriam-Webster on pons
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about pons
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