Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
mesencephalon

mesencephalon

1 9.9
The middle part of the brain that helps seeing, hearing and movement
  • noun
  • /ˌmɛsənˈsɛfəlɒn/
  • Specialized
: mesencéfalo
  • The mesencephalon plays a crucial role in motor control and sensory processing.

Examples

  • The cerebrum has been completely severed from the mesencephalon.

    The Relic (1997)

  • The mesencephalon is the top part of the brain stem.

    Blog text (21)

  • A high output of the mesencephalon will cause an increased pulse and heart rate, inability to sleep or waking up from fitful sleep, urinary tract infection, increased warmth or sweating, and sensitivity to light.

    Blog text (21)

  • In humans, the mesencephalon is located between the forebrain and hindbrain.

  • Damage to the mesencephalon can lead to issues with vision and coordination.

Synonyms

midbrain
vsmesencephalon
  • Specialized
2 5.5

The middle part of the brain that helps process sight and sound and control movement

is the technical anatomical name for the same middle brain region

Surface Forms

mesencephalon singular
mesencephalons plural

Morphology

mesencephalon = encephalon (opaque) = mes + encephalon

Both the prefix 'mes' and the root 'encephalon' are technical Greek combining forms unfamiliar to average learners, so the meaning is not derivable by a B1 learner.

Etymology

Mesencephalon comes from Greek parts mes- meaning 'middle' and encephalon meaning 'brain'. So it literally means 'middle brain', which is why the mesencephalon is the middle part of the brain between the forebrain and hindbrain.