Midbrain

Midbrain
Midbrain
	Figure shows the midbrain (A) and surrounding regions; sagittal view of one cerebellar hemisphere. B: Pons. C: Medulla. D: Spinal cord. E: Fourth ventricle. F: Arbor vitae. G: Nodule. H: Tonsil. I: Posterior lobe. J: Anterior lobe. K: Inferior colliculus. L: Superior colliculus.
	Inferior view in which the midbrain is encircled blue.
Details
Pronunciation	UK: /ˌmɛsɛnˈsɛfəlɒn, -kɛf-/, US: /ˌmɛzənˈsɛfələn/;
Part of	Brainstem
Identifiers
Latin	mesencephalon
MeSH	D008636
NeuroNames	462
NeuroLex ID	birnlex_1667
TA98	A14.1.03.005
TA2	5874
FMA	61993
	Anatomical terms of neuroanatomy

The midbrain or mesencephalon is the rostral-most portion of the brainstem^[2] connecting the diencephalon and cerebrum with the pons.^[3] It consists of the cerebral peduncles, tegmentum, and tectum.

It is functionally associated with vision, hearing, motor control, sleep and wakefulness, arousal (alertness), and temperature regulation.^[2]

The name comes from the Greek mesos, "middle", and enkephalos, "brain".^[4]

^ "mesencephalon". Oxford English Dictionary (Online ed.). Oxford University Press. (Subscription or participating institution membership required.)
^ ^a ^b Breedlove, Watson, & Rosenzweig. Biological Psychology, 6th Edition, 2010, pp. 45-46
^ Sinnatamby, Chummy S. (2011). Last's Anatomy (12th ed.). p. 476. ISBN 978-0-7295-3752-0.
^ Mosby's Medical, Nursing & Allied Health Dictionary,≈ Fourth Edition, Mosby-Year Book 1994, p. 981