Lexic.us

Definition of Brainstem

1. Noun. The part of the brain continuous with the spinal cord and comprising the medulla oblongata and pons and midbrain and parts of the hypothalamus.

Definition of Brainstem

1. Noun. (alternative spelling of brain stem) ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Definition of Brainstem

1. [n -S]

Medical Definition of Brainstem

1. The lowest part of the brain, which merges with the spinal cord. It consists of the medulla oblongata, midbrain and pons. Originally, the entire unpaired subdivision of the brain, composed of (in anterior sequence) the rhombencephalon, mesencephalon, and diecephalon as distinguished from the brain's only paired subdivision, the telencephalon. More recently, the term's connotation has undergone several arbitrary modifications: some use it to denote no more than rhombencephalon plus mesencephalon, distinguishing that complex from the prosencephalon (diencephalon plus telencephalon); others restrict it even further to refer exclusively to the rhombencephalon. From both developmental and architectural viewpoints, the original interpretation seems preferable. (05 Mar 2000)

Lexicographical Neighbors of Brainstem

Literary usage of Brainstem

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. Science by American Association for the Advancement of Science (1883)
"Concentrations and specific activity of tryptophan in plasma, brainstem, ... Conversion of sH-tryptophan into serotonin in brainstem and ..."

2. Proceedings of the Society for Experimental Biology and Medicine (1903)
"Corpus striatum Midbrain brainstem t Five weeks of oral alcohol intake (see Experimental Procedures). $ None of the alcohol values were ..."

3. The Status of Efforts to Identify Persian Gulf War Syndrome edited by Christopher Shays (1999)
"Its effects would alter the behavior and cause irritation in the parts of the brainstem that are involved in adaptation of the limbic functions, ..."

4. Practical Hearing Aid Selection and Fitting by Henry Tobin (1998)
"The findings to date indicate that performance with a brainstem implant is comparable ... That is, brainstem implants provide sound awareness that supports ..."

5. The Practices and Procedures of the Investigating Services of the Deparment edited by Strom Thurmond (1998)
"Yet my brother's brainstem had been totally blown away by a shotgun blast. Any medically competent person knows that this would result in instantaneous ..."

6. Neither Created Nor Evolved: Living Joyously Without a Creator by Walter Prytulak (2001)
"This happens when an excitation of a bundle of nerve fibers, known as ascending reticular activating system (ARAS), and connecting brainstem with the ..."

7. A Lifelong Passion: Nicholas and Alexandra: Their Own Story by Andrei Maylunas (2005)
"The actions of acetylcholine, muscarine and nicotine on the membrane potential of astrocytes of cultured rat brainstem and spinal cord were examined. ..."

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