Library / English Dictionary

BRAINSTEM

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

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

Synonyms:

brain-stem; brain stem; brainstem

Classified under:

Nouns denoting body parts

Hypernyms ("brainstem" is a kind of...):

neural structure (a structure that is part of the nervous system)

Meronyms (parts of "brainstem"):

bulb; medulla; medulla oblongata (lower or hindmost part of the brain; continuous with spinal cord; ('bulb' is an old term for medulla oblongata))

pons; pons Varolii (a band of nerve fibers linking the medulla oblongata and the cerebellum with the midbrain)

reticular formation; RF (a complex neural network in the central core of the brainstem; monitors the state of the body and functions in such processes as arousal and sleep and attention and muscle tone)

Holonyms ("brainstem" is a part of...):

brain; encephalon (that part of the central nervous system that includes all the higher nervous centers; enclosed within the skull; continuous with the spinal cord)

Credits

 Context examples: 

An abnormal growth of the cells that comprise the tissues of the brainstem.

(Childhood Brain Stem Glioma, NCI Thesaurus)

Abnormal growth of the glial cells that comprise the brainstem.

(Brain Stem Astrocytoma, NCI Thesaurus)

Despite benign histology, symptoms can be produced due to the location: increased intracranial pressure, endocrine abnormalities, cerebellar and/or brainstem compression.

(Benign Pineal Region Neoplasm, NCI Thesaurus)

Unlike other organ systems, tumors in the central nervous system can have benign histological characteristics but still have life threatening effects due to their location within the neuraxis (e.g., brainstem gliomas).

(Benign Nervous System Neoplasm, NCI Thesaurus)

Emesis is a complex process coordinated by a central emesis center located in the lateral reticular formation of the mid-brainstem.

(Antiemetic Effect, NCI Thesaurus)

One of three pairs of nerve fiber bundles that originate from the cerebellum and link it to the brainstem.

(Cerebellar Peduncle, NCI Thesaurus)

It is caused by improper signaling from the brainstem to respiratory muscles and is triggered by either hypoventilation or hyperventilation.

(Central Sleep Apnea Syndrome, NCI Thesaurus)

This is the rarest form of brainstem tumor.

(Brain Stem Ependymoma, NCI Thesaurus)

Located at the brainstem, this sensory organ receives auditory signals from the cochlear auditory nerve fibers.

(Cochlear Nucleus, NCI Thesaurus)

A brainstem nucleus.

(Locus Coeruleus, NCI Thesaurus)