Metencephalon
Metencephalon
Metencephalon (pronunciation: met-en-sef-a-lon) is a significant part of the brain that is formed during the embryonic development of vertebrates. It is derived from the Greek words 'meta', meaning 'after', and 'encephalon', meaning 'brain'.
Etymology
The term 'Metencephalon' is derived from the Greek words 'meta', which means 'after', and 'encephalon', which means 'brain'. This term was first used in the late 19th century to describe a part of the brain that develops after the prosencephalon and mesencephalon during embryonic development.
Anatomy
The Metencephalon is composed of the pons and the cerebellum. The pons is a part of the brainstem that links the medulla oblongata and the thalamus. The cerebellum is located under the cerebrum and its primary function is to control and coordinate muscular activities.
Function
The Metencephalon plays a crucial role in maintaining balance and equilibrium, fine-tuning motor movements, and processing some types of sensory information. The pons in the Metencephalon helps in controlling sleep, respiration, swallowing, bladder control, hearing, equilibrium, taste, eye movement, facial expressions, facial sensation, and posture. The cerebellum, on the other hand, is responsible for motor control and also plays a role in cognitive functions like attention and language.
Related Terms
- Neuroanatomy: The study of the structure and organization of the nervous system.
- Brainstem: The posterior part of the brain, continuous with the spinal cord.
- Cerebrum: The largest part of the brain, associated with higher brain function such as thought and action.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Metencephalon
- Wikipedia's article - Metencephalon
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