encephalon

en·ceph·a·lon  (n-sf-ln)

n. pl. en·ceph·a·la (-l)

The brain of a vertebrate.

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[Greek enkephalon, from neuter of enkephalos, in the head; see encephalo-.]

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en·cepha·lous adj.

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encephalon [ɛnˈsɛfəˌlɒn]

n pl -la [-lə]

(Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Anatomy) a technical name for brain

[from New Latin, from Greek enkephalos brain (literally: that which is in the head), from en-² + kephalē head]

encephalous  adj

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

encephalon - that part of the central nervous system that includes all the higher nervous centers; enclosed within the skull; continuous with the spinal cord brain circle of Willis - a ring of arteries at the base of the brain arteria communicans, communicating artery - any of three arteries in the brain that make up the circle of Willis neural structure - a structure that is part of the nervous system brain cell - a nerve cell in the brain central nervous system, CNS, systema nervosum centrale - the portion of the vertebrate nervous system consisting of the brain and spinal cord neencephalon, neoencephalon - the part of the brain having the most recent phylogenetic origin; the cerebral cortex and related parts forebrain, prosencephalon - the anterior portion of the brain; the part of the brain that develops from the anterior part of the neural tube mesencephalon, midbrain - the middle portion of the brain hindbrain, rhombencephalon - the posterior portion of the brain including cerebellum and brainstem brain stem, brain-stem, brainstem - the part of the brain continuous with the spinal cord and comprising the medulla oblongata and pons and midbrain and parts of the hypothalamus ventricle - one of four connected cavities in the brain; is continuous with the central canal of the spinal cord and contains cerebrospinal fluid head, caput - the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains; "he stuck his head out the window"