brain stem

noun

: the part of the brain composed of the midbrain, pons, and medulla oblongata and connecting the spinal cord with the forebrain and cerebrum

Examples of brain stem in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Two men have been charged with murder in the drive-by shooting of an 18-year-old who was struck in the brain stem and died seven hours later, court records show. Jakob Rodgers, The Mercury News, 17 Oct. 2024 This sudden pain may result from irritation to the glossopharyngeal nerve (one of the four cranial nerves), which runs from the brain stem through the tonsils and along your ears. Sarah Hudgens, Health, 5 Oct. 2024 This means an impulse originating from the left side of the brain crosses over to the right side of the brain stem. Bryant Stamford, The Courier-Journal, 2 May 2024 Determining causality is a heavy lift, but no one with a functioning brain stem believes that more people watched the 2000 season because Miller was better at calling football than John Earl Madden. Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 10 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for brain stem 

Word History

First Known Use

1874, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of brain stem was in 1874

Dictionary Entries Near brain stem

Cite this Entry

“Brain stem.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/brain%20stem. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

brain stem

noun
: the back and lower part of the brain including the midbrain and medulla oblongata

Medical Definition

brain stem

noun
: the part of the brain composed of the midbrain, pons, and medulla oblongata and connecting the spinal cord with the forebrain and cerebrum

More from Merriam-Webster on brain stem

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!