Rhombencephalon

Rhombencephalon or hindbrain is the posterior (caudal) part of the brain that, in the human embryo, forms from the posterior primary brain vesicle (the myelencephalon and metencephalon). It includes the pons, medulla oblongata, and cerebellum. Together they support vital bodily processes.

Structure

The rhombencephalon can be subdivided in a variable number of transversal swellings called rhombomeres. In the human embryo eight rhombomeres can be distinguished, from caudal to rostral: Rh8-Rh1. Rh1 and Rh2 form the medulla oblongata, and Rh3 and Rh4 form the pons. The rest form the cerebellum.

Development

The alar plate of the rhombencephalon expands to form the cerebellum. Its basal plate becomes the pons and the medulla oblongata. The rhombencephalon gives rise to the structure of the brainstem, controlling autonomic functions and connecting the brain to the body.

Clinical significance

Damage to the structures of the rhombencephalon can lead to a number of functional deficits and disorders, including loss of balance and motor skills, dizziness, and swallowing difficulties.

See also

• Myelencephalon
• Metencephalon
• Brainstem
• Cerebellum
• Pons
• Medulla oblongata

References

Rhombencephalon Resources
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