- brainstem, brain-stem, brain stem - the part of the brain continuous with the spinal cord and comprising the medulla oblongata and pons and midbrain and parts of the hypothalamus
--1 is a kind of neural structure
--1 is a part of brain, encephalon
--1 has parts:medulla oblongata, medulla, bulb; pons, pons Varolii; reticular formation, RF