Which brain vesicle gives rise to the midbrain?

Which brain vesicle gives rise to the midbrain?

• A. Prosencephalon
• B. Mesencephalon
• C. Rhombencephalon
• D. Spinal cord

Answer: (B)

The midbrain arises from the middle primary brain vesicle, the mesencephalon. In early neural development the neural tube forms three primary vesicles: prosencephalon (forebrain), mesencephalon (midbrain), and rhombencephalon (hindbrain). As development proceeds, the prosencephalon splits into the telencephalon and diencephalon, while the rhombencephalon splits into the metencephalon and myelencephalon. The mesencephalon, however, remains as the midbrain and does not subdivide into secondary vesicles. The spinal cord comes from neural tissue caudal to these vesicles, not from a brain vesicle. So the midbrain is derived from the mesencephalon.

The midbrain arises from the middle primary brain vesicle, the mesencephalon. In early neural development the neural tube forms three primary vesicles: prosencephalon (forebrain), mesencephalon (midbrain), and rhombencephalon (hindbrain). As development proceeds, the prosencephalon splits into the telencephalon and diencephalon, while the rhombencephalon splits into the metencephalon and myelencephalon. The mesencephalon, however, remains as the midbrain and does not subdivide into secondary vesicles. The spinal cord comes from neural tissue caudal to these vesicles, not from a brain vesicle. So the midbrain is derived from the mesencephalon.