plural pontes ˈpän-ˌtēz How to pronounce pons (audio)
: a broad mass of chiefly transverse nerve fibers in the mammalian brain stem lying ventral to the cerebellum at the anterior end of the medulla oblongata see brain illustration

Examples of pons in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web In subjects unable to void brain activation was documented in the frontal lobe and posterior cingulate gyrus but not in the pons, thalamus or anterior cingulate gyrus. Ncbi Rofl, Discover Magazine, 10 July 2012 These results are interesting because the dorsal pons has previously been found to be hyperactive during migraine. Neuroskeptic, Discover Magazine, 22 May 2016 Damage to the pons can short-circuit its ability to paralyze the sleeping body. Jen Rose Smith, CNN, 10 May 2022 Damage done to the pons by neurological disorders can also affect the brain's ability to paralyze the body during sleep. Jen Rose Smith, CNN, 10 May 2022 That structure, called the pons, is located on the brainstem. Jen Rose Smith, CNN, 10 May 2022

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'pons.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, short for pons Varolii

First Known Use

1671, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of pons was in 1671

Dictionary Entries Near pons

Cite this Entry

“Pons.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pons. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.

Medical Definition

pons

noun
plural pontes ˈpän-ˌtēz How to pronounce pons (audio)
: a broad mass of chiefly transverse nerve fibers in the mammalian brain stem lying ventral to the cerebellum at the anterior end of the medulla oblongata

Biographical Definition

Pons

biographical name

ˈpänz How to pronounce Pons (audio)
ˈpōⁿs
Lily 1904–1976 American (French-born) soprano

More from Merriam-Webster on pons

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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