Pons
/pɒnz/noun
A broad band of nerve fibers in the brainstem that connects the cerebrum, cerebellum, and medulla.
Did you know?The anatomical term pons was popularized through the phrase pons Varolii, named after 16th-century Italian anatomist Costanzo Varolio, who described the structure in detail.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*penths
“A way, passage, or route across”
Proto-Italic
Proto-Italic
*ponts
“A bridge or crossing structure”
Ancient Latin
Latin
pons
“Bridge; a structure for crossing over water or a gap”
Classical Latin
Latin
pons Varoliī
“Varolio’s bridge, a term for the brainstem structure”
16th Century
Medical Latin
pons
“A bridge-like anatomical structure”
17th Century
English
pons
“The bridge-shaped part of the brainstem”