What is "rhinencephala"

Rhinencephalon \Rhi`nen*ceph"a*lon\ (r[imac]`n[e^]n*s[e^]f"[.a]*l[o^]n), n.; pl. Rhinencephala (r[imac]`n[e^]n*s[e^]f"[.a]*l[.a]). [NL., fr. Gr. "ri`s, "rino`s, the nose + 'egke`falos the brain.] (Anat.) The division of the brain in front of the prosencephalon, consisting of the two olfactory lobes from which the olfactory nerves arise.

Note: The term is sometimes used for one of the olfactory lobes, the plural being used for the two taken together.

n. (plural of rhinencephalon English)

1. n. a center in the cerebral hemispheres that governs the sense of smell in lower animals; in humans it seems to mediate complex emotional behavior [syn: olfactory brain]

2. [also: rhinencephala (pl)]

See rhinencephalon