Development of the nervous system

The developing brain is divided into three sections: prosencephalon, mesencephalon, and rhombencephalon, also known as forebrain, midbrain, and hindbrain, respectively. The prosencephalon will give rise to the telencephalon, the future cortex and basal ganglia, and the diencephalon, which will evolve into the optic cup, thalamus, hypothalamus, and mammillary bodies. The mesencephalon will become the tectum, cerebral aqueduct, red nucleus, the substantia nigra and the crus cerebri. The rhombencephalon will generate the metencephalon, the future pons and cerebellum, and the myelencephalon, which will become the medulla oblongata.