Você está na página 1de 58

Cortex cerebri

(anatomy, histology, function)

THE CEREBRAL CORTEX


The cerebral cortex is the outer grey
substance of the hemispheres. Pallium is
the term for the grey- and the underlying
thin white substance.
The neocortex and allocortex differ.
The surface displays convolutions (gyri)
and separating sulci, which have names.
The pallium is divided into lobes: frontal-,
parietal-, occipital- and temporal lobes.
The tips of the lobes: frontal pole,
temporal pole, occipital pole.

Allocortex
This term collectively describes the nonneocortical areas, which are phylogenetically
older than the neocortex.
The allocortical areas are on the medial
surface/rim of the cerebral hemisphere.
The allocortical areas build two large
systems: the rhinencephalon and the limbic
lobe.
The rhinencephalon participates in olfactory
functions. The limbic lobe participates in
complex memory functions (mainly spatial
memory).

LOBES
1: sulcus lateralis

2: incisura occipitalis; 3: sulcus centralis

B: Broca area

1: sulcus centralis; 2: sulcus parietooccipitalis; 3: incisura occipitalis

Other structures on the medial surface: the paracentral lobule (in frontaland parietal parietalis lobes), the precuneus (parietal lobe), and the cuneus
(occipital lobe). 1: sulcus centralis; 2: sulcus calcarinus;
3: polus temporalis. Area subcallosa: black lines. Isth: isthmus gyri cinguli.

Frontal lobe

Central sulcus separates from the parietal lobe.


Precentral gyrus
Superior frontal gyrus
Middle frontal gyrus
Inferior frontal gyrus
Sulcus olfactorius (olfactory bulb and tract)
Gyrus rectus (straight gyrus)
Gyri orbitales

Functions of the frontal lobe


Primary somatomotor cortex: gyrus precentralis (Br.
4).
Supplementary motor area: gyrus frontalis superior
(Br. 6). Coordinates bimanual movements.
Frontal eye field (Br. 8): superior and middle frontal
gyri.
Broca-area (motor speech area): gyrus frontalis
inferior, posterior part (Br. 44, 45). Motor language
skills and mathematical abilities.
Prefrontal cortex (Br. 9, 10, 11, 12, 46): human
personality personal remembering, recognition of
our own personality, motivation and attention. The
prefrontal cortex is connected to the medial thalamic
nuclei (DM).

Brodmann areas (Korbinian


Brodmann, 1909)

Broca area (inferior frontal gyrus - operculum frontale) and Wernicke area
(the posterior part of the superior temporal gyrus). A small part of the
auditory neocortex is also visible (dotted). Arrow: central sulcus.

Gyrus postcentralis

Gyrus precentralis

Larynx representation in the precentral gyrus

Activation of structures in glottis


adduction and phonation:
1. Frontal lobe
(suppl. motor area SMA)
2. Frontal and temporal lobes
(STG: gyrus temporalis superior)
3. Putamen (striatum)
4. Cerebellum: neocerebellum
Brown et al, 2008.
Cerebral Cortex 18: 837-845.

Parietal lobe (superolateral


surface)
Postcentral gyrus
Postcentral sulcus
Intraparietal sulcus superior parietal
lobule, inferior parietal lobule
Supramarginal gyrus
Angular gyrus
Angular and supramarginal gyri are
parts of the inferior parietal lobule

Parietal lobe functions


Primary somatosensory area: gyrus
postcentralis (Br. 3, 1, 2). Afferents come
from the VPL and VPM thalamic nuclei.
Secondary somatosensory area: lobulus
parietalis inferior (Br. 40). Localization of
body scheme.
Parietal association cortex (Br. 5, 7, 39, 40):
recognizing our body parts and
surroundings through touching;
coordinating touch and visual information
(astereognosia: patient is unable to
recognize objects with touch).

Broca area (inferior frontal gyrus - operculum frontale) and Wernicke area
(the posterior part of the superior temporal gyrus). A small part of the
auditory neocortex is also visible (dotted). Arrow: central sulcus.

Brodmann areas (Korbinian


Brodmann, 1909)

1,3: lateral sulcus,


upper tip;
2: sulcus temporalis
sup. upper tip.

Hemispheria from above


with gyri, sulci and some
Brodmann-areas

Occipital lobe
The parietooccipital sulcus separates it from the
parietal lobe (the sulcus is seen on the medial
surface).
The main structure is the calcarine sulcus (seen on
the medial surface), which commences at the
occipital pole, and joins to the parietooccipital
sulcus. The two sulci surround a triangular area: the
cuneus. The cuneus is part of the occipital lobe.
The gyrus beneath the calcarine sulcus is the lingual
gyrus.
On the superolateral surface of the hemisphere, the
occipital lobe is characterized by short gyri: the
occipital gyri.

Occipital lobe functions


Area striata (Br. 17): primary visual cortex.
The representation of fovea centralis is 80%
of this area.
Area parastriata (Br. 18): secondary visual
area.
Regio peristriata (Br. 19): occipital
association cortex.
Afferents come in optic radiation
(geniculocalcarine tract) from the lateral
geniculate body.
Injury: hemianopsia (half of the visual field is
lost), psychic blindness (not recognizing the
observed object), achromatopsy (colors are
not recognized).

1,3: lateral sulcus,


upper tip;
2: sulcus temporalis
sup. upper tip.

Hemispheria from above


with gyri, sulci and some
Brodmann-areas

Brodmann areas (Korbinian


Brodmann, 1909)

Occipital lobe was cut through the calcarine sulcus:


striate cortex and the optic radiation are visible
medial

Cc

posterior

Radiatio optica

Lateral ventricle

17
Sulcus calcarinus

IV
GennariGennari-stripe

17

18

Temporal lobe I.
This lobe is separated from the parietal and
frontal lobes by the lateral sulcus. This is the
longest sulcus, commences above the temporal
pole and ends at the supramarginal gyrus.
The superolateral surface displays three gyri:
superior-, middle- and inferior temporal gyrus.
On this surface, its border towards the occipital
lobe is not marked (the preoccipital notch is a
slight curving on the lateral contour of the
hemisphere).
The superior temporal gyrus has a hidden
surface towards the lateral sulcus. This surface
presents the transverse temporal gyri (Heschlgyri).

Temporal lobe II.


The inferior surface of the temporal lobe has the
occipitotemporal gyri (lateral and medial) and
the parahippocampal gyrus.
The sulcus collateralis borders the
parahippocampal gyrus on the lateral side.
The anterior tip of the parahippocampal gyrus is
a hook-like small convolution: the uncus.
The parahippocampal gyrus is most medial its
continuation is the hippocampus and dentate
gyrus are not visible on a half-brain. The
hippocampus can be dissected through
opening the inferior horn of the lateral ventricle.

Brodmann areas (Korbinian


Brodmann, 1909)

Temporal neocortex function I.


Primary auditory (Br. 41): Heschl-gyri on the
superior surface of the superior temporal gyrus.
Secondary auditory (Br. 42): horseshoe-shaped area
around the Heschl-gyri.
Association auditory: Br. 22, middle part of the
superior temporal gyrus.
Wernicke-area: posterior part of the superior
temporal gyrus (Br. 22). Understanding of speech,
sensory language center.
Afferents come from the medial geniculate body:
acustic radiation.
Unilateral auditory cortex lesion rarely causes
symptoms, because the the two side are
overrepresented (multiple crossings). Large lesion:
deafness.

Temporal neocortex functions II.


Br. 21, 20, 36, 37: gyrus temporalis medius,
inferior, gyrus fusiformis are association
areas, which transform auditory and visual
information into a personal memory. Such
memories: recognizing faces, recognizing
persons and objects. Not only recognizing
but also verbal-speech definition (saying
names).
Deficit: prosopagnosia (loss of face
recognition) occurs after lesions of the
fusiform gyrus. Similarly, problems can arise
with object recognition and naming.

STRONG ACTIVATION
OF MEDIAL, INFERIOR
TEMPORAL LOBE DURING
VISUAL MEMORY TASK:
HIPPOCAMPUS, GYRUS
PARAHIPPOCAMPALIS,
GYRUS FUSIFORMIS.
(Brewer et al, Science,
Vol. 281, 1998.)

Gyri orbitales
Bulbus, tractus
olfactorius

Gyrus rectus
Polus temporalis

Phi: gyrus
parahippocampalis
Spl: splenium
corporis callosi

Mesencephalon

INFERIOR SURFACE

List of the important Brodmann areas:


(Brodmann, 1909)
Br. 3, 1, 2: somatosensory area
(gyrus postcentralis)
Br. 4: primary motor cortex (gyrus
precentralis)
Br. 6: premotor area (gyrus frontalis
superior, medius posterior parts)
Br. 17, 18, 19: lobus occipitalis (visual)
Br. 41, 42: auditory (gyrus temporalis
superior and Heschl-gyri)
Br. 44, 45: Broca area
Br. 22 posterior part: Wernicke area

Brodmann areas (Korbinian


Brodmann, 1909)

WHITE MATTER ANATOMY:


1. Fibrae arcuatae
2. Fasciculus long. sup.
3. Fasciculus long. inf.
4. Fasciculus uncinatus
5. Fasciculus arcuatus
6. Cingulum

CORPUS CALLOSUM:
1. Rostrum
2. Genu
3. Truncus
4. Splenium
5. Forceps major (posterior)
6. Forceps minor (anterior)
COMMISSURA ANTERIOR
COMMISSURA POSTERIOR

ARCUATE FIBERS AND CINGULUM DEPICTED IN HUMAN BRAIN:


BOTH ARE ASSICIATION FIBER TRACTS.
35

Two commissural tracts: the corpus callosum (1) and


the anterior commissure (2).
36

Blood supply of the cerebral


cortex
Anterior cerebral artery (ACA) supplies
the medial surface.
Middle cerebral artery (MCA) supplies the
superolateral surface (the branches come
from the lateral sulcus).
Posterior cerebral artery (PCA) supplies
the occipital lobe and the inferior surface.
The borders between the supply areas are
distinct. These are end-arteries, therefore
the borders are sensitive to circulatory
decrease.

The superficial branches of the MCA


supplying the cerebral cortex

The branches of the MCA


follow in regular order.
The precentral and
postcentral gyri have a
common branch (a. sulci
centralis). The circulation
in these branches may
decrease, therefore the
symptoms may reflect
the problem of one single
gyrus. On the other hand,
the arteries overlap
(source: Grays Anatomy).

The branches of the ACA on the medial surface. These branches


also supply a medial strip of the superolateral surface.

Branches of PCA
on the inferior
surface. These
branches also
supply a narrow
strip of the temporal
superolateral
surface (inferior
temporal gyrus).
The occipital lobe
is supplied, too.

The veins of the cerebral cortex


On superolateral surface: vv. superiores cerebri
superior sagittal sinus; vv. inferiores cerebri
transverse sinus; spfc. middle cerebral vein
sphenoparietal sinus. Superior anastomotic
vein (Trolard); inferior anastomotic vein (Labb).
Veins on the inferior and medial surfaces:
discharge partly into superior sagittal sinus,
partly into transverse and sigmoid sinuses.
Vena cerebri magna (great cerebral vein of
Galen) into the straight sinus. Basal vein
(Rosenthal) a branch of the great cerebral vein
(together with internal cerebral vein discharge
into great cerebral vein).

Superficial veins on the superolateral surface

Superficial veins on the medial and inferior surfaces

Strong decrease of local circulation (hypoxia)


causes neuronal damage and death in the
cerebral cortex.
Consequence of hypoxia in neocortex

Normal neocortex

From: Greenfields neuropathology

Identify the structures


on the MRI image !

Other than numbered


structures:
Cingulate gyrus
Paracentral lobule
Straight gyrus
Parietooccipital sulcus
Cuneus
Calcarine sulcus

Histology of the cerebral cortex


The neocortex is layered: six layers are generally distinguished.
Between the layers myelinated axon bundles are running: the innerand outer stripe of Baillarger. The primary visual cortex has a thick
outer Baillarger-band: known as the stripe of Gennari.
The first layer contains only few neurons: this layer is mainly
characterized by dendritic- and axonal branches and synapses.
Other layers are rich in nerve cells.
Two main types of neurons are present: pyramidal cells and nonpyramidal cells. The pyramidal cells are the projection neurons of
the neocortex. Most of the non-pyramidal cells are inhibitory
interneurons. The exact number of neuronal types in the human
neocortex is not known: more than 10 and less than 50 are
estimated.
The thickness of the single layers differs from area to area: the
thickness depends on the number of cells in the layer.
The size of the neurons is different, too. Pyramidal cells are
generally larger than interneurons.
These two features (amongst others) were used by Brodmann to
map the neocortex and distinguish cytologically different areas.
It turned out decades later, than the cytological differences reflected
the functional differences of the neocortical areas.

NEURONS IN LAYERS II-III OF THE NEOCORTEX

II

III

NONNON-PYRAMIDAL CELLS

PYRAMIDAL CELLS

Sulcus calcarinus
I
II
III
IV
V
VI

White matter

Human visual cortex

Columnar organisation of the


cortex: columns
are
1. embryological,
2. physiological,
3. histological
units.
The latter is
defined by the
arborization of
thalamocortical
afferent fibers.
Size: 200 m600 m

Cells in the cerebral cortex. A: astrocyte; B: horizontal


neuron; C: pyramidal cells; D: Martinotti-cell; E: stellate
cell; F: fusiform cell.
The pyramidal cells in layer V are surrounded by
GABAergic axons (perisomatic synapses basket cells).
P

P
P

The giant pyramidal cells of Betz


(area gigantocellularis; Br. 4) in the human
precentral gyrus. The number of Betz-cells is
approx. 80 000. The size is 100 m, or bigger.
These are the upper motor neurons impinging on
spinal cord Deiters-cells (lower motor neurons).

Human pyramidal neurons in the hippocampus


(Golgi-silver stain)

GABAergic neurons in the human precentral gyrus

I
II

III

IV

Parvalbumin immunfests

GABAergic neurons in the precentral gyrus (human)

HIGH CONCENTRATION OF IONOTROPIC GLUTAMATE RECEPTORS


IN THE HIPPOCAMPUS

THE END

Você também pode gostar