Cerebral Hemispheres

Content outline
Introduction
Review of the cranial Cavity
Morphological subdivisions of the brain The cerebrum
Integrative function s of the cerebrum
External features of the cerebrum
Cortical somatotopy
Functional areas of lobes
The Insula
Internal structure of the cerebrum
Layers of the cerebral cortex
Nerve fiber categories in the cerebrum
Applications
 The Cranial Fossae: where the brain is housed

The cranium is divided into

three regions (fossa):

1. Anterior Cranial Fossa:

house for frontal lobes.

2. Middle Cranial Fossa:

house for temporal lobes.

3. Posterior Cranial Fossa:

house for occipital lobes,
cerebellum and brain stem.
 Morphological Subdivisions of the Brain
- It is contains about one trillion cells (100 billion neurons and
900 billion neuroglial cells).
- The adult brain weight is about 1200 – 1500 g .
- The brain reaches full size about 18 year age.
- It is formed of:
1. Cerebrum:
- Is the largest part of the brain that located above the
tentorium cerebelli and orbit.
- It consists of two cerebral hemispheres connected
together by the corpus callosum.
2. Cerebellum:
- Is a large mass of brain tissue which located in the
posterior cranial fossa below the tentorium cerebelli
and behind brain stem. 5
3. Diencephalon:
- Is located between the two cerebral hemispheres and
above the midbrain.
4. Brain Stem:
- Is the part of brain located below the diencephalon and
in the front of the cerebellum.
- Is connected the cerebellum by three pairs of cerebellar
peduncles.
- Connects the two cerebral hemispheres with the spinal
cord.
- It consists of three parts, from below upwards:
a. Medulla oblongata
b. Pons
c. Midbrain
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 The Cerebrum (Cerebral Hemisphere)

Site: occupies most of cranial cavity and it is the large

part of the brain.
The cerebrum formed of two cerebral hemispheres by a
median longitudinal fissure, connected to each other by:
1. The corpus callosum.
2. Right and left cerebral peduncles: connected to
upper part of the brain stem.
3. Anterior, posterior & habenular commissures
The Commissural Fibers
The Cerebrum (Cerebral Hemisphere)
Integrative Function of the Cerebral Cortex

1. Consciousness: (brain stem-reticular formation, frontal,

temporal and deep structures of cerebrum).
2. Use of language: speech center present in frontal and
temporal lobes (in 90-95% of population the centre is
present in the left hemisphere).
3. Emotions: frontal and temporal lobes (limbic system).
4. Memory: frontal and temporal lobes
5. Orientation, thinking and intelligence: frontal lobe.
 External Features of the Cerebrum

Each cerebral hemisphere has:

Three surfaces.

Three poles.

Five borders.
 Surfaces of Each Cerebral Hemisphere

Each cerebral hemisphere has 3 surfaces:

1. Lateral (superolateral) surface.

2. Medial surface.

3. Inferior surface.
Surfaces of Each Cerebral Hemisphere
 Poles of Each Cerebral Hemisphere

Each cerebral hemisphere has 3 poles:

1. Frontal pole: at the anterior end of the frontal lobe.

2. Temporal pole: at the anterior end of the temporal lobe.

3. Occipital pole: at the posterior end of the occipital lobe.

Poles of Each Cerebral Hemisphere
 Lobes of Each Cerebral Hemisphere
The surface of each cerebral hemisphere is divided by three
main sulci or fissures into four lobes (which have been
given the names of the skull bones under which they lie).
These four lobes are:
1. The frontal.
2. The parietal.
3. The temporal.
4. The occipital.
Each surface of lobes is divided by sulci into gyri.
 The Important Sulci of Cerebral Hemisphere

• The longitudinal fissure divides the cerebrum into two

hemispheres.
• Each cerebral hemisphere is divided by sulci (grooves) into
gyri.
1. The central sulcus (Roland sulcus): it separates the
frontal lobe (in front) from parietal lobe (behind).
2. The lateral sulcus (Sylvian sulcus): between frontal
and parietal lobes (above) and temporal lobe (below).
3. The parieto-occipital sulcus: it found mainly on the
medial surface of the hemisphere between parietal and
occipital lobes.
Sulci of Each Cerebral Hemisphere
Cortical Somatotopy
Cortical Somatotopy
 The Important Sulci of Frontal Lobe

The important sulci of frontal lobe are:

1. The precentral sulcus: it present in front of the
central sulcus.
2. The superior frontal sulcus: present in front of the
precentral sulcus (superior part of the frontal lobe).
3. The inferior frontal sulcus: present in front of the
precentral sulcus (inferior part of the frontal lobe).
Sulci of Each Cerebral Hemisphere
 The Important Gyri of Frontal Lobe

1. The precentral gyrus: between the central and

precentral sulci.
2. The superior frontal gyrus: above the superior frontal
sulcus.
3. The middle frontal gyrus: between the superior and
inferior frontal sulci.
4. The inferior frontal gyrus: below the inferior frontal
sulcus.
Lobes of Each Cerebral Hemisphere
 The Important Functional Areas of the Frontal Lobe
Areas Site Function

Primary motor area (4) Precentral gyrus Voluntary motor activity of

opposite 1/2 of the body
Secondary motor Anterior part of Gives extrapyramidal fibers
(Premotor) area (6) precentral gyrus
Voluntary conjugate deviation of
Frontal eye conjugate (8) Middle frontal gyrus eyes to opposite side

Area (45) Inferior frontal gyrus in Motor center of writing.

dominant hemisphere
Brocca's area (44) Inferior frontal gyrus in Motor center of speech.
dominant hemisphere
Prefrontal Higher center of memory,
Areas(9, 10, 11 & 12) Anterior pole orientation, thinking and
intelligence
Areas of Cerebral Cortex
 The Important Sulci of Parietal Lobe

The important sulci of parietal lobe are:

1. The postcentral sulcus: it present behind the
central sulcus.
2. The intraparietal sulcus.
Sulci of Each Cerebral Hemisphere
 Important Gyri of Parietal Lobe

1. The postcentral gyrus: its the main gyrus of parietal

lobe, between the central and postcentral sulci.
2. The superior parietal gyrus: above the intraparietal
sulcus.
3. The inferior parietal gyrus: below the intraparietal
sulcus.
4. The supramarginal gyrus: small gyrus surrounding the
upper end of lateral sulcus.
5. The angular: small gyrus surrounding the upper end of
the superior temporal sulcus.
Lobes of Each Cerebral Hemisphere
 The Important Functional Areas of the Parietal Lobe
Areas Site Function

Primary sensory Post central gyrus Perception of cortical sensation

area (1,2,3) from opposite 1/2 of the body

Areas 5& 7 Superior parietal gyrus Knowing the meaning of the

sensations felt (steriognosis) in
absence of sensory loss
Angular gyrus, Surround the upper end of Visual psychic area for speech
area (39) superior temporal sulcus in (recognition of letters &
dominant hemisphere numbers).

Supramarginal Surround the upper end of Associative area and center for
gyrus, area (40) lateral sulcus complex movement.
Areas of Cerebral Cortex
 The Important Sulci of Temporal Lobe

The important sulci of temporal lobe:

1. The superior temporal sulcus: below the

lateral sulcus.

2. The inferior temporal sulcus.

 Important Gyri of Temporal Lobe

1. The superior temporal gyrus: lies between the lateral

sulcus and the superior temporal sulcus.

2. The middle temporal gyrus: lies between the superior

and inferior temporal sulcus.

3. The inferior temporal gyrus: lies below the inferior

temporal sulcus.
Lobes of Each Cerebral Hemisphere
 The Important Functional Areas of the Temporal Lobe
Areas Site Function
Primary auditory In the superior temporal Auditory sensory area
(area 41,42) gyrus

Sensory speech In the superior temporal Auditory association

area or Wernicke's lobe of dominant area (recognition &
center (area 22) hemisphere recall of sounds).

Uncus and hypocampus Uncus: sense of smell

in the medial and
inferior surface of the
Limbic system temporal lobe
Hipocampus: mood &
memory
Areas of Cerebral Cortex
 The Important Sulci of Occipital Lobe

The important sulci of occipital lobe:

1. The calcarine sulcus: lies on the medial surface
of the occipital lobe and extends backwards to
the occipital pole.
2. The lateral occipital sulcus: is a short
horizontal sulcus running on the middle of the
superolateral surface of the occipital lobe.
Sulci of the Cerebral Hemisphere
 Important Gyri of Occipital Lobe

1. The superior occipital gyrus: above the lateral

occipital sulcus.

2. The inferior occipital gyrus: below the lateral occipital

sulcus.
Lobes of Each Cerebral Hemisphere
 The Important Functional Areas of the Occipital Lobe
Areas Site Function

Primary visual sensory Posterior medial part Visual sensory area

area (17) of occipital lobe (perception of visual
(surrounds calcarine impulses)
sulcus)

Secondary (psychic) Anterior to area 17 in Visual association area

visual area (18, 19) dominant hemisphere (Recognition & recall
of image).
The Occipital Lobe
Areas of Cerebral Cortex
Areas of the Occipital Lobe
 The Insula

 The insula is a part of the cerebral cortex which is

hidden in the bottom of lateral sulcus.
 The insula is subdivided two long gyri (behind) and
3-4 short gyri (in front).
 Function of the insula: cortical taste center and
some visceral activities (e.g. salivation).
 Internal Structure of the Cerebrum

The cerebral hemispheres consists of :

1. Gray Mater (outer): composed of nerve cells
(cerebral cortex). The cells of each area has specific
functions.
2. White Mater (inner): composed of nerve fibers
conducting impulses to and from the cortex.
3. Basal Nuclei: there are several groups of nuclei
situated at various levels within the white mater.
4. Lateral Ventricle: the cavity of the cerebral
hemisphere.
Internal Structures of the Cerebral Hemispheres
 The Layers of the Cerebral Cortex

1. Molecular layer.
2. External granular layer.
3. External pyramidal layer.
4. Internal granular layer.
5. Internal pyramidal (ganglionic) layer.
6. Multiform layer.
The Layers of the Cerebral Cortex

Betz cells
 Nerve fibres in the Cerebrum

Consists of myelinated nerve fibers .

There are three types of fibers in the white mater:
1. Projection fibers: They connect the cerebral cortex
with the lower subcortical centers.
2. Association fibers: They connects different areas of
the same cerebral hemisphere .
3. Commissural fibers: They connect similar areas of
both hemispheres.
 The Projection Fibers

Definition: they are afferent and efferent fibers (tracts) of the

cerebral cortex which connect the cerebral cortex with the lower
part of the brain and spinal cord (e.g. pyramidal tract).

Types of the Projection Fibers:

1. Ascending (afferent or sensory): to the cerebral cortex
from the thalamus.
2. Descending (efferent or motor): from the cerebral
cortex to lower centers.
 The Association Fibers

Definition: they are fibers which connect the different

cortical areas in the same hemisphere.
Types of Association Fibers:
1. Short association fibers: they connect adjacent gyri
with one another.
2. Long association fibers: connect the different lobes
of the hemisphere together.
 The Commissural Fibers
Definition and function: is a band of white mater (nerve
fibers) connecting and coordinating of activates of the
right and left hemisphere.
The Commissural Fibers Include:
1. Corpus callosum.
2. Anterior commissure.
3. Posterior commissure.
4. Habenular commissure.
5. Hippocampal commissure.
The Commissural Fibers
 Internal Capsule

• It is a thick lamina of white matter made up of projection

fibers which pass to and from the cerebral cortex.
• It is continuous superiorly with the corona radiata, and
inferiorly with pedunculi of midbrain.
• Parts of Internal Capsule:
A. Anterior limb.
B. Genu.
C. Posterior limb.
Cerebral dominance
Handedness, perception of language, and 
speech are controlled by the dominant
hemisphere
Spatial perception and recognition of 
faces and music is by the nondominant
hemisphere
More than 90% of the adult population is 
right-handed meaning left hemisphere
dominant
Some applications
Lesions of the primary motor area in
one hemisphere results in the contra
lateral paralysis of the limbs
Lesions of Speech areas Broca and
Wernike
Lead to expressive and receptive aphasia
respectively; in both global aphasia
Lesions of primary somesthetic area leads
to contra lateral sensory disturbances
Contd
Lesions of the primary visual 
area leads to loss of sight in
the opposite visual field
Lesions of the primary
auditory area leads to loss
of ability to detect source of
sound