Cerebral sulcus

Cerebral Sulcus

The cerebral sulcus (plural: cerebral sulci), also known as a brain sulcus, is a depression or groove in the cerebral cortex. It surrounds a gyrus (plural: gyri), creating the characteristic folded appearance of the brain in humans and other mammals.

Anatomy

Cerebral sulci are part of the larger structure of the cerebral cortex, which is the outer layer of neural tissue of the cerebrum of the brain in humans and other mammals. The cerebral cortex plays a key role in memory, attention, perception, cognition, awareness, thought, language, and consciousness.

The cerebral sulci, along with the gyri, increase the amount of cerebral cortex that can fit in the skull. This increased surface area allows for higher function and thought processes.

Classification

Cerebral sulci are classified into complete and incomplete sulci. Complete sulci are those that are formed during the fetal period, while incomplete sulci are formed after birth.

Major Sulci

There are several major sulci of the brain, including the central sulcus, the lateral sulcus, and the parieto-occipital sulcus. Each of these sulci separates different lobes of the brain and has a different function.

Clinical Significance

Changes in the cerebral sulci are often used as markers for brain atrophy and can be indicative of various neurological and psychiatric diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease, schizophrenia, and major depressive disorder.

See Also

• Gyrus
• Cerebral cortex
• Cerebrum
• Central sulcus
• Lateral sulcus
• Parieto-occipital sulcus