Schematic internal structure

  • Within the cerebral hemisphere, fibre tracts connects together different areas of the cerebral cortex
  • Origin: medium-size and small pyramidal cells of the cerebral cortex
  • Trajectory: within the subcortical white matter
  • Two types of tracts:

Intrahemispheric tracts

Classicaly described tracts:

  • Cingulum
    • Origin: inferior frontal lobe and anterior perforated substance
    • Pathway: into the depth of the cingulate gyrus
    • Distribution: occipital lobe (superior fibres) and temporal lobe (inferior fibres)
    • Linked to olfactory tracts
  • Superior longitudinal fasciculus
    • Large
    • Origin: inferior frontal lobe
    • Distribution: occipital and temporal lobes
  • Inferior longitudinal fasciculus
    • Origin: temporal lobe
    • Distribution: occipital lobe
  • Uncinate fasciculus
    • Court
    • Origin: orbital surface of the frontal lobe
    • Distribution: temporal lobe (near the amygdaloid body)
  • Occipitofrontal fasciculus
    • Origin: frontal lobe (anterior part)
    • Trajetctory: along the lateral side of the lateral ventricle
    • Distribution: inferior parts of occipital and temporal lobes