Journal of the History of the Neurosciences, 16:432–434, 2007

Copyright © Taylor & Francis Group, LLC

ISSN: 0964-704X print / 1744-5213 online
DOI: 10.1080/09647040600719013

Tapetum Corporis Callosi: Carpet of the Brain

1744-5213
0964-704X
NJHN
Journal of the History of the Neurosciences
Neurosciences, Vol. 16, No. 4, Aug 2007: pp. 0–0

LEVENT SARIKCIOGLU,1 UMUT OZSOY,1 AND

Levent Sarikcioglu et al.
Tapetum

GURAY UNVER2
1
Department of Anatomy, Akdeniz University Faculty of Medicine, Antalya-
Turkey
2
Department of Ancient Languages and Cultures, Akdeniz University Faculty of
Science and Literature, Antalya-Turkey

The tapetum is described by Johann Christian Rell (1759–1813). It is formed primarily

by decussating fibers in the splenium of the corpus callosum that arch over the atrium
of the lateral ventricle and course inferiorly in the lateral wall of the posterior, and
somewhat into the temporal horns, of the lateral ventricle. The term of tapetum was
discussed from etymological and anatomical points of view.

Keywords tapetum, corpus callosum, Johann Christian Reil

The corpus callosum is the great transverse commissure, which unites the cerebral hemi-
spheres. It has four parts: from rostral to caudal, the rostrum, genu, trunk (or body), and
splenium. The fibers of the corpus callosum radiate in the white substance and pass to the
various parts of the cerebral cortex; those curving forward from the genu into the frontal
lobe to constitute the forceps anterior, and those curving backward into the occipital lobe
forming the forceps posterior. The tapetum is formed primarily by decussating fibers in
the splenium of the corpus callosum that arch over the atrium (in the wall) of the lateral
ventricle and course inferiorly in the lateral wall of the posterior, and somewhat into the
temporal horns, of the lateral ventricle. The tapetum is immediately internal to the ependy-
mal lining of the ventricular wall and, in the posterior horn, forms an obvious fiber lamina
located immediately medial to the optic radiations in either coronal or axial planes
(Carpenter & Sutin, 1983; Crosby et al., 1962; Krieg, 1953).
Johann Christian Reil (1759–1813) was one of the most important physicians
between the end of the eighteenth and beginning of the nineteenth centuries. He published
numerous papers, amongst which is the famous “Rhapsodieen über die Anwendung der
psychischen Curmethode auf Geisteszerrüttungen“ (Veltin, 2003). In his publications, he
advocated a more humanistic treatment of the mentally ill patients and he also coined the
term “psychiatry” (Fischer, 1984; Heller, 1975). Other medical conditions or anatomical
features named after him include Reil’s finger, Beau-Reil cross furrows on the fingernails,
and the islands of Reil (insula) (Reil, 1796). He also described the tapetum corporis callosi
(Mani, 2000).

We thank the anonymous reviewers of the Journal of the History of the Neurosciences for their
constructive comments and help with manuscript.
Address correspondence to Levent Sarikcioglu, Department of Anatomy, Akdeniz University,
Faculty of Medicine, 07070 Antalya, Turkey. Tel.: +90 242 2274343, 44314. Fax: +90 242
2274482, 2274495. E-mail: sarikcioglu@akdeniz.edu.tr; sarikcioglul@yahoo.com

432
 Tapetum 433

The term tapetum has been used in several disciplines. In botany, it is used to describe
a nutritive tissue within the sporangium, particularly within an anther (Bell & Hemsley,
2000). In neuroscience, the tapetum is used to describe structures in the eye and brain. In
the eye (tapetum lucidum), it is a membranous layer or region, especially the iridescent
membrane of the choroid of certain mammals (Beard, 2004). In the brain, it is a layer of
fibers of the corpus callosum forming the upper part of the lateral ventricle (Carpenter &
Sutin, 1983; Crosby et al., 1962; Krieg, 1953).
From etymological point of view, the term “tapetum” is derived from a Greek name,
; t:ph", hto" which means carpet. The Greek name, ; t:ph", hto", converted into the
Latin alphabet as “tapes, etis, m” (Lewis & Short, 1879) by transliteration. Although it is
originally a masculine name, its feminine and neutral forms have also been used in the
literature. Its feminine form “tapeta, ae, f” was used by Ennius1 in the third century B.C.
The plural nominative case of the “tapete, is, n” is regular as “tapetia” or in less frequency
“tappetia.”2 The plural nominative case of the “tapes, etis, m” is “tapetes.” Therefore, plu-
ral nominative “tapeta” had to be derived just from the nominative name “tapetum, i, n.”
According to Latin Literature, the singular form of the Latin word, “tapetum, i, n,” is not
used in classical Latin Language except for the classical commentary written by Maurus
Servius Honoratus.3 Additionally, the plural form of “tapetum, i, n” is used as “tapeta,
orum, n” with singular meaning (this type of words is termed plurale tantum in latin syn-
taxis). The tapetum is used with singular meaning in neuroscience terminology, although
it is used as plural form in the Latin Language.
From anatomical point of view, the tapetum has been referred to as a unique part of
the corpus callosum. Several parts of the brain should be named as tapetum if it is consid-
ered as carpet. For instance, the floor of the inferior cornu of the lateral ventricle is formed
by hippocampus. The hippocampus is one of a group of structures forming the limbic sys-
tem and is a part of the hippocampal formation. It is located in the medial temporal lobe
inferior to the choroidal fissure and temporal horn. The main mass of the hippocampus
consists of gray substance, but on its ventricular surface there is a thin white layer, the
alveus, which continues with the fimbria hippocampi (Carpenter & Sutin, 1983; Crosby
et al., 1962; Krieg, 1953). Therefore, this thin layer might be termed as tapetum, tapetum
hippocampi, or tapetum minor, etc.

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1
Q. Ennius, Incerta fragmenta nr.38; “remorbescat tapetae dico qui hunc dicare.”
2
T. Maccius Plautus Pseudolus, I,2, 14; “… ut né peristromáta quidem aeque pícta sint
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qui forte tapetibus altis exstructus . declinatur et Graece, ; t:ph", to< t:phto" unde est pulchrosque
tapetas to=" t:phta" ”
434 Levent Sarikcioglu et al.

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