Histology of
Cerebral Cortex
Prof. Sahar Khalil Abdelgawad
Prof. of Histology FOM/SCU
ILOs:
At the end of the lecture, each student can:
➢Describe the L.M structure of the cerebral cortex,
➢Relate the structure of the cerebral cortex to its function,
➢Draw a section in the cerebral cortex
Central Nervous system
❑Brain:
▪ Cerebrum (Cerebral cortex),
▪ Cerebellum,
▪ Brain Stem.
❑Spinal Cord
Structure of the cerebral cortex
▪ The cerebral cortex forms a complete covering of the cerebral hemispheres.
▪ It is formed of
Gray matter (superficial), folded into many gyri and sulci (nerve cells, nerve fibers, neuroglia & B.V.)
▪ It’s thickness: 1.5 : 4.5 mm.
▪ It is responsible for:
The higher-level processes of the human brain:
✓ Memory
✓ Language
✓ Learning
✓ Information analysis
✓ Decision-making
✓ Initiation of motor response
The L.M structure of the cerebral cortex
Cells of the cerebral cortex
Pyramidal cells.
Stellate (granule) cells.
Fusiform cells.
Horizontal cells of Cajal.
Cells of Martinotti.
Cells of the cerebral cortex
The Pyramidal cells:
- Shape: pyramidal (10-50 µm),
Betz cells (giant pyramidal cells)
- Axon: arise from the base of the cell body.
- Dendrites: * apical dendrites (collateral branches),
* basal dendrites (pass laterally in the neuropil).
The Stellate (granule) cells:
- Shape: polygonal (8 µm),
- Axon: short & terminate on a nearby neuron.
- Dendrites: multiple branching.
Cells of the cerebral cortex
The Fusiform cells:
- Shape: spindle-shape, vertically located mainly in the deepest cortical
layers
- Axon: arise from the inf. Part of the cell body.
- Dendrites: * superficial dendrite (ascends toward the cortical surface),
* inferior dendrite (branch within the same cellular layer).
The Horizontal cells of Cajal:
- Shape: spindle-shape, small, horizontally located in the 1st layer of the
cortex.
- Axon: short & terminate on a nearby neuron.
- Dendrites: multiple branching.
Cells of the cerebral cortex
The Cells of Martinotti :
- Shape: multipolar, small, located present in all cortical layers.
- Axon: directed to the superficial cortical (pial) surface.
- Dendrites: short dendrites.
Layers of the cerebral cortex:
• Six layers arranged from superficial to deep order.
• Most superficial (first) layer is deep to pia matter,
• Deepest (sixth) layer is bordered by white matter of the cerebrum.
Layers of the cerebral cortex:
• These layers are designated by Roman numerals, and
from superficial (at the pial surface) to deep:
Layer I (Molecular layer): Contains mainly tangential nerve fibers,
neuroglia and a few horizontal cells of Cajal .
Layer II (External granular layer): Composed of a varying density
stellate (granular) cells and small pyramidal cells
Layer III (External pyramidal layer): Contains predominantly
pyramidal cells (medium pyramidal cells superficially and larger
deeper). Their dendrites pass to the 1st layer, while their axons enter
the white matter.
Layers of the cerebral cortex:
Layer IV (Internal granular layer): It is usually the narrowest
layer. Consists mostly of the stellate (granular) cells, with a band of
tangential fibers called the external band of Ballarger.
Layer V (Internal pyramidal layer): Contains mainly medium-
sized to very large pyramidal (Betz) cells. Their apical dendrites
reach 1st layer, their axons pass to the white matter forming the
pyramidal tracts.
Scattered among the pyramidal cells are cells of Martinotti. In
addition, a large number of horizontally arranged fibers form the
Inner band of Ballarger.
Layer VI (Multiform layer): Composed mostly of fusiform cells
with less dominant pyramidal cells and cells of Martinotti. Many
nerve fibers that entering or leaving the underlying white matter.
The nerve fibers of the cerebral cortex Tangential
fibers
A) Perpendicular to the cortical surface and
called Radial fibers (afferent & efferent).
B) Parallel to the cortical surface:
• Tangential fibers: in the 1st layer tangential
to the surface.
• Outer band of Billarger: in the outer part of
the internal granular layer.
• Inner band of Billarger: in the inner part of
the internal pyramidal layer.
Six layers of cerebral cortex (from superficial to deep)
Molecular layer
External granular layer
External pyramidal layer
Internal granular layer
Internal pyramidal layer
Multiform layer
Cerebral cortex layers
Golgi Nissl Weigert
with different stains
Identify?
