Cerebral White Matter

SULAIMON, F.A
B.Sc., ,M.Sc. (in view)
Outline
• Introduction
• Fibres of the white matter
• Corpus callosum
• Internal capsule
• Applied anatomy
Cerebral white matter
• Cerebral white matter
consists of fibres which
run in various
directions.

• These fibres include

the axons of pyramidal
and fusiformcells as
well as fibres of
thalamic radiation.

• The fibres can be

classified as
association,
commissural, and
projection fibres
Association fibres
• The association
fibers arise from
nearby and distant
regions of the same
hemisphere. They
project diffusely in
all laminae but
mostly in laminae I
to III.

• They are classified as

long and short
association fibres
Short association fibres
• They connect adjacent
gyri with one another,
in each hemisphere.

• They may be confined

to the cortex.

• Cross the depth of the

sulci of the hemisphere.

• they are derived from

axons of small
pyramidal cells
Long association fibres
• They form bundles that link
distant regions of the same
hemisphere.
• They are derived from axon of
small and medium pyramidal
cells.
• The long association fiber
system includes such bundles
as the cingulum, superior
longitudinal fasciculus, arcuate
fasciculus, inferior longitudinal
fasciculus, occipitofrontal
fasciculus, and the uncinate
fasciculus.
Cingulum
• It is a curved bundle of
fibres with an upward
convexity.
• The cingulum is the white
matter core of the cingulate
gyrus. It connects the
anterior perforated
substance and the
parahippocampal gyrus.
• Commences below the
rostrum of corpus callosum,
it then passes upwards and
backwards.
Superior longitudinal fasciculus
• It is located in the lateral part
of the hemisphere above the
insula.
• connects portions of the
frontal lobe with parietal,
occipital, and temporal lobes.
• Commences in the frontal
lobe, passes backwards
through the parietal and
occipital lobes, from which it
turns downwards and
forward.
Inferior longitudinal
• it is a thin sheet of fibers
that runs superficially
beneath the lateral and
ventral surfaces of the
temporal and occipital
lobes.
• Consists of fibres which are
mostly derived from area
18 and 19 of the occipital
cortex. These passes into
the temporal lobe where
they terminates.
Occipitofrontal fasciculus
• Commences in the
frontal pole and then
passes backward into
the occipital and
temporal poles.

• It lies in deep to the

corona radiata and
longitudinal fasciculus
Uncinate fasciculus
• It is a U-shaped
bundle of fibres
which crosses the
stem of the lateral
sulcus.
• Connects the
orbitofrontal cortex
and Broca’s speech
area with the
temporal lobe.
Commissural fibres
• Crosses the midline
transversely as they
connect homotypic and
heterotypic regions of the
hemisphere.

• Are derived from axons of

the pyramidal cells.

• Include corpus callosum,

anterior commissure and
commissure of the fornix.
Corpus callosum
• It is the largest
commissural bundle.
• It connects
corresponding areas
of all the lobes of the
hemisphere.
• It is about 10cm in
length.
• It is located in the
depth of the
longitudinal fissure.
Relations of the corpus callosum

• Above;
Anterior cerebral arteries
Indusium griseum
Cingulate gyri
Falx cerebri
Inferior saggital sinus

• Below
Lateral ventricle(roof)
Parts of the corpus callosum

• Rostrum
• Genu
• Trunk
• splenium
Rostrum
• It is directed
posteroinferiorly from the
genu.

• It forms the floor of the

anterior horn of the
lateral ventricle.

• Contains fibres which

connect the orbitofrontal
cortices of the two
hemispheres.
 Genu
• It is located about 4cm behind
the frontal pole.
• Forms the anterior wall of the
anterior horn of each lateral
ventricle.
• Contains fibres which connects
the medial and lateral surfaces
of the two hemispheres, which
constitute the forcep minor
Trunk
• Stretches across the midline
between the genu and the
splenium.
• It is located in the depth of the
longitudinal fissure.
• Forms the roof of the central
part of the anterior horn of
the lateral ventricles.
• Contains commissural fibres
which intersect the fibres of
the corona radiata. These
fibres form the callosal
radiation.
splenium
• It is the thickest and the most
posterior part of corpus
callosum.

• It is located about 6cm

anterior to the occipital pole.

• Contains commissural fibres

which connect the occipital
lobes, these fibres curve
backwards and medially as
they cross the midline,
thereby forming the forceps
major
Anterior commissure
• located in the midsagittal
section between the
lamina terminalis and the
column of the fornix.

• It is located about 2cm

above the optic chiasma.

• Interconnects the
olfactory bulbs with the
middle and inferior
temporal lobes.
Hippocampal commissure
• Transverse bundle of fibres that
links the two crura of fornix.

• Lies below the trunk of corpus

callosum.

• Connects the hippocampal

formations of the two hemispheres.
Projection fibres
• They are relatively long fibres that
leave the cortex for subcortical
region.
• Fibres of the thalamic radiation also
transverse the cerebral white matter
to reach the cortex (afferent
projection).
• They include large numbers of both
corticofugal and corticopetal
projections
Corona radiata
• Consists of projection
fibres that fan out
towards the cerebral
cortex from the corpus
striatum.

• Located deep to the long

association fibres except
the occipito-frontal
fasciculus.

• It is continuous below
with fibres of the internal
capsule; it fans out above
into the cerebral cortex
Internal capsule
• It is an angulated compact
band of nerve fibres with a
medial convexity.
• It is made up of
corticopetal and
corticofugal projection
fibres.
• It is continuous with the
corona radiata and the
crus cerebri of the
midbrain.
Relating structures of the internal capsule
• Anteromedially;
head of caudate
nucleus
• Posteromedially;
thalamus
• Laterally; lentiform
nucleus
• It lies lateral to the
subthalamus
Parts of internal capsule
• Anterior limb
• Genu
• Posterior limb
• Retrolentiform part
• Sublentiform part
Anterior limb
• It is located between the
lentiform and the head of the
caudate nuclei.
• It contains;
Frontopontine fibres (frontal
cotex- pontine nuclei).
Anterior thalamic
radiation(anterior-cingulate
gyrus, mediodorsal nuclei-
prefrontal cortex )
Genu
• It is located medial to the
apex of the lentiform
nucleus.
• It links the anterior and
posterior limb of the
internal capsule
• It contains ;
Corticonuclear fibres
Corticospinal fibres
The most anterior fibres
of the superior thalamic
radiation.
Posterior limb
• It is located between the
lentiform nucleus and the
thalamus.
• Corticospinal fibres
• Corticorubral fibres
• superior thalamic
radiation
• Some frontopontine fibres
Retrolentiform part
• It passes backwards
into the occipital lobe.
• It contains;
the optic radiation
(posterior thalamic
radiation)
occipitopontine fibres
parietopontine firbse
Sublentiform part
• It passes forwards and laterally
into the temporal lobe of the
hemisphere. It lies beneath the
lentiform nucleus.
• temporopontine fibres
• parietopontine fibres
• auditory radiation (medial
geniculate body).
Applied anatomy
• contralatera;l hemianaesthesia
• Homonymous hemianopsia
• Bilateral partial deafness.