The sulcus is a slit in the top of the brain of higher mammals, including humans. This brain region, which is also known as Rolando's groove or central groove of the brain, is characterized by separating the parietal lobe from the frontal lobe.
The rolling fissure is a groove that is responsible for anatomically separating the two largest regions of the cerebral cortex; it borders on each side of the main motor cortex and the primary somatosensory cortex.
Rolando's Cisura (Red)
The rolling fissure is one of the main structures of the framescopic anatomy of the brain. This is made up of two lateral hemispheres and a large commissure that joins them through the corpus callosum.
Two main fissures are found on the outside of the brain; Silvio's fissure and Rolando's fissure. The first constitutes a horizontal groove while the second forms a perpendicular fissure.
Characteristics of the Rolando fissure
The Rolando fissure nomenclature is due to the Italian anatomist Luigi Rolando, who is considered the discoverer of this region of the brain. However, it was previously described (in 1786) by the French neuro-anatomist Félix Vicq d'Azyr.
On the other hand, the Latin term sculcus centralis (central groove) was coined by the German anatomist Emil Huschke. At present, both nomenclatures (Rolando's fissure and central groove of the brain) are accepted.
Rolando's fissure is a large groove that is responsible for separating the frontal lobe (located in the frontal region of the brain) from the parietal lobe (located in the upper region of the brain).
Rolando's groove is often referred to today as the central groove of the brain, since it is a cleft that is located in the central region of the brain. Specifically, it begins in the middle of the skull and runs down to practically the level of the ears.
Anatomy
Rolando's fissure is a groove that runs between the frontal lobes and the parietal lobes. It covers both hemispheres of the brain. It is responsible for separating:
- The frontal lobe of the parietal lobe in the left hemisphere
- The frontal lobe of the parietal lobe in the right hemisphere
The Rolando fissure arises on the medial aspect of the cerebral hemisphere, approximately one centimeter behind the midpoint between the frontal and occipital poles.
Frontal lobe (orange), parietal lobe (pink), occipital lobe (purple), temporal lobe (green).
In this region of the brain, Rolando's fissure forms a small groove or indentation, around which is the para-central lobule, and describes a straight line in an antero-inferior direction on the lateral aspect of the cerebral hemisphere.
Rolando's fissure extends through practically the entire median region of the cerebral cortex, ending very close to the posterior branch of the lateral sulcus. Specifically, it is separated from this region by the operculum.
Rolando's fissure delimits the posterior region of the primary motor cortex, corresponding to area 4, of the somatosensory cortex, corresponding to areas 3, 1 and 2.
In these regions, movements are initiated and sensory information is transmitted from the opposite side of the body. That is, the information is sent from the somatosensory cortex of the right hemisphere to the left region of the body and vice versa.
Function
The main function of the Roland fissure is to divide and communicate the frontal lobe of the parietal lobe of the brain. These two structures constitute important regions of the cerebral cortex that perform important functions.
Frontal lobe
For example, the frontal lobe is a structure that gives rise to activities such as working memory management, long-term ideation, planning, behavior control, or social cognition.
Likewise, the frontal lobe of the brain contains the motor cortex, including both the primary motor cortex and the pre-motor cortex and the supplementary motor area. In these regions originate a large part of the nerve impulses that are transmitted to give rise to movement.
On the other hand, the parietal lobe is a brain structure that stands out for its integration function. It receives sensitive stimuli from multiple brain regions. That is, it is a structure that is responsible for somesthetic processing.
Parietal lobe
The Rolando fissure plays a major role in relating the motor activities carried out by the frontal lobe and the somesthetic processing carried out by the parietal lobe.
In this sense, the rolling fissure integrates the sensory information collected by the different senses of the organism and unified in the parietal lobe, with the motor processes carried out in the frontal lobe that give rise to movement.
Location of the rolando fissure
Rolando's fissure. Source: User: Drgarden / CC BY (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0)
At present there is some controversy about the flexuosities that the central sulcus of the brain presents in its course. According to some studies, the Rolando fissure has three curves and others describe the central sulcus made up of only two.
The location of the central sulcus is a relevant medical element in patients who present brain tumors close to the sensory-motor cortex.
The investigations carried out show disparate data precisely due to the lack of consensus when establishing the route of the central sulcus of the brain.
At present, the main technique to carry out such actions is magnetic resonance imaging, a non-invasive study that allows studying the topography of the cortical surface.
Specifically, the main techniques described to locate the central sulcus through the anatomy of an MRI are:
- Identify the shape of Omega corresponding to the motor area of the hand.
- Identify the typical course of the superior frontal sulcus and the pre-central sulcus.
- Following the curve of the anterior horizontal and anterior ascending branches of the sylvian fissure and the pre-central sulcus.
References
- Bryan Kolb, Ian Q. Whishaw (2006): Human Neuropsychology. Editorial Médica Panamericana, Barcelona.
- Junqué, C. I Barroso, J (2009). Neuropsychology. Madrid, Ed. Synthesis.
- Kido DK, LeMay M, Levinson AW, Benson WE: Computed tomographic localization of the precentral gyrus. Radiology 135: 373-377, 1980.
- Lapuente, R. (2010). Neuropsychology. Madrid, Plaza edition.
- Majos A, Tybor K, Stefanczyk L, Góraj B: Cortical mapping by functional magnetic resonance imaging in patients with brain tumors. Eur Radiol 15: 1148-1158, 2005.
- Ono M, Kubik S, Abernathey CD: Atlas of the Cerebral Sulci. Stuttgart, Georg Thieme Verlag, 1990.