cerebral cortex (redirected from Cortex (neuroanatomy))

cortex /cor·tex/ (kor´teks) pl. cor´tices   [L.] the outer layer of an organ or other structure, as distinguished from its inner substance.cor´tical

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adrenal cortex  the outer, firm layer comprising the larger part of the adrenal gland; it secretes many steroid hormones including mineralocorticoids, glucocorticoids, androgens, 17-ketosteroids, and progestins.

cerebellar cortex , cortex cerebella´ris the superficial gray matter of the cerebellum.

cerebral cortex , cortex cerebra´lis the convoluted layer of gray substance covering each cerebral hemisphere; see archicortex, paleocortex, and neocortex.

cortex len´tis  the softer, external part of the lens of the eye.

motor cortex  see under area.

provisional cortex  the cortex of the fetal adrenal gland that undergoes involution in early fetal life.

renal cortex , cortex re´nis the outer part of the substance of the kidney, composed mainly of glomeruli and convoluted tubules.

striate cortex  the part of the occipital lobe of the cerebral cortex that is the primary receptive area for vision.

cortex of thymus  the outer part of each lobule of the thymus; it consists chiefly of closely packed lymphocytes (thymocytes) and surrounds the medulla.

visual cortex  the area of the occipital lobe of the cerebral cortex concerned with vision.

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Cerebral cortex

Brain region responsible for reasoning, mood, and perception.

Mentioned in: Lysergic Acid Diethylamide (LSD)

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cerebral cortex

Etymology: L, cerebrum + cortex, bark

a layer of neurons and synapses (gray matter) on the surface of the cerebral hemispheres, folded into gyri with about two thirds of its area buried in fissures. It integrates higher mental functions, general movement, visceral functions, perception, and behavioral reactions. It has been classified in many different ways. Research has described more than 200 areas on the basis of differences in myelinated fiber patterns and has defined 47 separate function areas with different cell designs. For example, stimulation of the precentral cortex or motor area with electrodes causes contractions of voluntary muscles. Destruction of a motor speech area in the frontal operculum causes motor aphasia or speech defects despite healthy, intact vocal organs. Stimulation of the frontal area affects circulation, respiration, pupillary reaction, and other visceral activity. Also called pallium. See also cerebrum.

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cerebral cortex,

n a thin layer of gray matter on the surface of the cerebral hemisphere, folded into gyri with about two thirds of its area buried in fissures. It integrates higher mental functions, general movement, visceral functions, perception, and behavioral reactions.

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cerebral

pertaining to the cerebrum. See also brain.

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cerebral circulation

arterial blood supply reaches the anterior, middle and posterior cerebral arteries via the circle of Willis, in some species originating directly from the internal carotid and basilar arteries, in others via an interposed rete mirabile. See also blood-brain barrier, blood-CSF barrier, cerebrospinal fluid.

cerebral contusion

contusion of the brain following a head injury. See also cerebral contusion.

cerebral cortex

the convoluted layer of gray matter covering the cerebral hemispheres, which governs thought, memory, sensation and voluntary movement. See also brain, pyramidal tracts, extrapyramidal system.

cerebral cortical dysplasia

encompasses a range of disorders including neuronal heterotopia, microgyria, ulegyria, lissencephaly, pachygyria.

cerebral diencephalic syndrome

the clinical signs associated with lesions of the cerebral cortex and diencephalon. They include behavioral or mental change, abnormal movements such as circling and head pressing, deficits in contralateral postural responses and sometimes visual impairment.

cerebral dura mater

the membranous cover around the brain. Endosteal and meningeal layers are separated only by the cranial venous sinuses. Continuous with the spinal cord dura and the sheaths of the spinal nerves. Has three internal folds which separate sections of the brain. See falx cerebri, tentorium cerebelli, sella turcica.

cerebral edema, cytotoxic

caused by neurotoxins, this edema is intracellular.

cerebral edema, generalized

when all cerebral tissues are affected as in disturbances which create marked differences from normal of sodium and potassium ion concentration in tissues.

cerebral edema, interstitial

edema of the central white matter as in hydrocephalus affecting the brain and hydromyelia affecting the spinal cord.

cerebral edema, vasogenic

when the edema is intercellular and due usually to damage to the vascular endothelium.

cerebral flush

the congestion of the cerebral vessels causing a pink coloration; of infections by Babesia bovis and B. bigemina it is the former in which the cerebral flush occurs.

cerebral gyri

convolutions on the surface of the cerebrum.

cerebral hemisphere

symmetrical right and left halves of the cerebrum divided by the longitudinal fissure.

cerebral peduncle

see cerebral peduncle.

cerebral pia mater

thin connective tissue membrane that lies closely against the cerebral surface and carries blood vessels into the tissues of the brain.

cerebral piriform lobe

on the floor of the brain medial to the lateral olfactory tract.

cerebral pole

frontal (rostral) and occipital (caudal) poles of the cerebrum.

cerebral substantia nigra

occupies the interior of the cerebral peduncles.

cerebral syndrome

characterized by abnormal mental state, abnormal movements such as pacing or head pressing, visual impairment and seizures.

cerebral theileriosis

infection with Theileria parva or aberrant forms of T. taurotragi originating from the eland. Called also turning sickness.

cerebral vascular accident (CVA)

a disorder of the blood vessels serving the cerebrum, resulting from an impaired blood supply to parts of the brain. Called stroke in humans.

cerebral ventriculography

see ventriculography.

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cerebral cortex

Neurology The outer portion of the brain, the neocortex consisting of gray-colored layers of nerve cells, and the interconnecting neural circuitry, which is intimately linked to cognition. See Limbic system.