embryonic area

area /ar·ea/ (ār´e-ah) pl. a´reae, areas   [L.] a limited space; in anatomy, a specific surface or functional region.

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association areas  areas of the cerebral cortex (excluding primary areas) connected with each other and with the neothalamus; they are responsible for higher mental and emotional processes, including memory, learning, etc.

auditory areas  two contiguous areas of the temporal lobe in the region of the anterior transverse temporal gyrus.

Broca's motor speech area  an area comprising parts of the opercular and triangular portions of the inferior frontal gyrus; injury to this area may result in motor aphasia.

Brodmann's areas  areas of the cerebral cortex distinguished by differences in arrangement of their six cellular layers; identified by numbering each area.

embryonic area  see under disc.

germinal area  embryonic disc.

hypophysiotropic area  the hypothalamic component containing neurons that secrete hormones that regulate adenohypophysial cells.

Kiesselbach's area  one on the anterior part of the nasal septum above the intermaxillary bone, richly supplied with capillaries, and a common site of nosebleed.

motor area  any area of the cerebral cortex primarily involved in stimulating muscle contractions, often specifically the primary somatomotor area.

prefrontal area  the cortex of the frontal lobe immediately in front of the premotor cortex, concerned chiefly with associative functions.

premotor area  the motor cortex of the frontal lobe immediately in front of the precentral gyrus.

primary areas  areas of the cerebral cortex comprising the motor and sensory regions; cf. association a's.

primary somatomotor area  an area in the posterior part of the frontal lobe just anterior to the central sulcus; different regions control motor activity of specific parts of the body.

area subcallo´sa , subcallosal area a small area of cortex on the medial surface of each cerebral hemisphere.

area of superficial cardiac dullness  a triangular area of dullness observed on percussion of the chest, corresponding to the area of the heart not covered by lung tissue.

thymus-dependent area  any of the areas of the peripheral lymphoid organs populated by T lymphocytes, e.g., the paracortex in lymph nodes, the centers of the malpighian corpuscle of the spleen, and the internodal zone of Peyer's patches.

thymus-independent area  any of the areas of the peripheral lymphoid organs populated by B lymphocytes, e.g., the spleen lymph nodules and the lymph nodes.

vocal area  rima glottidis.

watershed area  any of several areas over the convexities of the cerebral or cerebellar hemispheres; at times of prolonged systemic hypotension they are particularly susceptible to infarction.

Wernicke's area , Wernicke's second motor speech area originally a term denoting a speech center on the posterior part of the superior temporal gyrus, now used to include also the supramarginal and angular gyri.

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embryonic area

n.

The area of the blastoderm on either side of, and immediately cephalic to, the primitive streak where the component cell layers have become thickened.

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embryonic area.

See embryonic disk.

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area [a´re-ah] (pl. a´reae, areas) (L.)

a limited space or plane surface.

acoustic a's auditory areas.

association a's areas of the cerebral cortex (excluding primary areas) connected with each other and with the neothalamus; they are responsible for higher mental and emotional processes, including memory, learning, speech, and the interpretation of sensations.

Area. Functional areas and lobes of the cerebrum.

auditory a's two contiguous areas of the temporal lobe in the region of the anterior transverse temporal gyrus, known as the primary and secondary auditory areas. Called also acoustic areas.

Broca's motor speech area an area comprising parts of the opercular and triangular portions of the inferior frontal gyrus; injury to this area may result in motor aphasia.

Broca's parolfactory area a small area of cortex on the medial surface of each cerebral hemisphere, between the anterior and posterior parolfactory sulci. Called also area subcallosa.

Brodmann's a's specific occipital and preoccipital areas of the cerebral cortex, distinguished by differences in the arrangement of their six cellular layers, and identified by numbering each area. They are considered to be the seat of specific functions of the brain.

catchment area

1. the geographical region drained by one body of water.

2. the area whose residents are served by a specialized health care agency. Called also catchment.

contact area proximal surface.

embryonic area (germinal area) (area germinati´va) embryonic disk.

Kiesselbach's area an area on the anterior part of the nasal septum, richly supplied with capillaries, and a common site of epistaxis (nosebleed).

language area any nerve center of the cerebral cortex, usually in the dominant hemisphere, controlling the understanding or use of language.

motor area any area of the cerebral cortex primarily involved in stimulating muscle contractions; most are in the precentral gyri. See also premotor area, sensorimotor area, and Broca's motor speech area.

motor speech area see Broca's motor speech area and Wernicke's area.

occupational performance a's categories of activities that make up an individual's occupational performance; they include activities of daily living, work activities, and play or leisure activities. A delay in any of these areas may be addressed by occupational therapy intervention.

olfactory area

1. a general area of the brain, including the olfactory bulb, tract, and trigone, the anterior portion of the gyrus cinguli, and the uncus.

2. anterior perforated substance.

postcentral area (postrolandic area) an area just posterior to the central sulcus of the cerebral hemisphere that is the primary receiving area for general sensations.

precentral area primary somatomotor area.

premotor area an area of the motor cortex of the frontal lobe immediately in front of the precentral gyrus.

primary area areas of the cerebral cortex comprising the motor and sensory regions.

primary receiving a's the areas of the cerebral cortex that receive the thalamic projections of the primary sensory modalities such as vision, hearing, and smell. Called also sensory areas.

primary somatomotor area an area in the posterior part of the frontal lobe just anterior to the central sulcus; different regions control motor activity of specific parts of the body. Called also precentral area and rolandic area.

projection a's those areas of the cerebral cortex that receive the most direct projection of the sensory systems of the body.

rolandic area primary somatomotor area.

sensorimotor area the cortex of the precentral and postcentral gyri, which are the motor area and the primary receiving area for general sensations, respectively.

sensory a's primary receiving areas.

sensory association area an association area around the borders of a primary receiving area, where sensory stimuli are interpreted.

silent area an area of the brain in which pathologic conditions may occur without producing symptoms.

somatic sensory area (somatosensory area) either of two cortical projection areas in or near the postcentral gyrus where conscious perception of somatic sensations occurs, known as the first or primary somatosensory area and the second or secondary somatosensory area.

area subcallo´sa (subcallosal area) Broca's parolfactory area.

area under the curve (AUC) the area enclosed between the curve of a probability with nonnegative values and the axis of the quality being measured; of the total area under a curve, the proportion that falls between two given points on the curve defines a probability density function.

visual a's three areas (first, second, and third visual areas) of the visual cortex. The first visual area is better known as the striate cortex.

vocal area rima glottidis.

Wernicke's area originally a name for a speech center thought to be confined to the posterior part of the superior temporal gyrus next to the transverse temporal gyri; the term now refers to a wider zone that also includes the supramarginal and angular gyri.