White matter pathways Flashcards
Three major types of white matter pathways
Projection fibres
Association fibres
Commisural fibres
Fibres which connect higher and lower centres of the brain
Projection fibres
Fibres which connect different regions within the same hemisphere of the brain
Association fibres
Fibres which connect similar regions of opposite hemispheres
Commisural fibres
Largest bundle of fibres which connect the two cerebral hemispheres
Corpus callosum
Fibres which connect the two olfactory bulbs
Anterior commisure
Fibres which connect the two hemispheres of the midbrain
Posterior commisure
Fibres which connect the posterior dorsal thalamic nuclei
Hippocampal commisure
Habenular commisure
Most posterior part of the corpus callosum
Splenium
Features of disruption to the splenium
Alexia
Inability to name colours
Preserved ability to copy words
White matter tract that connects the hippocampus to the hypothalamus
Fornix
White matter tract that connects Broca’s and Wernicke’s areas
Arcuate fasciculus
Features of damage to the arcuate fasciculus
Conduction aphasia - inability to repeat words
Type of tract the corticospinal tract is
Projection
Function of the corticospinal tract
Efferent tract that connects the motor cortex to the brain stem and spinal cord
Type of tract the corticobulbar tract is
Projection
Function of the corticobulbar tract
Efferent tract that connects the cranial nerve motor centres to the brain stem and spinal cord