S3-T1 Structure and Functional Localization of the Cerebral Cortex

cerebral cortex

forms a complete covering of the cerebral hemisphere; composed of gray matter

gyri

The surface area of the cerebral cortex is increased by the ______ which are separated by fissures or sulci.

True

T/F

The cortex is thickest over the crest of a gyrus & thinnest in the depth of sulcus.

pyramidal cells

also known as Betz cells, found in the precentral gyrus of the frontal lobe

pyramidal cells

• named from the shape of their cell bodies

• measure 10 to 50 um long

• Their apices are oriented toward the pial surface of the cortex. From the apex of each cell, a thick apical dendrite extends upward toward the pia, giving off collateral branches. From the basal angles, several basal dendrites pass laterally into the surrounding neuropil.

• The axon arises from the base of the cell body and either terminates in the deeper cortical layers or, more commonly, enters the white matter of the cerebral hemisphere as a projection, association, or commissural fiber