Cytoarchitectonic Brodmann Areas

Cytoarchitectonic Brodmann Areas are numbered areas (from 1 to 50), which are fields of the cerebral cortex identified by histological characteristics. There are also maps of the cortex constructed taking into account differences in the location of nerve fibers, i.e. myeloarchitectonics. Area No. 4 on this map corresponds, for example, to the main motor zone of the cerebral cortex, and area No. 17 corresponds to the main visual area of ​​the cerebral cortex.

Cytoarchitectural Brodmann areas (BAs) are numbered areas of the cerebral cortex that represent designated areas based on histological characteristics. They were first described in 1909 by German neurologist Karl Werner Brodmann.

Cytoarchitecture is a method for studying the structure of nervous tissue, which allows us to determine which cells and neurons are located in a certain area of ​​the cerebral cortex and how they are connected to each other.

Brodmann's areas are important areas of the cerebral cortex associated with various functions such as vision, hearing, movement, memory and others. They can also be used to localize certain diseases such as epilepsy, schizophrenia and other mental disorders.

There are several types of cortical maps, including myeloarchitecture maps (nerve fiber distribution maps) and Brodmann cytoarchitecture maps. Myeloarchitectural maps use information about the distribution of nerve fibers to identify areas of the cerebral cortex associated with specific functions. Brodmann cytoarchitectural maps use cytoarchitectural data to define cortical fields.

For example, area 4 of the cerebral cortex corresponds to the main motor area, and area 17 corresponds to the main visual area. These areas of the cerebral cortex have certain characteristics and functions that allow them to be used for the diagnosis and treatment of various diseases.

Thus, cytoarchitectonic Brodmann fields are important tools for studying the cerebral cortex and determining the localization of various functions and diseases.

Cytoarchitectural Brodmann's areas or Cortical Brodmann's areas are separate areas on the outer part of the human cerebral cortex. These regions differ in their histophysiological features related to the arrangement of neurons and their connections. They play an important role in understanding the structure and functioning of the brain, which is important for the study of a number of diseases. In this article we will look in detail at Brodmann's cytoarchitectural fields and how they are used in medical science.

Historical information

Brodman and his colleagues studied the structure of the cerebral cortex using material from 93 patients. They determined that the cortex has a layered structure with 6 layers of neurons, each of which has a different density and character of cytoarchitectural elements. Based on these results, they developed the following method for localizing cortical zones: the subcortex within the cortex is divided into 50 areas corresponding to 50 Brodmann areas. Usually only the first of ten digits are indicated. The first 12 Brodmann areas correspond to the frontal lobe of the brain, Brodmann area No. 13 mediates the parietal brain, Brodmann area No. 44 corresponds to the temporal lobe of the brain. Thus, Brodmann was able to create maps with a clear location of various zones in the cerebral cortex and associate them with structures responsible for certain functions of the body.

Structure of cyt architectural Brodmann fields

According to Brodmann's research, it became known that the boundaries between Brodmann's zones are not clear and curved. They are complicated by several additional layers of cells that are not included in Brodmann's areas, but contribute to the coordination of various nervous systems. To study any functions of the nervous system, it is necessary to have information about the boundaries of the Brodmann cytoarchitecture.

Brodmann maps are considered an objective tool in neurology and topographic anatomy. Although they have the limitation of not taking into account the dissection and branching of external nerve fibers, they can be used as rough guides in research work.

Brodmann cytoarchitecture is used in living specimens, brain tissue preservation, and drug preparation. Such preparations are designated as microtomicroscopic wiring. Under a microscope, wide zones are revealed on the tissue. The wider the zone, the more extensive the layer of nerve fibers covers the surface, given that Brodmann's zones are areas of the cortical region without extensive neuronal junctions.