Anatomical coordinate systems, Biology

Assignment Help:
Brain anatomical coordinate systems are the first potential point of confusion, as there are different ones
due to the fact that research is conducted in different species where different conventions have been used. One of the coordinate systems is based on naming areas based on whether they are located closer to the head of the animal (rostral) vs. the tail of the animal (caudal) and, as the other axis, whether the area is more towards the back (dorsal) or the abdomen (ventral). In humans, there is no straight line from the forehead to the “tail” but rather the human brain has evolved in a curved structure. As a result of this, the coordinate system is also curved


Another coordinate system that is used in cognitive neuroscience has anterior-posterior as one and superior-inferior as the other axis. This coordinate system is not curved. In both coordinate systems, there is a third coordinate that runs from one ear to the other, and brain structures are further defined based on whether they are on the left or the right side of the midpoint between the ears. To define relative positions of brain structures along this dimension, the terms lateral (closer to the surface/ear) and medial (deeper in the brain/closer to midline) are used. To add to the confusion, there is yet another coordinate system in neuroimaging that communicates the directions along which the images slicing through the three-dimensional brain volume are oriented. Sagittal refers to images that are taken orthogonal to the left-right axis of the brain (i.e., looking at the brain from the side). Axial (or transverse) refers to images that are taken orthogonal to the superior-inferior axis and, finally, coronal implies that the image has been taken orthogonally to the anterior-posterior axis. The left and right side of the images are often marked due to there being two conventions: in the radiological convention, left side of the brain on axial / coronal images is located on the right side of the image and vice versa (i.e., as if you were looking at the image from the bottom rather than from the top of the head in axial images). In the neurological convention, the left side of the brain is on the left of the image, and the right side of the brain is on the right of the image.


Knowing these coordinate systems is useful when reading through cognitive neuroscience literature, and helps one to understand where things are located with respect to one another. In the following, an introduction to major divisions of brain anatomy is first described, followed by more detailed description of the structures and brain areas considered as most relevant for perceptual and cognitive functions.

Related Discussions:- Anatomical coordinate systems

What is vernalisation, What is vernalisation? How is the process of vern...

What is vernalisation? How is the process of vernalisation benefits to plants?

Describe the basic working of cerebral hemisphere, Q. How is it structurall...

Q. How is it structurally explained that the motor activity of the left side of the body is controlled by the right cerebral hemisphere and the motor activity of the right side of

Explain why methionine is the first amino acid, Explain why methionine is t...

Explain why methionine is the first amino acid in every growing polypeptide. The tRNA that pairs with the start codon on mRNA carries methionine. RNA having ribose; DNA contain

Phases of the cardiac cycle, The phases of the cardiac cycle are: 1)  At...

The phases of the cardiac cycle are: 1)  Atrial Systole This begins with the P-wave of the ECG. The atrio-ventricular valves are open and the ventricles are relaxed (diastole

How many of each type of core histone, How many of each type of core histon...

How many of each type of core histone would it take to wrap the entire human genome into nucleosomes? How has evolution solved the problem of producing such a large number of prote

What is cyanosis, What is Cyanosis ? Cyanosis: Cyanosis may be peripher...

What is Cyanosis ? Cyanosis: Cyanosis may be peripheral or central. Peripheral cyanosis almost exclusively involves lips and extremities. Normal neonates may have bluish extrem

Main parts into which a neuron can be divided, Q. What are the three main p...

Q. What are the three main parts into which a neuron can be divided? What are their respective functions? The three mains parts into which a neuron can be didactically divided

Explain other lipids in biological compound, Explain Other lipids in biolog...

Explain Other lipids in biological compound? Other Lipids :  Another important type of lipids are the steroids, with a basic structure consisting of four interconnecting carb

How do schistosomes differentiate regarding sex separation, Q. How do schis...

Q. How do schistosomes differentiate regarding sex separation? The Schistosomes are dioecious that is the species has separated sexes, female and male individuals.

Write Your Message!

Captcha
Free Assignment Quote

Assured A++ Grade

Get guaranteed satisfaction & time on delivery in every assignment order you paid with us! We ensure premium quality solution document along with free turntin report!

All rights reserved! Copyrights ©2019-2020 ExpertsMind IT Educational Pvt Ltd