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Microsurgical Anatomy of the White Matter Tracts

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Abstract

White matter tracts (WMTs) are located in the subcortical region and are the primary drivers of connectivity of vital functions of the human cerebrum. In order to better conceptualize WMT anatomy, we have previously organized this system into a surgical scaffolding or framework, referred to as the “Chassis”, in order to develop a tool to create WMT-centered trajectories. WMTs can be generally classified into three categories, based on their location and primary function: commissural (coronal plane), association (sagittal plane), and projection (axial/craniocaudal). The corpus callosum is the largest commissural tract bundle in the brain, connecting both hemispheres, and is composed of the rostrum, genu, body, isthmus and splenium. Other important fibers include the anterior, posterior, and hippocampal commissural fibers. The thalamic peduncles communicate the cortex with subcortical centers. The cingulum bundle is located above the corpus callosum on the medial surface of the hemisphere and forms part of the limbic system along with the fornix, which is the main fiber system of the hippocampus. The visual pathway consists of the optic nerve, chiasm, optic tract, and optic radiations. The most important association fibers are the superior longitudinal fasciculus, which interconnect the frontal and parietal lobes, the inferior longitudinal fasciculus, which communicates with the temporal and occipital poles, and the inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus, which connects the frontal lobe to the parietal lobe. The most recent tracts which have been described in literature are the frontal aslant tract, which links the supplementary motor area with the language motor area, the sledge runner fasciculus, which is located on the medial surface of the occipitoparietal region, and the middle longitudinal fasciculus, which interconnects the temporal lobe with the parietal lobe. In this chapter, we will provide a detailed description of WMT anatomy according to the organization schema provided by the “Chassis”.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Medicine, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico

    A. Paula Cortes-Contreras

  2. Department of Neurosurgery, Aurora Neuroscience Innovation Institute, Aurora St. Luke’s Medical Center, Milwaukee, WI, USA

    Srikant S. Chakravarthi, Austin Epping & Alejandro Monroy-Sosa

  3. Skull Base and Cerebrovascular Laboratory, Aurora Research Institute, Milwaukee, WI, USA

    Srikant S. Chakravarthi, Austin Epping & Alejandro Monroy-Sosa

  4. Neeka Health LLC, Milwaukee, WI, USA

    Amin B. Kassam

  5. Mexican Faculty of Medicine, La Salle, Tlalpan, Mexico City, Mexico

    Noe Santiago-Rea

  6. Department of Ophthalmology, Hospital Juarez de Mexico, Mexico City, Mexico

    Jessica Daniela Valencia-Aguirre

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  1. A. Paula Cortes-Contreras
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  7. Alejandro Monroy-Sosa
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Correspondence to Alejandro Monroy-Sosa .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurosurgery, Aurora Neuroscience Innovation Institute, Milwaukee, WI, USA

    Alejandro Monroy-Sosa

  2. Department of Neurosurgery, Aurora Neuroscience Innovation Institute, Milwaukee, WI, USA

    Srikant S. Chakravarthi

  3. Instituto Nacional de Cancerología, Mexico City, Mexico

    Jaime G. de la Garza-Salazar

  4. Instituto Nacional de Cancerología, Mexico City, Mexico

    Abelardo Meneses Garcia

  5. Neeka Health, LLC, Milwaukee, WI, USA

    Amin B. Kassam

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Cortes-Contreras, A.P. et al. (2021). Microsurgical Anatomy of the White Matter Tracts. In: Monroy-Sosa, A., Chakravarthi, S.S., de la Garza-Salazar, J.G., Meneses Garcia, A., Kassam, A.B. (eds) Principles of Neuro-Oncology. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-54879-7_8

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