Skip to main content
Springer Nature Link
Log in

Development of the human fetal insular cortex: study of the gyration from 13 to 28 gestational weeks

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Brain Structure and Function Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

To describe the morphological stages of insular sulci and gyri development we carried out a macroscopical study on 21 human fetal brains, showing no anomalies, from 13 to 28 gestational weeks (GWs). Particular focus was given to morphological appearance during the development of insular and periinsular structures, especially the gyration and sulcation of the insula, central cerebral region and opercula, as well as the vascularization of these regions. The periinsular sulci and the central (insular and cerebral) sulci were the first macroscopical structures identified on the lateral surface of the human fetal cerebral hemisphere with earlier development on the right hemisphere. Here we describe five stages of insular gyral and sulcal development closely related to gestational age: stage 1: appearance of the first sulcus at 13-17 GWs, stage 2: development of the periinsular sulci at 18–19 GWs, stage 3: central sulci and opercularization of the insula at 20–22 GWs, stage 4: covering of the posterior insula at 24–26 GWs, stage 5: closure of the sylvian fissure at 27–28 GWs. We provide evidence that cortical maturation (sulcation and gyration) and vascularization of the lateral surface of the brain starts with the insular region, suggesting that this region is a central area of cortical development.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
$34.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or eBook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Abe S, Takagi K, Yamamoto T, Okuhata Y, Kato T (2003) Assessment of cortical gyrus and sulcus formation using MR images in normal fetuses. Prenat Diagn 23:225–231

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bamiou DE, Musiek FE, Luxon LM (2003) The insula (Island of Reil) and its role in auditory processing literature review. Brain Res Rev

  • Brooks JCW, Zambreanu L, Godinez A, Craig AD, Tracey I (2005) Somatotopic organization of the human insula to painful heat studied with high resolution functional imaging. Neuroimage 27:201–209

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chi JG, Dooling EC, Gilles FH (1977) Gyral development of the human brain. Ann Neurol 1:86–93

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Clark TE (1896) The comparative anatomy of the insula. J Comp Neurol 6:59–100

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cohen-Sacher B, Lerman-Sagie T, Lev D, Malinger G (2006) Sonographic developmental milestones of the fetal cerebral cortex: a longitudinal study. Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol 27:494–502

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cunningham DJ (1891) The development of the gyri and sulci on the surface of the island of Reil of the brain. J Anat Physiol 25:338–348

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dorovini-Zis K, Dolman CL (1977) Gestational development of brain. Arch Pathol Lab Med 101:192–195

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Feess-Higgins A, Larroche J-C (1987) Le développement du cerveau foetal humain. Atlas Anatomique. Masson, Paris (In French)

    Google Scholar 

  • Friederici AD, Bahlmann J, Heim S, Schubotz RI, Anwander A (2006) The brain differentiates human and non-human grammars: functional localization and structural connectivity. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 14 103(7):2458–2463

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Garel C, Chantrel E, Brisse H, Elmaleh M, Luton D, Oury JF, Sebag G, Hassan M (2001) Fetal cerebral cortex: normal gestational landmarks identified using prenatal MR imaging. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol 22:184–189

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Garel C, Chantrel E, Elmaleh M, Brisse H, Sebag G (2003) Fetal MRI: normal gestational landmarks for cerebral biometry, gyration and myelination. Childs Nerv Syst 19:422–425

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Govaert P, Swarte R, De Vos A, Lequin M (2004) Sonographic appearance of the normal and abnormal insula of Reil. Dev Med Child Neurol 46(9):610–616

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Guldberg A (1887) —Zur morphologie der insula Reillis. Anat Anz 2:659–665

    Google Scholar 

  • Isnard J, Guenot M, Sindou M, Mauguiere F (2004) Clinical manifestations of insular lobe seizures: a stereo-electroencephalographic study. Epilepsia 45(9):1079–1090

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kodam S (1926) Über die sogenannten Basalganglien, Morphogenetische und pathologisch-anatomische Untersuchunger. Schweiz Arch Neurol Psychiatr 18:179–246

    Google Scholar 

  • Lewis JM, Beauchamp MS, De Yoe EA (2000) A comparison of visual and auditory motion processing in human cerebral cortex. Cereb Cortex 10(9):873–888

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lockard I (1948) Certain developmental relations and fiber connections of the triangular gyrus in primates. J Comp Neurol 89:349–386

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McArdle CB, Joan Richardson C, Nicholas DA, Mirfakhraee M, Keith Hayden C, Amparo EG (1987) Developmental features of the neonatal brain: MR imaging. Part I. gray white matter differentiation and myelination. Radiology 162:223–229

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • McCarthy G, Blamier AM, Rothman DL, Gruelter R, Shulman RG (1993) Echo-planar magnetic resonance imaging studies of frontal cortex activation during word generation in humans. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 90:4952–4956

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mesulam MM, Mufson EJ (1985) The Insula of Reil in man and monkey. In: Jones EG, Peters AA (eds) Cerebral cortex. Plenum Press, New York, pp 179–226

    Google Scholar 

  • Mesulam MM, Mufson EJ (1982) Insula of the old world monkey. I. Architectonics in the insulo-orbito-temporal component of the paralimbic brain. J Comp Neurol 212:1–22

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Monteagudo A, Timor-Tritsch IE (1997) Development of fetal gyri, and fissures: a transvaginal sonographic study. Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol 9:222–228

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ostrowsky K, Isnard J, Ryvlin P, Guenot M, Fischer C, Mauguiere F (2000) Functional mapping of the insular cortex: clinical implication in temporal lobe epilepsy. Epilepsia 41(6):681–686

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Peyron R, Schneider F, Faillenot I, Convers P, Barral FG, Garcia-Larrea L, Laurent B (2004) An fMRI study of cortical representation of mechanical allodynia in patients with neuropathic pain. Neurology 63(10):1838–1846

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Reil JC (1809) Unterfuchungen uber den Bau des grofsen Gehirns im Menfchen: Vierte Fortsetzung VIII. Arch Physiol Halle 9:136–146

    Google Scholar 

  • Retzius G (1896) Das menschenhirn studien in der makroskopischen morphologie. Morstedt, Stockholm

    Google Scholar 

  • Ruiz A, Sembely-Taveau C, Paillet C, Sirinelli D (2006) Sonographic cerebral sulcal pattern in normal fetuses. Radiologie 87:49–55

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Schreckenberger M, Siessmeier T, Viertmann A, Landvogt C, Buchholz HG, Rolke R, Treede RD, Bartenstein P, Birklein F (2005) The unpleasantness of tonic pain is encoded by the insular cortex. Neurology 64(7):1175–1183

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Streeter GL (1912) The development of the nervous system. In: Keibel F, Mall FP (eds) Manual of human embryology, vol II, chapter XIV. Lippincott, Philadelphia

    Google Scholar 

  • Toi A, Lister WS, Fong KW (2004) How early are fetal cerebral sulci visible at prenatal ultrasound and what is the normal pattern of early fetal sulcale development? Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol 24:706–715

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Toro R, Burnod Y (2003) Geometric atlas: modeling the cortex as an organized surface. Neuroimage 20:1468–1484

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgment

We thank Ms Emily Witty and Mr Michel Magnin for editorial review of the text.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Anatomy, Lyon-1 University, Inserm U 879, 8 avenue Rockefeller, Lyon, 69003, France

    A. Afif & P. Mertens

  2. Department of Neurosurgery, Neurological Hospital, Hospices civils de Lyon, Lyon, 69003, France

    A. Afif & P. Mertens

  3. Department of Pathology, Edouard Herriot Hospital, Hospices civils de Lyon, Lyon, 69003, France

    R. Bouvier & A. Buenerd

  4. Laboratory of Histology and Embryology, Lyon-1 University, Inserm U 842, Lyon, 69003, France

    J. Trouillas

Authors
  1. A. Afif
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar

  2. R. Bouvier
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar

  3. A. Buenerd
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar

  4. J. Trouillas
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar

  5. P. Mertens
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to P. Mertens.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Afif, A., Bouvier, R., Buenerd, A. et al. Development of the human fetal insular cortex: study of the gyration from 13 to 28 gestational weeks. Brain Struct Funct 212, 335–346 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00429-007-0161-1

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00429-007-0161-1

Keywords