Uncus | |
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Medial surface of left cerebral hemisphere. Uncus is shown in orange. | |
Human brain inferior-medial view (Uncus is #5) | |
Identifiers | |
NeuroNames | 40 |
TA98 | A14.1.09.235 |
TA2 | 5516 |
FMA | 74884 |
Anatomical terms of neuroanatomy |
The uncus is an anterior extremity of the parahippocampal gyrus. It is separated from the apex of the temporal lobe by a slight fissure called the incisura temporalis.
Although superficially continuous with the hippocampal gyrus, the uncus forms morphologically a part of the rhinencephalon.
An important landmark that crosses the inferior surface of the uncus is the band of Giacomini.[1]
The term comes from the Latin word uncus, meaning hook, and it was coined by Félix Vicq-d'Azyr (1748–1794).[2]
The part of the olfactory cortex that is on the temporal lobe covers the area of the uncus, which leads into the two significant clinical aspects of the uncus: uncinate fits and uncal herniations.
The landmark that helps you find the amygdala on a coronal section of the brain.
A sparse amount of literature exists to propose a comprehensive overview of the functionality of the uncus. A study has indicated that psychotic-like experiences were associated with reduced expansion within the uncus between the ages of 14 and 19 in cannabis-using individuals.[3]