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Glite Dictionary
central sulcus

central sulcus

6.5
A deep groove on the brain surface that separates the front and top parts
  • noun
  • /ˈsɛntrəl ˈsʌlkəs/
  • Specialized
translation icon : surco central
  • The central sulcus separates the frontal lobe from the parietal lobe in each hemisphere of the brain.

Examples

  • The central sulcus divides the brain into distinct regions.

  • During brain surgery, surgeons carefully avoid the central sulcus to prevent impairing motor function.

  • Damage near the central sulcus can affect both movement and sensation in the body.

  • The central sulcus is easily identified in brain scans as a deep groove running from the top of the head downward.

  • Can you identify the central sulcus on this diagram?

  • Neurosurgeons often reference the central sulcus when mapping brain functions during surgery.

  • Damage to the central sulcus can affect motor control and sensory perception in patients.

Synonyms

sulcus centralis
vscentral sulcus
  • Specialized
7.5

A deep groove on the side of the brain that separates the front part from the upper middle part

is the common English name rather than the Latin term
fissure of Rolando
vscentral sulcus
  • Specialized
8.6

A deep groove on the side of the brain that separates the front part from the part behind it

is the descriptive anatomical name rather than the eponymic label
Rolando's fissure
vscentral sulcus
  • Archaic
9.4

A deep groove on the side of the brain that separates the front and top parts

is the standard anatomical term rather than the possessive eponym

Surface Forms

central sulcus singular
central sulci plural

Morphology

central + sulcus

The meaning ('a groove in the middle of the brain separating frontal and parietal lobes') is directly and compositionally derived from 'central' (in or near the middle) + 'sulcus' (an anatomical groove). This follows standard anatomical naming conventions and is cross-linguistically compositional, so a learner who knows both constituent words can infer the MWE's meaning.

Etymology

The name central sulcus comes from the parts central (meaning 'middle') and sulcus (meaning 'groove'), so it literally names a deep groove in the middle of the brain. This is why the central sulcus marks the border between the front area that controls movement and the area behind it that controls feeling.