Postcentral Gyrus Of The Brain, Superior View

Description

Postcentral gyrus (gyrus postcentralis) occupies the anterior parietal lobe immediately posterior to the central sulcus, forming the primary somatosensory cortex (Brodmann areas 3, 1, and 2). From a superior perspective, its crown runs mediolaterally toward the superomedial margin, where it blends into the paracentral lobule on the medial surface near the interhemispheric fissure. The precentral gyrus lies anterior across the central sulcus, while the postcentral sulcus marks the posterior boundary before the superior parietal lobule. Surface topography matters. Somatotopy along the postcentral gyrus underpins bedside localization, and a lesion here produces contralateral deficits in discriminative touch, vibration, and proprioception with astereognosis more prominent than weakness. Ischemia in the middle cerebral artery territory tends to affect the lateral convexity (face and upper limb representation), while anterior cerebral artery involvement near the midline preferentially disturbs lower limb sensation, a distinction that reads well when the gyri and sulci are oriented from above and the central sulcus is clearly separated from adjacent ridges. This illustration also supports operative planning for parasagittal tumors and arteriovenous malformations by emphasizing the relationship of perirolandic cortex to the superior sagittal region, where neuronavigation often relies on sulcal landmarks when functional mapping is limited. Neuroanatomy and neurophysiology courses use this illustration to teach the perirolandic region, the sensory homunculus, and the difference between primary somatosensory cortex and association cortex in the superior parietal lobule. It also fits neurology texts on cortical sensory syndromes, stroke localization guides, and neurosurgical publications discussing central sulcus identification during craniotomy planning. Anatomical accuracy verified by SciePro's Medical Advisory Board.