Central Sulcus, Lateral View

Description

Central sulcus (sulcus centralis, fissure of Rolando) forms a prominent, obliquely oriented groove on the lateral convexity of the cerebral hemisphere, separating the frontal lobe anteriorly from the parietal lobe posteriorly. Immediately anterior to it lies the precentral gyrus, and immediately posterior lies the postcentral gyrus, the two gyri running superior to inferior toward the lateral sulcus (Sylvian fissure). Superiorly, the sulcus approaches the superomedial margin of the hemisphere near the interhemispheric fissure, where its relationship to the paracentral lobule is typically appreciated. Gyral relief is crisp. Neuroanatomy teaching often treats the central sulcus as the most practical surface landmark for locating primary motor cortex (Brodmann area 4) on the precentral gyrus and primary somatosensory cortex (areas 3, 1, 2) on the postcentral gyrus, and this fixed perspective supports that mapping without forcing the viewer to infer hidden anatomy. Clinically, its position anchors localization for peri-Rolandic lesions, including middle cerebral artery territory infarcts that produce contralateral face and upper-limb weakness or sensory loss, and it guides intraoperative planning when operating near the motor strip. Rolandic epilepsy and somatosensory aura descriptions also reference this region. Use this illustration in gross neuroanatomy labs, neurology lecture slides on cortical localization, and neurosurgical atlas content discussing craniotomy planning near the precentral gyrus and postcentral gyrus, including tumor resections and epileptogenic focus workups adjacent to the peri-Rolandic cortex. It also fits radiology teaching that correlates surface landmarks with axial and sagittal MR slices for identifying the hand knob region along the central sulcus. Anatomical accuracy verified by SciePro's Medical Advisory Board.