Calcarine sulcus

Calcarine Sulcus

The Calcarine Sulcus (pronounced kal-KAR-in SUL-kus) is a prominent anatomical feature of the human brain. It is also known as the Calcarine Fissure.

Etymology

The term "Calcarine" is derived from the Latin word "calcar" meaning "spur". This is in reference to the spur-like shape of the sulcus.

Anatomy

The Calcarine Sulcus is located in the occipital lobe of the brain, which is the region at the back of the brain responsible for vision. It is a deep groove that runs horizontally across the medial surface of each hemisphere, dividing the occipital lobe into superior and inferior parts.

The anterior part of the Calcarine Sulcus is connected to the parieto-occipital sulcus, while the posterior part extends to the occipital pole. The area of the brain surrounding the Calcarine Sulcus is known as the primary visual cortex or V1, which is the main area for processing visual information.

Function

The Calcarine Sulcus plays a crucial role in the processing of visual information. The upper bank of the sulcus (the cuneus) receives visual information from the lower half of the visual field, while the lower bank (the lingual gyrus) receives information from the upper half of the visual field.