1. Sectional Anatomy of the Brain
Dr. G.R. Leichnetz

2. Coronal Sections

3. Coronal Section: Head of Caudate
Superior frontal gyrus
Middle frontal gyrus
Cingulate gyrus
Inferior frontal gyrus
Septum pellucidum
Corpus callosum
Anterior horn, Lateral ventricle
Lateral sulcus
Insular cortex
Anterior limb, internal capsule
Head of caudate nucleus
Rostrum, corpus callosum

4. Coronal Section: Striatum
Superior frontal gyrus
Middle frontal gyrus
Cingulate gyrus
Septum pellucidum separating lateral ventricles
Inferior frontal gyrus (Broca’s area)
Insular cortex
Putamen
Anterior limb, internal capsule
Caudate nucleus (head)

5. MRI Coronal Section: Striatum
Superior frontal gyrus
Middle frontal gyrus
Ant. limb, int. capsule
Inferior frontal gyrus
Caudate nucleus
Putamen
Caudate nucleus
Putamen

6. Coronal Section: Anterior Commissure/ Optic Chiasm
Fornix
Interventricular foramen of Monro
Globus pallidus
Fornix columns split above anterior commissure
Putamen
Claustrum
Lateral sulcus
Superior temporal gyrus
Opening in lamina terminalis
Optic chiasm

7. Coronal Section: Optic Chiasm Closeup
Extreme capsule
Fornix
Caudate
Interventricular foramen of Monro connects lateral ventricle to third ventricle
External capsule
Internal capsule
Choroid plexus
Putamen
Globus pallidus
Fornix columns over anterior commissure
External segment
Internal segment AC
Basal forebrain
Claustrum
Hole in lamina terminalis exposes front end of third ventricle
Optic chiasm

8. MRI Coronal Section: Optic Chiasm
Caudate nucleus
Putamen
Globus pallidus
Amygdala
Optic chiasm

9. Coronal Section: Thalamus/ Amygdala
Interventricular foramen of Monro connects lateral ventricle to third ventricle
Fornix
Globus pallidus
Caudate (body)
Putamen
Posterior limb, internal capsule
Insular cortex
Thalamus
Superior temporal gyrus
Amygdala
Middle temporal gyrus
Hypothalamus
Optic tract

10. Coronal Section: Thalamus/ Amygdala Closeup
Caudate
Fornix
Posterior limb, internal capsule
Interventricular foramen
Thalamus
Putamen
Globus pallidus
Third ventricle
External segment
Fornix
Internal segment
Hypothalamus
Claustrum
Amygdala
Optic tract
Optic nerve
Optic chiasm

11. Caudate nucleus
Putamen & Globus pallidus
Third ventricle
Amygdala

12. Coronal Section: Subthalamus/ Mammillary Bodies
Fornix
Thalamus
Third ventricle
Subthalamus
Hippocampus
Mammillary Bodies (hypothalamus)
Uncus
Parahippocampal gyrus

13. Coronal Section: Subthalamus/ Mammillary Bodies
Caudate nucleus
Posterior limb, internal capsule
Fornix
Putamen
Thalamus
Subthalamic nucleus
Temporal horn of lateral ventricle
Globus pallidus
Subthalamus
Optic tract
Hippocampus
Mammillary bodies
Uncus of parahippocampal gyrus

14. Coronal Section: Subthalamus/ Hippocampus
Posterior limb, internal capsule
Putamen & Globus pallidus
Subthalamus
Thalamus
Hippocampus
Superior transverse temporal gyri
III
Temporal horn, lateral ventricle
Parahippocampal gyrus

15. Coronal Section: Subthalamus Closeup
Caudate nucleus
Fornix
Globus pallidus
Post. limb, internal capsule
Third ventricle
Thalamus
Putamen
Subthalamic nucleus
Optic tract
Fimbria of fornix (origin from hippocampus)
Hippocampus
Oculomotor nerves (III) exit from interpeduncular fossa

16. Coronal Section: Pulvinar/ Rostral Midbrain
Caudalmost third ventricle into cerebral aqueduct
Pulvinar of thalamus
Lateral geniculate nucleus
Substantia nigra
Crus cerebri
Hippocampus
Oculomotor nerves (III) exit interpeduncular fossa
Parahippocampal gyrus

17. Coronal Section: Pulvinar/ Rostral Midbrain Closeup
Cerebral aqueduct
Fornix
Crus cerebri
Pulvinar
Red nucleus
Substantia nigra
Temporal horn, lateral ventricle
Lateral geniculate nucleus
Hippocampus
III
Parahippocampal gyrus

18. Coronal Section: Pulvinar/Midbrain
Pineal gland
Splenium of corpus callosum
Cingulate gyrus
Pulvinar
Substantia nigra
Lateral geniculate nucleus
Cerebral aqueduct
Hippocampus
Red nucleus
Interpeduncular fossa
Small part of basilar pons

19. Coronal Section: Midbrain II
Splenium of corpus callosum
The lateral ventricle extends into the temporal horn (trigone)
Pulvinar, caudal end of thalamus
Hippocampal commissure (below splenium) connects the two hippocampi
Fornix originates from the hippocampus
Optic radiations (vertical sheet) course caudally in the wall of the lateral ventricle toward cuneus & lingual gyri
Superior colliculus
Basilar pons
Parahippocampal gyrus

20. Coronal Section: Midbrain II Closeup
Trigone (body of lateral ventricle courses ventrally to join temporal horn)
Medial geniculate body
Pulvinar
Splenium
Crus of fornix
Hippocampal commissure
Fimbria of fornix
Superior colliculus
Cerebral aqueduct and periaqueductal gray
Oculomotor nucleus
Hippocampus
Basilar pons
Substantia nigra

21. Rostral Midbrain Superior colliculus Cerebral aqueduct
Goss
Cerebral aqueduct
Rostral Midbrain
Substantia nigra
Crus cerebri (cerebral peduncle)
Oculomotor nerve (III)

22. Caudal Midbrain Inferior colliculus Cerebral aqueduct
Goss
Cerebral aqueduct
Trochlear nerve (IV)
Decussation of superior cerebellar peduncle
Caudal Midbrain
Basilar pons

23. Rostral Pons Anterior medullary velum Rostral 4th ventricle
Goss
Superior cerebellar peduncle
Pontine tegmentum
Rostral Pons
Locus ceruleus
Basilar pons

24. Caudal Pons Superior cerebellar peduncle Vermis Fourth ventricle
Goss
Vermis
Caudal Pons
Fourth ventricle
Facial colliculus
Pontine tegmentum
Basilar pons
Middle cerebellar peduncle

25. Rostral Medulla
Deep Cerebellar Nuclei
Goss

26. Cross Sections: Rostral Medulla
Vermis
Deep cerebellar nuclei
Choroid plexus in 4th ventricle
Inferior cerebellar peduncle
Lateral recess of 4th ventricle
Middle cerebellar peduncle
Foramen of Luschka
Inferior olivary nucleus
Glossopharyngeal (IX) and vagus (X) nerves exit postolivary sulcus
CN IX & X
Flocculus
Corticospinal tract in medullary pyramid
Vestibulocochlear nerve (VIII)

27. Caudal Medulla Fasciculus graciclis Fasciculus cuneatus
Goss
Nucleus gracilis
Caudal Medulla
Nucleus cuneatus
Spinal nucleus V
Pyramidal tract

28. MRI Horizontal Sections
The planes of horizontal MRI’s are parallel to the top of the head.
A section through the thalamus shows all portions of the internal capsule.

29. Horizontal Section: Internal Capsule
Third ventricle
Putamen
Globus pallidus
Cuneus and lingual gyri
Posterior commissure, pineal gland
Anterior limb, internal capsule
Genu, internal capsule
Thalamus
Genu, corpus callosum
Caudate nucleus
Posterior horn, lateral ventricle
Septum pellucidum separates lateral ventricles
Optic radiations
Posterior limb, internal capsule
Fornix and interventricular foramen

30. MRI Horizontal Section
Lentiform nucleus (putamen & globus pallidus)
Thalamus
Caudate nucleus
Genu, corpus callosum
Splenium, corpus callosum
Ant. limb, int. capsule
Genu, int. capsule
Post. limb, int. capsule