6
W. L. Nowinski
• The presentation of neuroanatomy is in three dimensions (3D) with additional
supportive planar images in the orthogonal (axial, coronal, and sagittal) planes.
• The brain is subdivided into structure, vasculature, and connections (white
matter tracts); consequently, we consider structural, vascular, and connectional
neuroanatomies.
• 3D cerebral models of structure, vasculature, and tracts are mutually consistent
spatially, because they were derived from the same brain living specimen.
• 3D cerebral models and the planar images are fully parcellated; each parcellated
object is uniquely colored.
• 3D cerebral models and the planar images are completely labelled (named); as a
terminology we use the Terminologia Anatomica [75].
• 3D cerebral models are electronically dissectible into modules, groups, and
individual components allowing the atlas user for a fast scene composing
(structure assembly and/or disassembly).
In this work I use my digital brain atlases that have been developed for more than
two decades [63–69] (see the recent editorial [117]). The 3D cerebral models have
been created from multiple 3 and 7 Tesla magnetic resonance scans of my brain [69].
The development of the atlases is addressed in [78–82], tools for their creation in
[77], techniques for modelling of cerebral structures in [76, 78, 92], and atlas-based
applications in [79–91].
The recent (i.e. from the first edition of this book) developments in our brain
atlasing are covered in [93–116], including the extension of the virtual brain to the
head and neck. They also contain an overview of computational and mathematical
methods for brain atlasing [115] and future directions [116].
2.2 Structural (Gross) Neuroanatomy
We present parcellation (subdivision) of the brain in 3D followed by sectional
neuroanatomy. The stereotactic target structures and functional cortical areas also
are outlined.
2.2.1 Brain Parcellation
The central nervous system consists of the brain and the spinal cord. The brain
encases the fluid-filled ventricular system and is parcellated into three main
components 1 (Fig. 2.1a):
1 We follow here the brain parcellation as in, e.g. [16]. Some other sources (e.g. [18]) subdivide the
brain into the cerebrum, diencephalon, cerebellum, and brainstem.
W. L. Nowinski
• The presentation of neuroanatomy is in three dimensions (3D) with additional
supportive planar images in the orthogonal (axial, coronal, and sagittal) planes.
• The brain is subdivided into structure, vasculature, and connections (white
matter tracts); consequently, we consider structural, vascular, and connectional
neuroanatomies.
• 3D cerebral models of structure, vasculature, and tracts are mutually consistent
spatially, because they were derived from the same brain living specimen.
• 3D cerebral models and the planar images are fully parcellated; each parcellated
object is uniquely colored.
• 3D cerebral models and the planar images are completely labelled (named); as a
terminology we use the Terminologia Anatomica [75].
• 3D cerebral models are electronically dissectible into modules, groups, and
individual components allowing the atlas user for a fast scene composing
(structure assembly and/or disassembly).
In this work I use my digital brain atlases that have been developed for more than
two decades [63–69] (see the recent editorial [117]). The 3D cerebral models have
been created from multiple 3 and 7 Tesla magnetic resonance scans of my brain [69].
The development of the atlases is addressed in [78–82], tools for their creation in
[77], techniques for modelling of cerebral structures in [76, 78, 92], and atlas-based
applications in [79–91].
The recent (i.e. from the first edition of this book) developments in our brain
atlasing are covered in [93–116], including the extension of the virtual brain to the
head and neck. They also contain an overview of computational and mathematical
methods for brain atlasing [115] and future directions [116].
2.2 Structural (Gross) Neuroanatomy
We present parcellation (subdivision) of the brain in 3D followed by sectional
neuroanatomy. The stereotactic target structures and functional cortical areas also
are outlined.
2.2.1 Brain Parcellation
The central nervous system consists of the brain and the spinal cord. The brain
encases the fluid-filled ventricular system and is parcellated into three main
components 1 (Fig. 2.1a):
1 We follow here the brain parcellation as in, e.g. [16]. Some other sources (e.g. [18]) subdivide the
brain into the cerebrum, diencephalon, cerebellum, and brainstem.