Arcuate fasciculus

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Brain: Arcuate fasciculus
Figure one illustrates significant language areas of the brain. The arcuate fasciculus links the green area (Wernicke's) to the blue area (Broca's), disruption of this pathway results in conduction aphasia.
Latin	fasciculus arcuatus
NeuroNames	ancil-540
Dorlands/Elsevier	f_03/12355817

The arcuate fasciculus (Latin, curved bundle) is the neural pathway connecting the posterior part of the temporoparietal junction with the frontal cortex in the brain and is now considered as part of the Superior longitudinal fasciculus.

Contents 1 Function 2 Pathology 3 See also 4 External links

[edit] Function

In the dominant hemisphere (usually the left), this pathway is thought to connect Wernicke's area and Broca's area. The function of the arcuate fasciculus of the nondominant hemisphere is very little studied.

It is thought to connect areas of the brain involved in the generation and understanding of language.

[edit] Pathology

Damage to this pathway can cause a form of aphasia known as conduction aphasia, where auditory comprehension and speech articulation are preserved, but people find it difficult to repeat heard speech.

[edit] See also

• aphasia

[edit] External links

• http://www.lib.mcg.edu/edu/eshuphysio/program/section8/8ch15/s8c15_14.htm
• http://thebrain.mcgill.ca/flash/d/d_10/d_10_cr/d_10_cr_lan/d_10_cr_lan.html
• http://brain.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/reprint/awh622v1.pdf

v • d • e White matter fibers Association fibers Uncinate fasciculus - Cingulum - Superior longitudinal fasciculus/Arcuate fasciculus - Inferior longitudinal fasciculus - Inferior occipitofrontal fasciculus - Fornix (Columns of fornix, Crus of fornix) Commissural fibers Corpus callosum (Genu, Splenium, Tapetum, Rostrum) - Anterior commissure - Posterior commissure - Commissure of fornix Projection fibers (none named)