Question

Compare and contrast interhemispheric and intrahemispheric white matter tracts

Answer 1

Intrahemisphereic white matter

• They extend vertically
• They connect the higher brain centers with the spinal cord
• They convey information from the lower body parts to brain and from the brain to the lower body parts.
• The white matter is the brain is called the internal capsule, in the brainstem it is called cerebral peduncle.
• It continues downwards in the spinal cord as a spinal white matter.
• The intrahemispheric white matter is responsible for conveying sensory and motor information to and fro between the brain the various body parts.
• The intrahemispheric white matter crosses over to the other side of the midline - this is called decussation.

Interhemispheric white matter:

1. This white matter connects both the hemisphere.
2. The types of interhemispheric white matter are:
   1. Corpus callosum
   2. Anterior commissure
   3. Posterior commissure
3. It allows the brain to integrate sensory information and provide correct motor output