Sylvian fissure

The lateral sulcus (also called Sylvian fissure or lateral fissure) is one of the most prominent structures of the human brain. It divides the frontal lobe and parietal lobe above from the temporal lobe below. It is in both hemispheres of the brain but is longer in the left hemisphere.

In the left hemisphere the lateral sulcus is between Wernicke's area and Broca's area. The Transverse temporal gyrus is also nearby. As the above areas of the brain are involved in language function the lateral sulcus appears also involved in language. '"Cortical areas that may be implicated in impaired language functioning include the Sylvian fissure." (Leonard, 2001).

It was named the sylvian fissure after Franciscus Sylvius ) (1614-1672), professor of medicine at Leiden.

Reference

 * Sylvian fissure
 * The peri-sylvian aphasias
 * sylvian fissure