insula (Ins)

The term insula refers to a small but highly important island of cerebral cortex located deep in the lateral fissure of primate. Its overall shape, as identified by dissection in the human, is that of a pyramid with an insular apex directed laterally and a triangular base adherent to the extreme capsule in a roughly vertical plane. The boundaries of the insula are defined largely by the limiting sulcus. In the human it is separated from the superior temporal gyrus by the inferior limiting sulcus; separated from the rostral parietal lobe and inferior frontal gyrus by the superior limiting sulcus; and from part of the orbital gyri by the anterior limiting sulcus.The portions of the lobes that cover it are, correspondingly, the temporal operculum, the parietal operculum and the frontal operculum. The remaining rostral boundary of the insula is less distinct. Its rostrolateral junction with the temporal lobe is with the piriform cortex in the limen insula, and its rostromedial junction with the frontal lobe is through the transverse insular gyrus to the orbital gyri. Topologically the insula of the human consists of two parts separated by the central insular sulcus: the larger anterior insula and the smaller posterior_insula composed of the long insular gyri ( Ture-1999 ). In adult human the insula of the left hemisphere is larger than that of the right ( Bamiou-2003 ). In macaque the relation of the insula to surrounding lobes is the same as in the human. The human insula, however, is further subdivided into seven or eight gyri, while that of the macaque is smooth except for the orbitoinsular sulcus. This small sulcus is found near the boundary of the insula with the orbital gyri and is not seen in the human ( Mufson-1997 ). The insula does not exist as a topological structure in rodent ( NeuroNames ). The most complex insula is found in cetaceans, such as the dolphin ( Mesulam-1984 ). The human insula's many sulcal landmarks have little relation to its internal structure. Architectonically it is segmented according to two different schemes: a three part scheme of granular insula, dysgranular insula and agranular insula ( Mesulam-1982; Zilles-2012 ) and an earlier four part scheme in which the dysgranular insula is divided into a more granular dysgranular insular cortex (Roberts) and a more agranular insular cortex (Roberts) ( Roberts-1963; Roberts-1970; Paxinos-2009a ). The areas of cerebral cortex in the rodent that are architectonically equivalent to the primate insula are the agranular insular area, the dysgranular insula ( gustatory cortex of the rodent), and the granular insula ( visceral cortex of the rodent ). The insula is involved in the integration of many sensorimotor, socioemotional, and cognitive functions including gustation, visceral sensations and olfaction ( Fig. 3 in Kurth-2010b ); somatosensation (touch, pressure, temperature, etc.), as well as pain ( Fig. 4 in Kurth-2010b ); and attention, language, speech, and two forms of memory ( Fig. 5 in Kurth-2010b ).

Also known as: Insula Reilii, insula, Insula, Lobus insularis, Cortex insularis, insular cortex, island of Reil, insula lobule, insular lobe, cortex of island, central lobe, insular region, insula cerebri, insular gyrus, insulary cortex, insula of Reil, morphological insula

NeuroNames ID: 111

All Names & Sources

Showing 39 synonym(s)

Language
Name
Source
English
central lobe
English
cortex of island
English
insula
English
insula
English
insula lobule
English
insula of Reil
English
insular cortex
English
insular gyrus
English
insular lobe
English
insular region
English
insulary cortex
English
island of Reil
English
morphological insula
Species With The Structure
Equivalent By Human Macaque Rat Mouse
Topology Has The Structure Has The Structure Does Not Have The Structure Does Not Have The Structure

Showing 17 record(s)

Basis
Has Equivalent
Organism
Their Name
Source
Topology
Yes
central lobe
Topology
Yes
Cortex insularis
Topology
Yes
cortex of island
Topology
Yes
Insula
Topology
Yes
insula cerebri
Topology
Yes
insula lobule
Topology
Yes
insular cortex
Topology
Yes
insular gyrus
Topology
Yes
insular lobe
Topology
Yes
insulary cortex
Topology
Yes
island of Reil
Topology
Yes
Lobus insularis
Topology
No
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Topology
No
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Models Where It Appears
Structural CNS Model - Macaque