area 44 (44)
The term area 44 refers to a subdivision of the frontal lobe defined by internal structure. It is located caudally in the opercular part of the inferior frontal gyrus. Identified on the basis of multiple stains, it is a narrow vertical strip separated more or less topologically as follows: caudally, from the precentral gyrus by the precentral sulcus; rostrally, from the triangular part of the inferior frontal gyrus by the anterior ascending limb of the lateral fissure; dorsally from the middle frontal gyrus by the inferior frontal sulcus; and ventrally from the insula by the superior limiting sulcus.
Architectonically, it and area 45 constitute the ventrolateral prefrontal cortex. It is bounded caudally by area 6, rostrally by area 45, and dorsally by area 9/46 and area 8 ( Petrides-2012 ). Equivalent to area 44 of Brodmann, it and area 45 are considered to represent the main part of Broca's area ( Zilles-2012 ).
Functionally area 44 and area 45 are considered part of motor cortex, namely, the rostral part of ventral premotor cortex (PMVr in the human, F5 in the macaque) ( Matelli-2004 ).
The macaque equivalent is topologically similar, except that it is smaller in comparison to area 45 and is located entirely in the caudal wall of the inferior ramus of the arcuate sulcus ( Petrides-2012 ). As granular prefrontal cortex, it has no equivalent in the rat ( Zilles-2012 ).
Also known as: area 44
NeuroNames ID: 3530
