Topography of the uncinate fascicle and adjacent temporal fiber tracts.

Neurosurgical procedures in the anterior temporal lobe are common, in which different postoperative neuropsychological deficits may occur. For the refinement of the surgical approach 10 human hemispheres were dissected using the method of dissection by Klinger, to gain more data about the fiber tracts in the anterior temporal lobe, respectively the temporal stem. The uncinate fascicle has a form like a curved dumb-bell with a thin (about 2 mm thick), fan-like arrangement of fibers in the frontal and temporal lobe. The solid portion runs in the extreme and external capsule through the limen insulae. The topography of adjacent important fiber tracts (inferior occipito-frontal fascicle, Meyer's loop, anterior commissure, inferior thalamic bundle) could be displayed. According to the results possible neuropsychological deficits and surgical considerations are discussed.