Horizontal section of the brain: Section A (English)

This image highlights the left side of the brain seen on a horizontal section at the level of the genu of the corpus callosum (A). The most striking gray matter structures seen in this section are the thalamus, located deep in the white matter, and the basal ganglia, which are the caudate nucleus (only the head and tail are visible), putamen and globus pallidus. In addition, several white matter tracts (internal, external and extreme capsules) in both sections A and B: note the different parts of the internal capsule (anterior limb, genu, posterior limb and retrolentiform limb). Section A reveals some parts of the white matter bundles that connect the two brain hemispheres, particularly the genu and splenium of corpus callosum as well as the column and crus of fornix. The third ventricle as well as the frontal and occipital horns of the lateral ventricle of the brain can also be identified. The frontal horn of the lateral ventricle on the left side is separated from its right counterpart by a thin, vertical membrane called septum pellucidum, that extends from the corpus callosum above and the fornix below.