MR Imaging of the Temporal Stem: Anatomic Dissection Tractography of the Uncinate Fasciculus, Inferior Occipitofrontal Fasciculus, and Meyer’s Loop of the Optic Radiation

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The MR anatomy of the uncinate fasciculus, inferior occipitofrontal fasciculus, and Meyer’s loop of the optic radiation, which traverse the temporal stem, is not well known. The purpose of this investigation was to study these structures in the anterior temporal lobe and the external and extreme capsules and to correlate the dissected anatomy with the cross-sectional MR anatomy.

METHODS: Progressive dissection was guided by three-dimensional MR renderings and cross-sectional images. Dissected segments of the tracts and the temporal stem were traced and projected onto reformatted images. The method of dissection tractography is detailed in a companion article.

RESULTS: The temporal stem extends posteriorly from the level of the amygdala to the level of the lateral geniculate body. The uncinate and inferior occipitofrontal fasciculi pass from the temporal lobe into the extreme and external capsules via the temporal stem. Meyer’s loop extends to the level of the amygdala, adjacent to the uncinate fasciculus and anterior commissure. These anatomic features were demonstrated on correlative cross-sectional MR images and compared with clinical examples.

CONCLUSION: This study clarified the MR anatomy of the uncinate and inferior occipitofrontal fasciculi and Meyer’s loop in the temporal stem and in the external and extreme capsules, helping to explain patterns of tumor spread. The inferior occipitofrontal fasciculus is an important yet previously neglected tract. These results provide a solid anatomic foundation for diffusion tractography of the normal temporal stem and its tracts, as well as their abnormalities in brain disorders such as epilepsy, postoperative complications, trauma, schizophrenia, and Alzheimer disease.

The stem of the temporal lobe (temporal stem) forms a white matter bridge between the temporal and frontal lobes, and as such, it plays an important role in a number of disorders. It is a route of tumor, infection, and seizure spread. It is also a critical landmark in surgery of the temporal lobe because of its proximity to the insula, the basal ganglia, and the external and extreme capsules. Transection of the temporal stem during tumor and epilepsy surgery has the potential to result in quadrantanopia or hemianopia. The temporal stem also has a role in cerebral disorders resulting from congenital, traumatic, surgical, and degenerative disconnection of the temporal and frontal lobes.

The surgical and cross-sectional MR anatomies of the temporal stem are not well known. This is because of the lack of distinguishing landmarks of its components that include the uncinate fasciculus, inferior occipitofrontal fasciculus, and Meyer’s loop of the optic radiation.

The goal of this study was to delineate the white matter tracts passing through the stem of the temporal lobe with anatomic dissection tractography. This method used MR-assisted dissection and coregistration of MR images of the dissected and intact brain specimens to demonstrate the dissected anatomy on cross-sectional MR images. We also sought to facilitate understanding of patterns of disease spread via these tracts by first defining their anatomic and MR locations and then analyzing correlating clinical examples.

Methods

Delineation of the Temporal Stem

The landmarks used by Ebeling and von Cramon (1) for the temporal stem were applied in this investigation. A color-coded straight line, representing the temporal stem, was traced between the white matter directly inferior to the circular sulcus of the insula and the lateral superior margin of the temporal horn. The temporal stem was traced in a series of sequential coronal images extending from the level of the amygdala anteriorly to the level of the lateral geniculate body posteriorly. At the level of the amygdala, anterior to the temporal horn, the lateral margin of the amygdala was used as a substitute landmark instead of the lateral superior margin of the temporal horn. The temporal stem line thickness was widened to 5 mm for visualization. The entire stack of sequential tracings of the temporal stem in the coronal plane were combined and reformatted into a single structure in the axial and sagittal planes (Fig 1).

Fig 1.

MR localization of the temporal stem on multiplanar reformatted images of the specimen.

A, The temporal stem (green) is traced on a coronal image of the undissected specimen.

B and C, The entire stack of the sequential tracings of the temporal stem in the coronal plane was then combined and reformatted into a single structure in the axial (B) and sagittal planes (C).

Dissection and MR Imaging of Tracts

The method for dissection of the white matter tracts of the temporal stem and for delineation of these tracts on cross-sectional MR images is described in detail in a companion article on anatomic dissection tractography (2). Briefly, formalin-treated brain specimens were imaged at 1.5 T in the sagittal plane by using a 3D T1-weighted spoiled gradient-echo sequence before and after dissection. Progressive dissection of the white matter tracts in the anterior temporal lobe and insula was guided by 3D MR rendering and reformatted cross-sectional images of the specimens. Because of the close relationship of the uncinate fasciculus, the inferior occipitofrontal fasciculus, and Meyer’s loop in the temporal stem, specimens of the uncinate fasciculus were further dissected to demonstrate the three tracts in the same specimen. The lateral surfaces of the central segments of the uncinate fasciculus, the inferior occipitofrontal fasciculus, and Meyer’s loop were traced on 3D renderings of the MR images of the dissected specimen. The MR location of a tract was then determined by coregistering the MR images before and after dissection and by projecting the tracing of the tract onto reformatted images.

To visualize the uncinate fasciculus, the superior and middle temporal gyri and temporal pole were partially dissected away. The insular branches of the middle cerebral artery; the cortex of the insula; and segments of the extreme capsule, claustrum, external capsule, and orbital gyri were removed by dissection.

The inferior occipitofrontal fasciculus was identified by further dissection of the superior, middle, and inferior temporal lobe gyri and by dissection of the external and extreme capsule of the insula, superior to the uncinate fasciculus

To locate Meyer’s loop, the inferior occipitofrontal fasciculus and uncinate fasciculus were partially removed, and the middle and inferior temporal gyri were further dissected. The dissection did not extend all the way to the lateral geniculate body because removal of the entire temporal lobe segment of the inferior occipitofrontal fasciculus would have been required.

Cross-sectional MR images were created in multiple planes, with the white matter tracts color coded. Axial reformatted images were generated in two planes. One plane was created parallel to the bicommissural plane, passing through the center of the anterior commissure (3). This plane is minimally different from the Talairach method in which the bicommissural plane passes at the upper margin of the anterior commissure (4). The other plane was an oblique axial plane +17° to the bicommissural plane. The oblique axial plane was used to better demonstrate the relationship of the traced dissected tracts to the anterior commissure and to depict the length of the inferior occipitofrontal fasciculus. Coronal and sagittal reformatted images were generated in planes perpendicular to the bicommissural plane, and the Talairach coordinate for each image reformatted in the Talairach plane was determined. Images generated oblique to the Talairach vectors, therefore, did not have an associated Talairach coordinate.

Correlative clinical cases were collected to illustrate how pathologic involvement of the tracts contributed to the spread of disease or symptoms.

Results

Temporal Stem

Figure 1 shows the location and the anteroposterior extent of the temporal stem, which extends from the level of the amygdala to the level of the lateral geniculate body.

Uncinate Fasciculus

Dissection demonstrated the uncinate fasciculus in the white matter of the temporal lobe lateral to the amygdala and hippocampus. It curved upward, passing behind and above the trunk of the middle cerebral artery (M1 segment) into the extreme and external capsule medial to the insular cortex. From there, it continued into the posterior orbital gyrus. These features were well visualized on the anatomic dissection, the 3D MR rendering of the dissection, and a correlative parasagittal image from a patient with tumor involvement of this tract (Figs 2–4).

Fig 2.

Dissected uncinate fasciculus.

A, Photograph of the lateral aspect of a dissected cerebral hemisphere shows the segment of the uncinate fasciculus connecting the temporal and frontal lobes. To visualize the uncinate fasciculus, the anterior segment of the superior temporal gyrus (S), a portion of the middle temporal gyrus (M), and the temporal pole were partially removed by dissection. The insular (M2) branches of the middle cerebral artery were also removed by dissection. The horizontal segment (M1) of the middle cerebral artery was left in place as a landmark (arrowhead). The cortex of the insula and parts of the extreme capsule, the claustrum, the external capsule, and the orbital gyri were dissected away. The fiber bundles of the uncinate fasciculus (transparent red) originate in the white matter of the temporal lobe, course around the M1 segment, enter the extreme and external capsules, and continue into the orbital gyri. To visualize the underlying dissected uncinate fasciculus, we used a 10% transparent red that results in a pink appearance. I signifies the inferior temporal gyrus. To better demonstrate the dissected structures, the brain is tilted 30°, with the temporal lobe closer to the camera.

B, 3D MR rendering demonstrates the lateral surface of the dissected segment of the uncinate fasciculus (red). The uncinate fasciculus courses around the M1 segment of the middle cerebral artery and connects the temporal and frontal lobes.

The relationship of the lateral surface of the uncinate fasciculus to the adjacent structures was well delineated on reformatted cross-sectional MR images of the coregistered specimens (Fig 3). Coronal MR images showed the uncinate fasciculus coursing from the temporal lobe lateral to the amygdala, through the temporal stem, and into the lower segment of the extreme capsule lateral to the claustrum (Fig 3A). Axial reformatted images showed that the uncinate fasciculus passed from the temporal lobe through the temporal stem and into the lower region of the frontal lobe, just above the sylvian fissure, at the level of the anterior commissure (Fig 3B and C). At its most superior level, the uncinate fasciculus was below the level of the frontal horns of the lateral ventricles (Fig 3D). The 3D MR rendering and the reformatted cross-sectional MR images of the specimen were correlated with clinical examples demonstrating the spread of disease between temporal and frontal lobes via the uncinate fasciculus (Fig 4).

Fig 3.

Cross-sectional MR images of the uncinate fasciculus.

A, Coronal reformatted image of the specimen shows the uncinate fasciculus (red) passing from the temporal lobe lateral to the amygdala (A), through the temporal stem (green), and into the lower segment of the extreme capsule lateral to the claustrum (arrow). Coronal Talairach coordinate = −3.

B, Axial reformatted image shows segments of the uncinate fasciculus in the inferior frontal (F) and temporal (T) lobes at the level of the sylvian fissure pedicle (arrowhead). The temporal lobe segment is passing through the temporal stem. Axial Talairach coordinate = −9.

C, Oblique (+17°) axial reformatted image superior to the sylvian fissure pedicle shows the uncinate fasciculus passing from the temporal lobe through the temporal stem and into the lower region of the frontal lobe. This image is at the level of the inferior edge of the claustrum (thin arrow), putamen (P), head of the caudate nucleus (C), and anterior commissure (thick arrow). The oblique axial plane was generated at +17° to the bicommissural plane and used to better demonstrate the relationship of the dissected tracts to the anterior commissure. This oblique axial image is not in Talairach coordinates.

D, Axial image shows the most superior level at which the uncinate fasciculus (red) is present in the extreme capsule lateral to the claustrum (arrow). At its most superior level, the uncinate fasciculus is below the level of the frontal horns of the lateral ventricles. Axial Talairach coordinate = −1.

Fig 4.

Clinical correlation of uncinate fasciculus involvement on cross-sectional MR imaging.

A, Nonenhanced parasagittal T1-weighted image in a 36-year-old woman with a temporal lobe astrocytoma extending into the frontal lobe. The region of the abnormal uncinate fasciculus (small arrows) can be identified within the low signal intensity of the tumor. It passes around the middle cerebral artery (arrowhead) into the frontal lobe, including the posterior orbital gyrus (large arrow). The relationship of the uncinate fasciculus to the middle cerebral artery is similar to that shown in the dissected specimen in Figure 2.

B, T2-weighted coronal image in a 44-year-old man with a temporal lobe astrocytoma. The tumor and edema are located adjacent to the amygdala (A). The location of the uncinate fasciculus on the coronal MR study in Figure 3A suggests the tumor is spreading out of the temporal lobe into the extreme and external capsules (arrows) via the region of the uncinate fasciculus.

C, T2-weighted axial image in a 42-year-old man with a temporal-lobe oligodendroglioma that is just beginning to spread into the extreme capsules (small arrows) via the region of the uncinate fasciculus at the level of the anterior commissure (large arrow).

D, T2-weighted axial image in a 60-year-old man with an oligodendroglioma. The tumor (small arrows), shown at the level of the anterior commissure (large arrow), has spread into the extreme and external capsules on either side of the claustrum (arrowhead) with further involvement of the orbital gyri (crossed arrow). Comparison of the images in C and D with Figure 3C illustrates the spread of the tumor from temporal to frontal lobe via the uncinate fasciculus.

Inferior Occipitofrontal Fasciculus

Dissection demonstrated that the inferior occipitofrontal fasciculus passed from the temporal lobe into the extreme and external capsules with the uncinate fasciculus (Fig 5). In the extreme and external capsules, it was superior to the uncinate fasciculus.

Fig 5.

Dissected inferior occipitofrontal fasciculus shown along with the uncinate fasciculus.

A, Photograph of the lateral aspect of a dissected cerebral hemisphere shows the inferior occipitofrontal fasciculus and uncinate fasciculus bridging the temporal and frontal lobes. This figure demonstrates additional dissection of the specimen in Figure 1. Further dissection of the superior (S), middle (M), inferior (I) temporal-lobe gyri and of the external and extreme capsule identified the inferior occipitofrontal fasciculus. The uncinate fasciculus (red) originates in the white matter of the temporal lobe and curves around the M1 segment of the middle cerebral artery (arrowhead), entering the extreme and external capsules. The inferior occipitofrontal fasciculus (pink), which connects the occipital and frontal lobes via the temporal lobe, passes into the extreme and external capsules adjacent and superior to the uncinate fasciculus. The inferior occipitofrontal fasciculus is a tract larger and longer than the uncinate fasciculus. In its course from the occipital to the frontal lobe, it traverses almost the entire length of the temporal lobe. To demonstrate the underlying dissected tracts, we used a 10% transparent red for the uncinate fasciculus and 10% transparent pink for the inferior occipitofrontal fasciculus. To better visualize the dissected structures, the brain is tilted 30°, with the temporal lobe closer to the camera.

B, 3D MR rendering demonstrates the surfaces of the dissected inferior occipitofrontal fasciculus (pink) and uncinate fasciculus (red). Arrowhead indicates the M1 segment of the middle cerebral artery.

Dissected anatomic evaluations, as well as crosssectional images, demonstrated that the inferior occipitofrontal fasciculus had a long, anteroposterior course in the temporal lobe, unlike the uncinate fasciculus, which was situated in the anterior part of the temporal lobe (Figs 6 and 7A). On coronal images (Fig 6), the dissected inferior occipitofrontal fasciculus extended from the level of the amygdala to the level of the posterior thalamus and the lateral geniculate body. After exiting the temporal lobe, the inferior occipitofrontal fasciculus passed into the extreme and external capsules, where it was located superior to the uncinate fasciculus. Axial images demonstrated that the most superior region of the inferior occipitofrontal fasciculus was at the level of the frontal horn of the lateral ventricle (Fig 7A), whereas the most superior extent of the uncinate fasciculus was below the level of the frontal horn of the lateral ventricle (Fig 3D).

Fig 6.

Cross-sectional anatomic relationships of the inferior occipitofrontal fasciculus in sequential coronal MR planes.

A, Level of the frontal horn of the lateral ventricle and the anterior amygdala (A). This image shows the inferior occipitofrontal fasciculus (pink) in the external capsule, adjacent to the claustrum (arrow), and above the uncinate fasciculus (red); the last crosses the temporal stem (green). Coronal Talairach coordinate = −5.

B, Image at the level of the posterior amygdala and hippocampal head shows only the uncinate fasciculus in the temporal stem. The inferior occipitofrontal fasciculus is in the lower segment of the extreme capsule, lateral to the claustrum (arrow). Coronal Talairach coordinate = −7.

C, Level of the body of the lateral ventricle and the hippocampus. The inferior occipitofrontal fasciculus passes from the temporal lobe, through the temporal stem, and into the lower segment of the extreme capsule lateral to the claustrum (arrow). This level is posterior to the uncinate fasciculus. Coronal Talairach coordinate = −13.

D, The inferior occipitofrontal fasciculus crosses the temporal stem into the white matter lateral to the thalamus and lateral geniculate body (arrow). Coronal Talairach coordinate = −22.

Fig 7.

Images of the inferior occipitofrontal fasciculus.

A, Oblique (+17°) axial image shows the inferior occipitofrontal fasciculus coursingfrom the temporal lobe through the extreme and external capsules. The most superior region of the inferior occipitofrontal fasciculus (pink) is at the level of the frontal horn (arrow) of the lateral ventricle. This image and the series of coronal images in Figure 6 demonstrate the long anteroposterior extent of the dissected segment of the inferior occipitofrontal fasciculus. The oblique axial plane was used to better demonstrate the length of the inferior occipitofrontal fasciculus.

B, Oblique (+17°) axial image. Of note is the proximity of the inferior occipitofrontal fasciculus to the anterior commissure (arrow). The anterior commissure is best demonstrated in the oblique plane. On this image, only a small segment of the inferior occipitofrontal fasciculus is adjacent to the anterior commissure.

C, Axial image shows the inferior occipitofrontal fasciculus passing from the temporal lobe into the extreme capsule via the temporal stem (green). The images in B and C show that, at the level of the anterior commissure (arrow), both the uncinate fasciculus and the inferior occipitofrontal fasciculus are present in the extreme capsule. Axial Talairach coordinate = −5. Comparison of the images in B and C demonstrates that the proximity and relationship of the uncinate fasciculus and inferior occipitofrontal fasciculus to the anterior commissure depends on the obliquity of the axial plane.

The anatomic information provided by the correlative anatomic and MR study demonstrated the role of the inferior occipitofrontal fasciculus in tumor spread beyond the temporal lobe (Figs 8 –10).

Fig 8.

Clinical correlation of the inferior occipitofrontal fasciculus in the sagittal plane. Parasagittal T2-weighted image in a 70-year-old man with a temporal-lobe glioblastoma multiforme. The tracts shown in the anatomic dissection (Fig 5A), the 3D MR rendering (Fig 5B), and the size of the lesion above the middle cerebral artery void (arrowhead) suggest that the tumor and edema has spread into the frontal lobe via both the uncinate fasciculus and the inferior occipitofrontal fasciculus.

Fig 9.

Clinical examples show involvement of the inferior occipitofrontal fasciculus at coronal MR planes corresponding to those in Figure 6.

A, Enhanced T1-weighted image in a 58-year old man with a recurrent glioblastoma multiforme. This image is at the level of the frontal horn of the lateral ventricle, and the amygdala (A). Comparison with Figure 6A demonstrates that the enhanced tumor is spreading out of the temporal lobe via the region of the uncinate fasciculus (large arrows). The nonenhanced edema and tumor in the extreme and external capsules, around the claustrum (arrowhead), involve the region of the inferior occipitofrontal fasciculus (small arrows). This combined involvement of the uncinate fasciculus and the inferior occipitofrontal fasciculus may vary depending on the exact location of the upper margin of the uncinate fasciculus and the lower margin of the inferior occipitofrontal fasciculus and the angulation of the section.

B, Proton density–weighted image in a 52-year-old man with a temporal lobe astrocytoma spreading into the extreme and external capsules at the posterior amygdala/hippocampal head level. Comparison with Figure 6B shows that the tumor and edema is spreading out of the temporal lobe via the region of both the uncinate fasciculus (large arrows) and the inferior occipitofrontal fasciculus (small arrows).

C, T2-weighted image in a 36-year-old woman with a temporal lobe astrocytoma spreading into the extreme and external capsules. The tumor is at the level of the body of the lateral ventricle and hippocampus. Comparison with Figure 6C, obtained at a similar coronal plane, demonstrates that the tumor and edema are spreading out of the temporal lobe via the region of the inferior occipitofrontal fasciculus (arrows).

D, T2-weighted image in a 68-year-old woman with a temporal lobe anaplastic oligodendroglioma spreading into the deep white matter lateral to the thalamus. Comparison with Figure 6D demonstrates that the inferior occipitofrontal fasciculus (arrows) is involved in the tumor and edema spread out of the temporal lobe.

Fig 10.

Corresponding clinical examples involving the inferior occipital fasciculus in the axial plane.

A, In this 41-year-old woman, the tumor has spread to the extreme capsule. Comparison with Figure 7A shows that, at the level of the lateral ventricle, the tumor and edema is spreading out of the temporal lobe via the region of the inferior occipitofrontal fasciculus (arrows).

B, In this 61-year-old man, the tumor has spread into the extreme and external capsules around the claustrum (arrowhead). This image is at the level of the third ventricle and the anterior commissure (crossed arrow). Locations of the inferior occipitofrontal fasciculus and the uncinate fasciculus in Figure 7B and C suggest that the tumor and edema has spread out of the temporal lobe via the region of both the inferior occipitofrontal fasciculus (small arrows) and the uncinate fasciculus (large arrows). Depending on the angulation of the axial plane, or a few millimeters change in section selection, tumor spread at the anterior commissure level may involve the inferior occipitofrontal fasciculus and the uncinate fasciculus to a variable degree.

Meyer’s (Temporal) Loop of the Optic Radiation

Dissection demonstrated that the fibers of the optic radiation pathway passed laterally from the region of the lateral geniculate body. The fiber bundles then curved posteriorly forming Meyer’s loop (Fig 11A). The dissected surface of Meyer’s loop is shown on the sagittal 3D MR rendering of the dissected specimen (Figs 11B and C).

Fig 11.

Dissected Meyer’s loop with the inferior occipitofrontal fasciculus and the uncinate fasciculus.

A, Photograph of the lateral aspect of a dissected cerebral hemisphere shows Meyer’s loop (yellow), the inferior occipitofrontal fasciculus (pink), and the uncinate fasciculus (red). This figure demonstrates additional dissection of the specimen in Figure 5A. Further dissection of the superior (S), middle (M), inferior temporal lobe gyri; the inferior occipitofrontal fasciculus; and the white matter of the temporal lobe was performed. To visualize the fiber bundles of the optic radiation, the fibers of the inferior part of the occipitofrontal fasciculus and the posterior part of the uncinate fasciculus were partially removed by dissection. The dissection demonstrates the multiple fibers of the optic radiation, which pass laterally and bend posteriorly to form the curving fiber bundles of Meyer’s loop. Of note is the proximity of the anterior commissure (arrow) to the anterior fiber bundle of Meyer’s loop, to the inferior occipitofrontal fasciculus, and to the uncinate fasciculus; the last curves around the horizontal segment of the middle cerebral artery (arrowhead). To demonstrate the underlying tracts, we used a 10% transparent red for the uncinate fasciculus, 10% pink for the inferior occipitofrontal fasciculus, and 10% transparent yellow for Meyer’s loop. To better visualize the dissected structures, the brain is tilted and angled, with the temporal lobe closer to the camera.

B, 3D MR rendering demonstrates the surfaces of the dissected Meyer’s loop, inferior occipitofrontal fasciculus and uncinate fasciculus. The inferior section of the inferior occipitofrontal fasciculus and the posterior section of the uncinate fasciculus shown in Figure 5B are not present here because they had to be removed by dissection to visualize the surface of Meyer’s loop. Arrowhead indicates the middle cerebral artery trunk.

C, 3D MR rendering of the undissected brain with the underlying dissected white matter tracts project to the cortical surface. The entire dissected surfaces of the uncinate fasciculus and inferior occipitofrontal fasciculus are shown in this image. The upper section of Meyer’s loop is not present on this image, as it is deep to the inferior occipitofrontal fasciculus.

The color tracing of Meyer’s loop shown in the multiplanar reformatted images demonstrates the location of segments of Meyer’s loop included in each MR sectional image (Figs 12 and 13). The most anterior extent of Meyer’s loop was at the level of the amygdala but did not reach the level of the tip of the temporal horn (Figs 12A and13A). Meyer’s loop extended over the roof of the temporal horn, passed through the temporal stem, and traveled along the lateral wall of the temporal horn (Fig 12A and B). Meyer’s loop was located deep to the inferior occipitofrontal fasciculus throughout much of its course. This relationship is shown in Figure 12B. In Figure 12C, the inferior occipitofrontal fasciculus is not included in the reformatting.

Fig 12.

Coronal images through Meyer’s loop.

A, Image at the level of the amygdala (A) shows the most anterior extent of Meyer’s loop (arrowhead) and its relationship to the dissected uncinate fasciculus (red) and the inferior occipitalfrontal fasciculus (pink). Coronal Talairach coordinate = −7.

B, Image at the level of the hippocampus (just anterior to the lateral geniculate body) shows Meyer’s loop superior and lateral to the temporal horn, crossing the temporal stem (green). Meyer’s loop (yellow) is located deep to the inferior occipitofrontal fasciculus (pink). This relationship is maintained throughout most of the course of these structures. Coronal Talairach coordinate = −18.

C, Image at the level of the lateral geniculate body (arrow) shows Meyer’s loop located above and lateral to the temporal horn. The inferior occipitofrontal fasciculus is not included in this image. Arrowhead indicates the hippocampus. Coronal Talairach coordinate = −23.

Fig 13.

Axial images through Meyer’s loop.

A, Reformatted image obtained in an axial plane parallel to floor of the temporal lobe is advantageous for showing Meyer’s loop (yellow) coursing along the lateral wall of the temporal horn (T). Of note is the most anterior extent of Meyer’s loop, which is at the level of the amygdala (A) but does not reach the level of the tip of the temporal horn (compare with Fig 12A). The undissected optic radiation (arrows) is passing toward the occipital lobe. H indicates the hippocampus.

B, Oblique (+17°) axial image at the level of the lateral geniculate body (arrowhead), shows Meyer’s loop (arrow) crossing over the region of the roof of the temporal horn, which is below this image level. This relationship is more obvious on the coronal images in Figure 12B and C.

The anatomic information provided by the correlative anatomic and MR study of Meyer’s loop helped explain its involvement with lesions of the temporal lobe (Figs 14 and 15).

Fig 14.

Clinical correlation of Meyer’s loop in the coronal plane. In this 51-year-old woman with a recent stroke and quadrantanopia, an ischemic lesion is present in the region of Meyer’s loop (arrow), superior to the hippocampus and temporal horn. Compare with Figure 12B

Fig 15.

Clinical correlation of Meyer’s loop in the axial plane. In this 51-year-old woman with a recent stroke and quadrantanopia (same patient as in Fig 14), an ischemic lesion is present in the region of Meyer’s loop (arrow). Compare with Figure 13B.

Discussion

The Temporal Stem

Anatomy.—

The stem of the temporal lobe (temporal stem) forms a bridge between the temporal lobe and other regions of the brain. It is important to establish its cross-sectional anatomy because of its role as a reciprocal route of tumor, infection, and seizure spread and also its functional significance. The term temporal stem seems to have resulted from the pictorial appearance of the structure on coronal anatomic sections of the brain and was apparently initiated by Horel (5). In an earlier publication, Horel and Misantone (6) referred to it as the albal stalk, “a thin band of white matter … that forms a bridge between the medullary core of the temporal lobe and the capsules of the brain stem.” The term albal stalks was also used in reference to the temporal lobe gyri of the macaque brain in an earlier publication (7). In the article published in 1978, Horel used temporal stem and albal stalk interchangeably and labeled the temporal stem on a coronal diagram of the right hemisphere of the brain (5). He stated that it contains connections of afferent and efferent fibers of the temporal cortex and amygdala but that it carried no connections of the hippocampus. Referring to Horel’s article, Cirillo et al (8) stated that the “medullary core of the temporal lobe in coronal section in humans has the form of a thick stem with its base pointed medially and with branches extending into the gyri of the temporal lobe.” They continued, “it is reasonable to assume that this white matter represents the connections between … the temporal cortex/amygdala and the orbital frontal cortex, the striatum and the thalamus.” Horel and Misantone (6) also described impaired visual discrimination resulting from transection of the temporal stem in monkeys. Since Horel’s articles, the term temporal stem has been frequently used in the literature, but rarely in the radiologic literature (9, 10)

Ebeling and Cramon’s (1) detailed article describes the temporal stem as forming a “narrow gate between the lower circular sulcus of the insula and the roof of the temporal horn in the deep white matter of the second temporal gyrus.” They describe the following fiber tracts passing through the temporal stem: anterior commissure, uncinate fasciculus, inferior occipitofrontal fasciculus, Meyer’s loop of the optic radiation, and inferior thalamic fibers.

Duvernoy (11) uses a slightly different landmark in describing the temporal stem as the narrow lamina of white matter between the temporal horn and the fundus of the superior temporal sulcus. We chose to use Ebeling and Cramon’s (1) landmarks because drawing the temporal stem line toward the superior temporal sulcus places the superior temporal gyrus outside the temporal lobe. Additionally, in many of the specimen photographs in Duvernoy’s books (3, 11, 12), the indicated location of the temporal stem appears to be closer to the circular sulcus of the insula than to the superior temporal sulcus.

Duvernoy’s (3, 12) specimen photographs indicate the region of the temporal stem extending from the level of the amygdala anteriorly to the level of the lateral geniculate body posteriorly. Therefore, in our investigation, we used these same anterior and posterior limits. Similar anteroposterior landmarks were used for transection of the temporal stem in monkeys studied for amnesia (13).

Our investigation shows that, at its anterior extent, the temporal stem is crossed by the uncinate fasciculus, while the inferior occipitofrontal fasciculus and Meyer’s loop cross its posterior extent (Figs 3, 6, 12, 16). The temporal stem appears to be supplied by the anterior choroidal artery (14).

Fig 16.

Relationship between the temporal stem and tracts on a reformatted sagittal MR image. The uncinate fasciculus (red) traverses the anterior part of the temporal stem (green), while the inferior occipitofrontal fasciculus (pink) and Meyer’s loop (yellow) pass through the posterior part. The inferior occipitofrontal fasciculus and Meyer’s loop pass through the temporal stem almost throughout its entire length.

Functional Significance.—

The temporal stem plays an important role in a number of disorders, including amnesia, Klüver-Bucy syndrome, traumatic brain injury, temporal lobe epilepsy, and Alzheimer disease.

Horel, in his publication introducing the term temporal stem, suggested that the amnesic syndrome that results from medial temporal removals was due to cutting some of the fiber connections that are contained within the stem rather than to hippocampal damage (5). Ebeling and Reulen (15) advised avoiding damaging the temporal stem during temporal lobe surgery. Surgical lesions of the temporal stem may result in abnormalities of learning, spatial, visual, and verbal functions. Additionally, the efferent fiber systems of the temporal allocortex, neocortex, and amygdala are severed, and the temporal association areas become isolated. Horel’s challenge to the hippocampal memory hypothesis has remained controversial and has generated a large number of experimental studies in monkeys and clinical studies in patients. Multiple investigations have dealt with this controversy as it specifically relates to the temporal stem (5, 6, 8, 13, 14, 16–25).

Studies in monkeys suggest that the Klüver-Bucy syndrome occurs when damage to the temporal stem and fornix substantially reduces information flow between the occipital, temporal, and frontal lobes (16, 23). Reduction in the volume of the temporal stem region has been shown to result from traumatic brain injury (10). As axons are the most susceptible brain structures to shear injury and its atrophic sequelae, the reduction in the volume of the temporal stem relates to it being the area in which both efferent and afferent white matter tracts converge as they enter and exit the temporal lobe.

An MR diffusion study in patients who underwent temporal lobe surgery for epilepsy showed elevated water diffusivity in the temporal stem on the side of the operation compared with the temporal stem of the contralateral side as well as with values in healthy subjects (26). The study also showed similar findings in the temporal stem of patients with mesial temporal sclerosis. The authors postulated that the increased water diffusivity in the temporal stem resulted from gliosis in the postoperative patients and from wallerian degeneration in the patients with mesial temporal sclerosis.

Increased water diffusion in the temporal stem has been described in MR diffusion studies of patients with Alzheimer disease. It has been postulated that the increased water diffusion results from disruption and loss of axonal membranes and the myelin in the fiber tracts of the temporal stem (9, 27).