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Wing of central lobule

The wing of the central lobule is a small but distinct anatomical area in the brain, specifically in the paracentral region of the cerebral cortex. It forms part of the paracentral lobule, which itself bridges the precentral and postcentral gyri on the medial surface of the hemisphere. The central lobule plays a crucial role in controlling motor and sensory functions of the contralateral lower limb. The "wing" refers to the medial extension that caps the central sulcus superiorly, and it is visible best in medial brain views.

Description

  • The wing of the central lobule is a narrow, arching portion located on the medial surface of the cerebral hemisphere.

  • It includes both motor (anterior) and sensory (posterior) representations, continuing from the precentral (motor) and postcentral (sensory) gyri.

  • This area is important for voluntary movement and sensory perception of the lower extremities.

  • The structure is best appreciated in sagittal brain sections, where it appears as an "inverted omega" or "paracentral lobule cap."

Synonyms

  • Paracentral lobule cap

  • Paracentral lobule (sometimes used interchangeably)

  • Medial extension of central lobule

  • Central lobule wing

Arterial Supply

  • Primarily supplied by the anterior cerebral artery (ACA), especially its pericallosal and callosomarginal branches.

  • Minor contributions may come from the terminal branches of the middle cerebral artery (MCA), especially at the junctional zones.

Venous Supply

  • Drained mainly by the superior sagittal sinus via superficial cortical veins.

  • Deep venous drainage may involve small tributaries leading to the internal cerebral veins.

Function

  • Motor control of the contralateral lower limb (anterior portion).

  • Sensory perception from the contralateral lower limb (posterior portion).

  • Involved in micturition control, given its proximity to the supplementary motor area.

MRI Appearance

  • On T1-weighted images: Appears as a cortical ribbon of intermediate signal intensity, capping the medial central sulcus.

  • On T2-weighted and FLAIR images: Appears slightly hyperintense relative to white matter, with well-demarcated boundaries.

  • The "omega sign" (inverted omega) can sometimes be identified in the paracentral lobule on sagittal MRI.

CT Appearance

  • On non-contrast CT: Difficult to delineate from adjacent cortex, but can be identified as part of the continuous cortical ribbon overlying the medial central sulcus.

  • No specific density differences; appears isodense to other cortical gray matter.

  • On contrast-enhanced scans, vascular territories may be more apparent, but structural differentiation remains subtle.

MRI images

Wing of central lobule MRI 3T axial image

MRI images

Wing of central lobule MRI 3T coronal image

MRI images

Wing of central lobule MRI 3T sagittal image

CT image

Wing of central lobule CT axial anatomy image -img-00001-00001