Temporal lobe of the brain

The temporal lobe (lobus temporalis) occupies the lower lateral parts of the hemisphere and is separated from the frontal and parietal lobes by a deep lateral groove. The edge of the temporal lobe, covering the insular lobe, is called the temporal operculum (operculum temporale). The anterior part of the temporal lobe forms the temporal pole (polus temporalis). On the lateral surface of the temporal lobe, two grooves are visible - the superior and inferior temporal (sulci temporales superior et inferior), almost parallel to the lateral groove. The convolutions of the temporal lobe are oriented along the grooves. The superior temporal gyrus (gyrus temporalis superior) is located between the lateral groove above and the superior temporal below. On the upper surface of this gyrus, hidden in the depths of the lateral sulcus, are two or three short transverse temporal gyri (gyri temporales transversi, Heschl's gyri), separated by transverse temporal grooves (sulci temporales transversi). Between the upper and lower temporal sulci is the middle temporal gyrus (gyrus temporalis medius). The lower lateral edge of the temporal lobe is occupied by the lower temporal gyrus (gyrus temporalis inferior), limited from above by the groove of the same name. The posterior end of this gyrus continues into the occipital lobe.

The temporal lobe is separated from the frontal and parietal lobes by the lateral sulcus. On the outer surface of this lobe, the superior, middle, and inferior temporal gyri are distinguished, separated from each other by the corresponding sulci. On the inferior posterior surface of the temporal lobe is the lateral occipitotemporal gyrus, bordering the inferior temporal gyrus, and more medially, the hippocampal gyrus.

The insular lobe (island of Reil) is located in the depths of the lateral sulcus. It is covered by parts of the frontal, parietal and temporal lobes, which form the operculum (operculum frontale). The central sulcus of the insula divides it into two parts - the anterior and the posterior.

The temporal lobes contain the cortical sections (projection zones) of the auditory (superior temporal gyrus and transverse temporal gyrus), which are located under the lateral sulcus in the depths of the temporal lobe, the statokinesthetic (on the border of the temporal, occipital and parietal lobes), gustatory (cortex around the insular lobe), and olfactory (parahippocampal gyrus) analyzers. Part of the conductors of the visual pathway pass in the depths of the temporal lobe. Efferent pathways from the temporal lobes go to the subthalamic region, as well as to the pons of the brain - the temporo-ponto-cerebellar pathway.