The corpus callosum is the largest commissure of the brain, a thick arched band of about 200 million axons connecting the two cerebral hemispheres. It lies at the bottom of the longitudinal fissure and forms most of the roof of the lateral ventricles. From front to back it is divided into the rostrum, genu, body and splenium.
| Location | Midline, at the floor of the longitudinal cerebral fissure, above the lateral ventricles and fornix |
|---|---|
| Parts |
|
| Connections |
|
| Blood Supply | Anterior cerebral artery (pericallosal artery); Posterior cerebral artery (splenial branches) |
Allows the two hemispheres to share sensory, motor and cognitive information so the brain works as one unit.
Complete or partial absence (agenesis) may be silent or associated with developmental problems. Cutting it (corpus callosotomy) reduces drop attacks in severe epilepsy but can produce disconnection signs, such as inability to name objects held in the left hand. It is a typical site for multiple sclerosis plaques and diffuse axonal injury, and a 'butterfly' tumour crossing it is usually a glioblastoma or lymphoma.
A congenital partial or complete absence, ranging from no symptoms to developmental delay and seizures.
Problems sharing information between hemispheres after callosal damage, such as left-hand apraxia and tactile anomia.
A malignant tumour spreading through the corpus callosum into both hemispheres.
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