The insula is a lobe of cortex hidden deep inside the lateral sulcus, covered by parts of the frontal, parietal and temporal lobes called the opercula. It is surrounded by the circular sulcus and divided into short anterior gyri and long posterior gyri. It links body sensations with emotion and awareness.
| Location | Deep in the floor of the lateral sulcus, covered by the frontal, parietal and temporal opercula |
|---|---|
| Parts |
|
| Connections |
|
| Blood Supply | Middle cerebral artery (insular M2 segment) |
Processes taste and internal body sensations (interoception), contributes to emotional awareness, pain experience, autonomic control and speech articulation.
The insula is often involved in middle cerebral artery strokes, and early loss of the insular ribbon on CT is a sign of acute infarction. Insular lesions can disturb taste, swallowing, heart rhythm control and awareness of bodily states. Insular epilepsy can mimic frontal or temporal seizures and is hard to localise.
Infarction from middle cerebral artery branches that may cause taste disturbance, swallowing problems or autonomic changes.
Tumour arising in the insula, difficult to remove because of nearby middle cerebral artery branches and motor pathways.
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