Grey matter

When gray matter (Latin substantia grisea ) is defined as the areas of the central nervous system, consisting mainly of nerve cell bodies. The nerve fibers form, however, in their entirety, the white matter. The term " gray " comes from the fact that these areas are fixed in formalin preparation have a gray color. In living tissue, gray matter is more pink. Colloquially and false associations awakening is often called the " gray matter".

In the spinal cord gray matter is centrally located and forms a butterfly -like structure with a front and rear horn. In the field of thoracic and lumbar section one can also distinguish a Intermediärhorn in which the root cells of the sympathetic nervous system are. The gray matter in the spinal cord is completely surrounded by white matter.

In contrast, the brain gray matter for the most part located outside the enveloping white. These areas are called bark ( cortex). A cortex have the cerebrum ( telencephalon, see also cerebral cortex ) and cerebellum ( cerebellum). In the remaining sections of brain gray matter embedded in the white matter. These areas are referred to as cores or core regions ( nuclei ).

Studies that compared intelligence test scores with layered images on the volume of gray and white matter in different areas of the brain detect a correlation between higher intelligence levels and more gray matter in some specific areas that are associated with memory, attention and language ( Haier, 2004).

Gallery

Sagittal section of the brain: gray matter and white matter outside inside.

Evidence

• Central Nervous System
• Spinal cord
• Nervous tissue