Grey matter

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For other uses, see Grey Matter.

Grey matter
The formation of the spinal nerve from the dorsal and ventral roots (with grey matter labelled at centre right).
Micrograph showing grey matter, with the characteristic neuronal cell bodies (dark shade of pink), and white matter with its characteristic fine meshwork-like appearance (left of image; lighter shade of pink). HPS stain.
Details
Identifiers
Latinsubstantia grisea
MeSHD066128
TA98A14.1.00.002
A14.1.02.020
A14.1.04.201
A14.1.05.201
A14.1.05.401
A14.1.06.301
TA25365
FMA67242
Anatomical terminology

Grey matter, or brain matter in American English, is a major component of the central nervous system, consisting of neuronal cell bodies, neuropil (dendrites and unmyelinated axons), glial cells (astrocytes and oligodendrocytes), synapses, and capillaries. Grey matter is distinguished from white matter in that it contains numerous cell bodies and relatively few myelinated axons, while white matter contains relatively few cell bodies and is composed chiefly of long-range myelinated axons.[1] The colour difference arises mainly from the whiteness of myelin. In living tissue, grey matter actually has a very light grey colour with yellowish or pinkish hues, which come from capillary blood vessels and neuronal cell bodies.[2]

Structure

Grey matter refers to unmyelinated neurons and other cells of the central nervous system. It is present in the brain, brainstem and cerebellum, and present throughout the spinal cord.

Grey matter is distributed at the surface of the

cranial nerve nuclei
).

Grey matter in the spinal cord is known as the

grey commissure. The grey matter in the spinal cord consists of interneurons, as well as the cell bodies of projection neurons
.

  • Cross-section of a spinal vertebra with the spinal cord in the centre (and grey matter labelled).
    Cross-section of a spinal vertebra with the spinal cord in the centre (and grey matter labelled).
  • Cross-section of spinal cord with the grey matter labelled.
    Cross-section of spinal cord with the grey matter labelled.

Grey matter undergoes development and growth throughout childhood and adolescence.[3] Recent studies using cross-sectional neuroimaging have shown that by around the age of 8 the volume of grey matter begins to decrease.[4] However, the density of grey matter appears to increase as a child develops into early adulthood.[4] Males tend to exhibit grey matter of increased volume but lower density than that of females.[5]

Function

Grey matter contains most of the brain's neuronal cell bodies.[6] The grey matter includes regions of the brain involved in muscle control, and sensory perception such as seeing and hearing, memory, emotions, speech, decision-making, and self-control.

The grey matter in the spinal cord is split into three grey columns:

The grey matter of the spinal cord can be divided into different layers, called Rexed laminae. These describe, in general, the purpose of the cells within the grey matter of the spinal cord at a particular location.

  • Interneurons present in the grey matter of the spinal cord
    Interneurons present in the grey matter of the spinal cord
  • Rexed laminae groups the grey matter in the spinal cord according to its function.
    Rexed laminae groups the grey matter in the spinal cord according to its function.

Clinical significance

High

temporal cortex, and prefrontal cortex, with increased grey matter volume in the cerebellum.[10][11][12] Long-term cannabis use is also associated with alterations in white matter integrity in an age-dependent manner,[13] with heavy cannabis use during adolescence and early adulthood associated with the greatest amount of change.[14]

Meditation has been shown to change grey matter structure.[15][16][17][18][19]

Habitual playing of action video games has been reported to promote a reduction of grey matter in the hippocampus while 3D platformer games have been reported to increase grey matter in the hippocampus.[20][21][22]

Women and men with equivalent IQ scores have differing proportions of grey to white matter in cortical brain regions associated with intelligence.[23]

Pregnancy renders substantial changes in brain structure, primarily reductions in grey matter volume in regions subserving social cognition. The grey matter reductions endured for at least 2 years post-pregnancy.[24] The profile of brain changes is comparable to that taking place during adolescence, a hormonally similar transitional period of life.[25]

History

Etymology

In the current edition[26] of the official Latin nomenclature, Terminologia Anatomica, substantia grisea is used for English grey matter. The adjective grisea for grey is however not attested in classical Latin.[27] The adjective grisea is derived from the French word for grey, gris.[27] Alternative designations like substantia cana [28] and substantia cinerea[29] are being used alternatively. The adjective cana, attested in classical Latin,[30] can mean grey,[27] or greyish white.[31] The classical Latin cinerea means ash-coloured.[30]

Additional images

  • Human brain right dissected lateral view
    Human brain right dissected lateral view
  • Schematic representation of the chief ganglionic categories (I to V).
    Schematic representation of the chief ganglionic categories (I to V).

See also

References

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  21. ^ Collins K (10 August 2017). "Video games can either grow or shrink part of your brain, depending on how you play". qz.com. Archived from the original on 14 April 2018. Retrieved 5 May 2018.
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  26. ^ Federative Committee on Anatomical Terminology (FCAT) (1998). Terminologia Anatomica. Stuttgart: Thieme[page needed]
  27. ^ a b c Triepel H (1910). Die anatomischen Namen. Ihre Ableitung und Aussprache. Mit einem Anhang: Biographische Notizen (3rd ed.). Wiesbaden: Verlag J.F. Bergmann.[page needed]
  28. ^ Triepel H (1910). Nomina Anatomica. Mit Unterstützung von Fachphilologen. Wiesbaden: Verlag J.F. Bergmann.[page needed]
  29. ^ Schreger CH (1805). "Synonymia anatomica. Synonymik der anatomischen Nomenclatur". In Fürth (ed.). Bureau für Literatur.[page needed]
  30. ^ a b Lewis CT, Short C (1879). A Latin dictionary founded on Andrews' edition of Freund's Latin dictionary. Oxford: Clarendon Press.[page needed]
  31. ^ Stearn WT (1983). Charles D (ed.). Botanical Latin. History, grammar, syntax, terminology and vocabulary (3rd ed.). London: Newton Abbot.[page needed]

External links

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