A METHOD OF MEASURING THE CEREBRAL AND CEREBELLAR CORTICAL SURFACES

Abstract

The only accurate index of the functional extent of a structure like the cerebral or cerebellar cortex is its entire surface area. The estimation of the area of the visible parts of these structures gives only a limited knowledge of their extent. Only about one third of the cerebral cortex and one fifth of the cerebellar cortex are visible. Impressed with this fact, we first made a search of the literature for methods to determine this area. The review shows that the methods used were not satisfactory, and for this reason the method here reported was devised. REVIEW OF LITERATURE Henneberg,¹ in 1910, undertook surface measurements of the cortex, using millimeter paper which he pressed on small pieces of the cut up brain. He was able to confirm the work of Wagner in its general conclusions and estimated that the surface of the cortex was 226,200 sq. mm., while