Intermediate
Technical
In the Industry Vocabulary Test
commissure
Bundle of nerve fibers connecting corresponding structures on opposite sides of the nervous system.
Full Definition
A commissure is a tract of axons that crosses the midline to connect homologous structures in the left and right hemispheres or sides of the nervous system. The most prominent example is the corpus callosum, but smaller commissures include the anterior commissure and posterior commissure. These structures are crucial for interhemispheric communication and coordination of bilateral functions.
Usage
Usage note: Distinguished from 'decussation' which specifically refers to crossing without necessarily connecting homologous structures.
In Context
- "The anterior commissure showed reduced fiber density in the patient group." — Neuroimaging study report
- "Callosal commissure development was tracked using diffusion tensor imaging." — Developmental neuroscience paper
Also known as
commissural tract
decussation
Don't confuse with
fasciculus
lemniscus