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The cerebrum is divided into
two hemispheres separated by the longitudinal fissure. The terms fissure
and sulcus describe grooves in the surface of the cerebrum. Most of
the time fissure refers to a larger groove than a sulcus,
although they are somewhat interchangeable. In between grooves is found a
raised area called a gyrus. Certain of these structures are consistent
landmarks for the brain. The outer layer of the cerebrum is composed of gray
matter and is called the cerebral cortex. The cerebral cortex is the
area of conscious thought and perception. For this reason, and because
it forms a cap over the rest of the brain the cerebral cortex has been called
the "thinking cap". The cortex can be described as made up of
regions called lobes. Each lobe bears the name of the bone lying above it.
The central sulcus separates the parietal from the frontal
lobe. The lateral fissure divides the parietal from temporal
lobe. A short parieto-occipital fissure indicates the upper
delineation of the parietal from occipital lobe. The largest fissure is the longitudinal
fissure which divides the two hemispheres from one another.
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