Occipitotemporal is a term used in medical and neuroscientific circles, and refers to an area in the human brain that is responsible for visual processing. The spelling of this word can be confusing, as it contains a number of relatively rare phonemes. In IPA phonetic transcription, it is spelled /ˌɒkˌsɪpɪtəʊˈtɛmpərəl/. The word begins with the "ok" sound, followed by a stressed syllable containing the "si" and "to" sounds. The final syllables contain the "tem" and "por" sounds, respectively.
Occipitotemporal is an adjective that pertains to or relates to the region in the brain, primarily found in the occipital and temporal lobes, specifically involved in visual processing and recognition. It refers to the area responsible for processing visual information related to shape, color, and object recognition.
In neuroanatomy, 'occipitotemporal' describes the connection between the occipital lobe at the back of the brain and the temporal lobe on the sides. This region is crucial for visual perception and plays a significant role in the recognition of faces, objects, and scenes. The occipitotemporal cortex contains several specialized regions, such as the fusiform face area (FFA), which specifically processes facial features, and the parahippocampal place area (PPA), which is involved in recognizing places and scenes.
The occipitotemporal region is also associated with high-level visual processes, such as object categorization, visual memory, and semantic understanding. It supports the integration of visual information from lower-level visual areas, and its neural connections allow for the formation of complex representations and associations.
Overall, the term 'occipitotemporal' refers to the functional and anatomical aspects related to the occipital and temporal lobes' involvement in visual processing, recognition, and interpretation. It signifies the significance of this region in our ability to understand and navigate the visual world around us.
Relating to the occiput and the temple, or the occipital and the temporal bones.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
The word "occipitotemporal" is derived from combining three Latin roots: "occiput", "tempus", and "alis".
1. "Occiput" comes from the Latin word "occiputis", which means the back or the hinder part of the head. It refers to the posterior (back) part of the skull.
2. "Tempus" means temple in Latin. In anatomy, the term refers to the side of the head between the forehead and the ear.
3. "Alis" is the plural form of the Latin suffix "-alis", meaning "pertaining to" or "relating to".
By combining "occiput" and "tempus" with the "-alis" suffix, the term "occipitotemporal" was formed.