Pronunciation: [splˈiːni͡əm] (IPA) 
The word "Splenium" is spelled with an "l" after the "n" but it is not pronounced. In IPA phonetic transcription, it is written as /spliːniəm/. The "i" before the "u" is pronounced as a long "e" sound as in "meat". The "əm" ending is pronounced as "uhm". The word refers to a thick band of nerve fibers that connects the two sides of the cerebral cortex. It is an essential part of the brain's communication network.
Splenium refers to a specific anatomical structure in the human brain, specifically within the corpus callosum. The corpus callosum is a thick bundle of nerve fibers that connects the two hemispheres of the brain, allowing for communication and coordination between them. The splenium is the posterior or rearmost part of the corpus callosum.
Anatomically, the splenium is located towards the back of the brain, adjacent to the posterior end of the lateral ventricles. It is a broad, thick band that expands horizontally and curves slightly upward, forming an arch-like structure. The splenium is composed of myelinated nerve fibers, which are responsible for transmitting signals between the two hemispheres.
Functionally, the splenium is crucial for the integration and synchronization of information between the left and right cerebral hemispheres. It facilitates the transfer of sensory, motor, and cognitive information from one hemisphere to the other, enabling the brain to function as a unified entity. The primary function of the corpus callosum, including the splenium, is to ensure efficient communication and coordination between the two hemispheres, supporting various cognitive processes such as language, attention, perception, and memory.
In summary, the splenium is a prominent structure within the corpus callosum that plays a crucial role in connecting the left and right hemispheres of the brain, thereby facilitating communication and coordination between them.
1. A compress or bandage. 2. In anatomy a structure resembling a bandaged part.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
The word "Splenium" originated from the ancient Greek word "σπλήνιον" (splēnion), which referred to the thick, fleshy part of an animal's spleen. In neuroscience and anatomy, the term "splenium" specifically refers to a part of the corpus callosum, the bundle of nerve fibers that connects the left and right hemispheres of the brain. The choice of this term likens the shape of the splenium to the originally named organ, the spleen.
