The Insula: Anatomic Study and MR Imaging Display at 1.5 T

Anatomic Study

Sixteen normal human cerebral hemispheres were obtained at autopsy from patients who had died of unrelated causes. Each specimen was later analyzed pathologically and shown to be normal. The 16 hemispheres were dissected in the sagittal plane by sequential, incremental removal of tissue from the lateral aspect of each hemisphere to expose the insula and to establish the relationship of the insula to the the orbital surface of the frontal lobe and to the overlying opercula. The presence and conspicuity of each gyrus and sulcus of the insula were then determined, as described for the MR imaging study below. The specific anatomic features of each dissection were recorded and documented photographically for later review. The findings in all 16 hemispheres were tabulated to support the subsequent analysis of MR images.

Because variable terminology has been used to describe this anatomy (15–17), herein we specifically adopt the nomenclature of Türe et al (15, 16). The term central sulcus (CS) of the insula is used to designate the prominent sulcus that angles obliquely across the insula, separating it into anterior and posterior lobules. The term apex is used to designate the summit of the pyramid-shaped insula (15). As such, the apex is the point most elevated above the plane of the insula and the point most laterally situated on the insula. The term pole is used to identify the most anteroinferior point on the insula. As such, the pole is exclusively a feature of the anterior lobule of the insula and lies anteroinferior to the apex (ie, is subapical) (15–17). The term sylvian stem is used to designate the anteriormost portion of the sylvian fissure that originates medially at the anterior perforated substance and then courses laterally, between the orbital surface of the frontal lobe and the temporal pole, to reach the cistern of the insula (15). The term limen insulae (threshold to the insula) indicates the band of transitional cortex that extends along the sylvian stem between the anterior perforated substance medially and the gray matter at the pole of the insula laterally. Since this band lies at the inflection point of the sylvian stem, the term limen insulae is also used to indicate the peak of the falciform fold between the frontal lobe superiorly and the insula-temporal lobe posteroinferiorly (15). The new term pole of the posterior lobule is introduced to indicate the anteriormost extent of the posterior lobule of the insula where the two long gyri converge to form the posterior wall of the limen insulae.

The anatomy of the opercula is described in accord with standard nomenclature (18, 25–27) (Table 1). Superior to the insula, from anterior to posterior, the portions of the frontoparietal operculum are designated as follows: pars opercularis of the inferior frontal gyrus, inferior end of the precentral gyrus, subcentral gyrus, inferior end of the postcentral gyrus, and supramarginal gyrus. Characteristically, the inferior end of the pars opercularis joins with the inferior end of the precentral gyrus deep to the inferior frontal sulcus, the inferior ends of the precentral and postcentral gyri unite deep to the CS to form the subcentral gyrus, and the supramarginal gyrus of the inferior parietal lobule straddles the posterior ascending ramus of the sylvian fissure to constitute the parietal operculum. Thus, the inferior ends of all these structures join together to form a continuous strip of tissue that abuts onto the insula deep to the surface sulci. Inferior to the insula, the temporal operculum is formed by the superior surface of the temporal lobe (designated the temporal plane), the transverse temporal HG, and the superior temporal gyrus. The HG extends obliquely across the temporal plane from posteromedial to anterolateral, dividing the plane into two parts. The portion of the temporal plane from the temporal pole to the anterior surface of the HG is designated planum polare. The portion of the temporal plane from the posterior surface of the HG to the posterior ascending ramus of the sylvian fissure is designated planum temporale.

Also in accord with standard nomenclature (18, 25–27) (Table 1), the portion of the orbital surface of the frontal lobe lateral to the gyrus rectus is said to be formed by four (medial, lateral, anterior, and posterior) orbital gyri arrayed around an H-shaped orbital sulcus. At the posterior medial edge of the orbital surface, the medial and posterior orbital gyri unite to form a prominent posteromedial orbital lobule.

Image Analysis

The institution information system was used to select 200 technically satisfactory, reportedly normal MR imaging studies of the brain obtained with 1.5-T clinical MR systems (Signa; GE Medical Systems, Milwaukee, WI). These studies were restored from the digital archive and reanalyzed on the digital workstation. The first 150 MR images in which no lesions or malformations could be discerned with any of the imaging sequences were accepted as the normal study group. Typical imaging parameters used included sagittal T1-weighted spin-echo sequence: 500/15/1 (TR/TE/excitations), 24-cm field of view (FOV), 4-mm section thickness, 1.5-mm intersection gap, 256 × 192 display matrix; sagittal T2-weighted fast spin-echo sequence: 6000/100/2, echo train length 24, 24-cm FOV, 4-mm section thickness, 1.5-mm intersection gap, 256 × 256 display matrix; axial T2-weighted fast spin-echo sequence: 6000/100/2, echo train length 23, 24 × 18-cm FOV, 5-mm section thickness with 2.5-mm intersection gap, and 256 × 256 display matrix; and axial fluid-attenuated inversion-recovery (FLAIR) sequence: 10,000/160/2200/1 (TR/TE/TI/excitation), 24-cm FOV, 5-mm section thickness with 2.5-mm intersection gap, and 256 × 256 display matrix. These 150 examinations provided 300 hemispheres for imaging analysis, including 146 on sagittal T2-weighted images, four on sagittal T1-weighted images, 147 on axial T2-weighted images, and three on axial FLAIR images.

Each of the 300 MR studies was analyzed for insular topography by two neuroradiologists (T.P.N., E.K.) working cooperatively. In each hemisphere, the CS of the insula was scored as “well seen-complete,” “well seen-partial,” “poorly seen,” or “not seen.” The ASG, MSG, and PSG and the ALG and PLG were graded for conspicuity. Easily visualized gyri were scored “well seen.” Partially visualized or hypoplastic gyri identifiable in accord with other landmarks were scored “poorly seen.” Gyri that could not be visualized were scored “not seen.” The PLG was scored “separate” when it was clearly demarcated from the ALG by a postcentral insular sulcus, even if that sulcus was hypoplastic. The PLG was scored “branched” when it appeared, instead, to represent a short segment arising from the posteroinferior aspect of the ALG. Note was made whether the individual insular gyri were single or bifid, the short gyri converged inferiorly to form the apex, the pole of the insula could be identified in a subapical location, the CS circumscribed the posteroinferior margin of the apex and pole, and the confluence of the ALG and PLG formed the pole of the posterior lobule immediately posterior to the limen insulae. Any hypoplasia of the MSG was specifically recorded. The confluence of the pars opercularis of the inferior frontal gyrus with the inferior precentral gyrus was identified in each case and scored in relation to the adjacent portions of the opercula as “unremarkable,” “slightly prominent,” or “bulky.” The size of this confluence was then analyzed with respect to any hypoplasia of the underlying MSG.

In each subject, the coronal planes perpendicular to the AC-PC line at the AC (VAC) and PC (VPC) (28, 29) were established at the midline and projected onto the insulae laterally. The intersection of the VAC with the insula was scored in relation to the anterior insula as a whole and the specific short gyrus or sulcus at which VAC intersected the superior border of the insula (superior PS). In similar fashion, the projection of the VPC was scored for its relationship to the posterior border of the insula. Specific note was made of the relative positions of the HG (27), of the subcentral gyrus, and of the supramarginal gyrus (26, 30) with respect to the PLG, to each other, and to the posterior border of the insula, by using the VPC as a standard vertical (12–6 o’clock) axis of a clock face.

The axial MR images from the same 300 hemispheres were reviewed to score the conspicuity of the MOG, the POG, the PMOL, and the continuity of the white matter of the PMOL with the extreme capsule (18, 31). The anterolateral aspect of the insula was analyzed in relation to an anterior landmark formed by the junction of the anterior limb of the internal capsule with the external capsule and to a posterior landmark formed by extending the plane of the midline AC to intersect the insulae laterally.

Gross Anatomy

The anatomic group was composed of 10 left and six right hemispheres from eight male and six female cadavers (patients were aged 1 day to 81 years; mean age, 54.7 years). In each case, the base of the insula was delimited by three, well-formed anterior, superior, and inferior PS. The anterior PS measured 20–40 mm (mean, 31.1 mm), the superior PS 25–65 mm (mean, 52.7 mm), and the inferior PS 37–60 mm (mean, 52.1 mm).

In all cases, the junction of the anterior PS with the inferior PS delimited the pole of the insula (Figs 1 and 2); the apex of the insula rose above the surface of the insula, eccentrically close to the pole, to form the point farthest above the plane of the insula (ie, the lateralmost point on the insula); and the pole therefore lay in a subapical position, anteroinferomedial to the apex. The convexity surface of the insula always took the shape of an asymmetric pyramid formed by three faces that met at the apex. From the apex, the anterior face of the pyramid extended down to the anterior PS, the superior face extended down to the superior PS, and the inferior face extended down to the inferior PS. These three faces were covered by the overlying opercula (Fig 3). The anterior face of the insula abutted upon and was covered by the orbitofrontal operculum. The superior face abutted upon and was covered by the frontoparietal operculum, and the inferior face abutted upon and was covered by the temporal operculum (including the transverse temporal HG) (Figs 3 and 4).

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Fig 1.

A–C, Anatomy of the convexity surface of the left insular lobe after resection of the overlying opercula, vessels, and pia-arachnoid. Gross anatomic specimens from a 50-year-old woman (A), a 63-year-old man (B), and a 71-year-old man (C). The anterior PS (APS), superior PS (SPS), and inferior PS (IPS) define the base of the insular lobe. The oblique CS of the insula subdivides the insula into larger anterior and smaller posterior lobules.

Anterior lobule: The ASG (a), MSG (m), and PSG (p) form most of the convexity surface of the anterior lobule. The short insular sulcus (SIS) separates ASG from MSG. The precentral sulcus (preCS) separates MSG from PSG. MSG shows variable size and depression below the surface of the insula. The number of gyri on the convexity surface of the anterior lobule varies substantially: two in A, three in B, and four in C. The apex (asterisk) of the insula forms by the convergence of the inferior ends of some or all of the short gyri. In A, the apex is formed only by the ASG and PSG, with no contribution from the hypoplastic MSG (most frequent type). In B and C, all three short gyri contribute to the apex. The pole (po) of the insula lies at the most anteroinferior point on the insula, near to but separate from the apex. The accessory gyrus (ac) forms a variable portion of the upper anterior face of the anterior lobule and, when large, may contribute to the convexity surface as well. In A, a prominent accessory gyrus (ac) projects anterior to the ASG, but does not reach to the convexity surface of the insula. In C, a very large accessory gyrus (ac) projects laterally to form the anteriormost gyrus on the convexity surface of the anterior lobule. The transverse gyrus forms the lower portion of the anterior face of the insula (see Fig 2).

Posterior lobule: The ALG (A) and the PLG (P) form the posterior lobule. In C, the ALG and PLG are well defined and completely separated by a complete postcentral sulcus (postCS). In A and B, the ALG and PLG are incompletely separated by shallow or incomplete postcentral sulci (postCS). In B, the dominant ALG forms the pole of the posterior lobule at the limen, while the PLG appears to branch off the posterior inferior aspect of the ALG. The superior ends of many of the insular gyri are bifid.

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Fig 2.

The transverse gyrus and the orbitofrontal insula relationship. Base view of the orbital surface of the left frontal lobe after resection of part of the gyrus rectus (GR) and the anterior portion of the temporal lobe (T). Medial is to the reader’s left. I indicates olfactory bulb; II, optic chiasm and tract. The H-shaped orbital sulcus (arrowheads) defines the MOG, POG, anterior orbital gyrus (AOG), and lateral orbital gyrus (LOG). At the posteromedial aspect of the orbitofrontal surface, the posterior portion of the MOG merges with the medial portion of the POG to form the prominent PMOL. PMOL gives rise to the transverse insular gyrus (t) that extends laterally to form the pole (po) of the insula just anteroinferomedial to the apex (asterisk) of the insula. The CS (dashed line) curves inferiorly immediately behind and below the apex and the pole en route to join the stem of the sylvian fissure. The ASG (a) and the PSG (p) converge to form the apex of the insula anterior to the CS. In this image, the deliberate slight rotation used to illustrate the course of the transverse gyrus from the PMOL to the pole also rotates the apex medially, so the apex does not appear to lie as far lateral in position as it would in a true base view.

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Fig 3.

A and B, Anatomic relationship of the opercula to the insula at earlier (A) and later (B) stages of dissection of the left cerebral hemisphere of a gross anatomic specimen from a 71-year-old man. The partes orbitalis (or), triangularis (tr), and opercularis (op) of the inferior frontal gyrus (I) overlie the anterior lobule of the insula. The anterior horizontal ramus (single open arrow) of the sylvian fissure leads to the anterior PS (APS). The anterior ascending ramus (dual open arrows) of the sylvian fissure leads to the superior PS (SPS) (8). The pars opercularis (op) joins with the inferior end of the precentral gyrus (4) to form most of the frontal operculum. In this specimen, they form a “bulky” union that invaginates into the convexity surface of the anterior lobule and depresses the MSG (m) slightly below the surface of the insula. Further posteriorly, the subcentral gyrus (11) and the anterior limb of the supramarginal gyrus (6) form the rest of the frontoparietal operculum that overlies the posterior lobule. The HG (H) overlies the PLG (P), so the anteromedial surface of HG abuts onto the lateral surface of the PLG. Deeper dissection (in B) shows the origin of the HG immediately posterior to the insula, posterosuperolateral to the PLG. In this specimen, the postcentral sulcus defines separate ALG (A) and PLG (P). PLG is dominant and forms the pole of the posterior lobule at the limen.

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Fig 4.

Relationship of the insula to the temporal operculum. Gross anatomic specimen from a 44-year-old woman, viewed from above and lateral after removal of the frontal and parietal opercula to expose the superior surfaces of the ASG (a), MSG (m), PSG (p), the CS, and the ALG (A). The HG (H) arises immediately posterior to the insula and curves anterolaterally around the lateral surface of the PLG (arrow), largely obscuring it in this view. The anteromedial surface of the HG abuts upon and conforms to the surface of the PLG as it crosses the superior surface of the temporal lobe. PP indicates planum polare; PT, planum temporale.

In all cases, the CS of the insula crossed the insula obliquely from posterosuperior to anteroinferior and then curved medially to reach the inferior PS and the stem of the sylvian fissure (Fig 1,Table 2). The major segment of the CS divided the insula into a larger anterior lobule and a smaller posterior lobule. The anterior end of the CS passed behind and below the apex of the insula, and then behind and below the pole of the insula, before joining the sylvian stem.

As seen from the front, the anterior face of the insula always displayed two gyri (Figs 1 and 2). The transverse gyrus of the insula extended from the orbital surface of the frontal lobe to the pole of the insula in all cases, and thus lay at the inferiormost aspect of the anterior face. The accessory gyrus of the insula lay superior to the transverse gyrus and formed a “bump” of variable size on the anterior face of the insular pyramid, just superior to the transverse gyrus. In 10 cases, the accessory gyrus was small and remained confined to the anterior face of the insula. In one case, it was prominent but still confined to the anterior face. In five cases, the accessory gyrus was so prominent, it projected laterally to reach the convexity surface of the insula and formed the anteriormost gyrus of the convexity surface.

As seen from the side, the insula was always formed by the convexity surfaces of the anterior and posterior lobules. The ASG, MSG, and PSG typically formed the larger anterior lobule, whereas the ALG and PLG formed the smaller posterior lobule (Fig 1). The number of gyri presenting at the convexity surface of the insula varied substantially, however, because of the variable prominence of the accessory gyrus and variable hypoplasia of each short and long insular gyrus. In these 16 specimens, the convexity surface displayed four gyri (two anterior, two posterior) in one case, five gyri (three anterior, two posterior) in 10 cases, and six gyri (four anterior, two posterior) in five cases.

Imaging Series

The MR imaging study group included 100 female and 50 male subjects ranging in age from 2 months to 96 years (mean age, 39.3 years.) By decade (D), the subjects were distributed as follows: D1, 6%; D2, 10%; D3, 18.7%; D4, 18%; D5, 15.3%; D6, 13.3%; D7, 10%; D8, 8%; D9, 0%; and D10, 0.7%.

Sagittal MR Images

The conspicuities of the individual gyri and sulci are detailed in Table 3. The CS provided a prominent landmark on conventional sagittal T1- and T2-weighted MR images in 96.7% of patients (Figs 5 and 6). The ASG and PSG were nearly always well seen, but the MSG was demonstrated less often and less well. The inferior portions of these short gyri could be seen to converge toward the apex of the insula in each case. The ALG was well displayed far more often than was the PLG. In most cases, the two long gyri exhibited the “branched” configuration (64% of left hemispheres, 60.7% of right hemispheres) (Fig 1B and 6B). In each case with a branched configuration, the PLG appeared shorter than the ALG, leaving a posterior “gap” that was filled in by the HG. The two long gyri were distinguished as wholly separate gyri in only 16 left hemispheres (10.7%) and 17 right hemispheres (11.3%) (Figs 1C and 6A). The specific gyral configuration of the PLG could not be clearly characterized in 38 left hemispheres (25.3%) and 42 right hemispheres (28%).

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Fig 5.

A–D, Imaging anatomy of the normal insula in a 51-year-old man. Sequential sagittal T2-weighted MR imaging sections from lateral (A) to medial (D) demonstrate the anterior (APS), superior (SPS), and inferior (IPS) PS, the ASG (a), MSG (m), and PSG (p) of the larger anterior lobule, and the ALG (A) and the branched configuration of the PLG (P) of the smaller posterior lobule. The CS (d) courses across the convexity between the precentral gyrus (4) and the postcentral gyrus (5) and then curves across the insula between the corresonding gyri of the insula (ie, between p and A). The overlying opercula interdigitate with the insular gyri with no significant distortion of insular anatomy. The HG (H) lies immediately behind the PLG and marks the posteroinferior border of the insula. M indicates middle frontal gyrus; I, inferior frontal gyrus; 6, supramarginal gyrus; 8, superior temporal gyrus; and 11, subcentral gyrus. Other abbreviations as in Figs 1–4.

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Fig 6.

A and B, Imaging anatomy of the posterior lobule on sagittal T2-weighted MR images in a 13-year-old girl (A) and a 26-year-old man (B). In A, the ALG (A) and PLG (P) are well formed and distinct, correlating with Fig 1C. In B, ALG (A) and PLG (P) are poorly separated. PLG appears to bud off the posterior aspect of the ALG, giving the posterior lobule a branched configuration, such as seen in Fig 1B. Note the convergence of the short insular gyri to form the apex (asterisk in B) as seen in Fig 1B, the course of the CS posteroinferior to the apex en route to the stem of the sylvian fissure, the relationship of the pole of the posterior lobule to the limen, and the relationship of the HG (H) to both the PLG and the entire posterior lobule.

Overlying Opercula.—

The frontal operculum overlay the anterior lobule of the insula in all cases (Figs 5 and 6). The junction of the pars opercularis of the inferior frontal gyrus with the inferior precentral gyrus was classified as bulky in 120 (40%) of 300 hemispheres. This “bulky configuration” showed a partial correlation with hypoplasia of the MSG and depression of the MSG beneath the surface of the insula. In those hemispheres with hypoplastic MSG, the junction was bulky in 34 (64%) of 53 left and 34 (72%) of 47 right hemispheres (Fig 7).

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Fig 7.

A and B, Sagittal T2-weighted MR images of the left hemisphere in a 34-year-old woman show the opercular-insular relationship. The union of the pars opercularis (op) of the inferior frontal gyrus with the inferior end of the precentral gyrus (4) forms a very bulky “pseudomass” (Ø) that invaginates into the convexity surface of the anterior lobule, depresses the insular surface at the MSG, and splays the ASG (a) apart from the PSG (p). (See also Figs 1 and 3.)

The subcentral and supramarginal gyri formed the parietal operculum overlying the posterior lobule (Figs 5 and 6). These gyri demonstrated variable position relative to the HG. Viewing all sagittal images with anterior oriented toward the analyst’s left, and using the VPC as the vertical 12–6 o’clock axis of a clock face, the supramarginal gyrus usually lay posterosuperior to the HG at 1–2 o’clock (left 87.7%, right 78.3%). The subcentral gyrus lay anterosuperior to the HG, anywhere along an arc extending from 10 o’clock (left 45.5%, right 48.1%) through 11 o’clock (left 29.9%, right 30.2%) to 12 o’clock (left 16.8%, right 12.3%) with respect to HG.

The temporal operculum immediately posterior and lateral to the PLG was formed by the HG in all cases (Figs 5 and 6). Therefore, the anterior surface of the most medial portion of HG marked the posterior border of the insula.

Relationship of VAC and VPC to the Insula

The VAC.—

The lateral extension of the coronal plane at VAC intersected the upper border of the anterior insula in all but one hemisphere on each side (due to patient rotation) (Fig 8, Table 4). Most frequently, VAC intersected the insula over the precentral sulcus between the MSG and PSG, next most commonly over the MSG itself, and less commonly over the PSG.

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Fig 8.

Talairach-Tournoux relationship of the insula. Sagittal T2-weighted MR image in a 26-year-old woman. The two vertical white lines indicate the insular intersections of the coronal planes erected perpendicular to the AC-PC baseline at AC (VAC) and at PC (VPC). VAC nearly always intersects the anterior lobule, most frequently in relation to the upper portion of the precentral sulcus between the MSG (m) and the PSG (p). VPC typically defines the posterior margin of the insula.

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TABLE 4:

Intersection of the coronal plane VAC and VPC with the insula on sagittal MR images

Axial MR Images

In nearly all cases (99%), the MOG and the POG were seen to form the PMOL, and the white matter of the PMOL was shown to be directly continuous with the extreme capsule deep to the insula (Figs 2 and 9). The apex of the insula was seen as a laterally directed prominence at the anterolateral insular cortex in more than 90% of hemispheres. In nearly all of these, the apex was bracketed, anteriorly and posteriorly, between the coronal “planes” through the intersections of the anterior limbs of the internal capsules with the anteriormost external capsules, and the midline portion of the AC (Fig 9). The plane through the junctions of the internal and external capsules also defined the anterior border of the insula in 87% of cases (Table 5). In the other cases, the cistern of the insula appeared to extend far anterior to this line, deep to the inferior frontal gyrus, along the anterior horizontal or anterior ascending rami of the sylvian fissure.

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Fig 9.

A and B, Axial T2-weighted MR images in the AC-PC plane. The MOG and POG converge to form the PMOL at the anterolateral aspect of the suprasellar cistern. The white matter of the orbitofrontal lobe continues directly around the sylvian fissure into the extreme capsule deep to the insular cortex. In axial sections obtained along the AC-PC plane, the coronal plane (1) through the junction of the anterior limb of the internal capsule with the external capsule on each side provides one landmark for the anterior border of the insula on each side. The coronal plane (2) through the midline portion (arrowhead) of the AC (VAC) intersects the anterior insula. The apex (asterisk) of the insula lies between these two planes. The coronal plane through the PC (not shown) defines the posterior margin of the insula.

Insular Function

Important insular functions include gustatory sensation, motor planning of speech, vestibular function, and sympathetic/parasympathetic balance of cardiovascular function.