Corona Radiata: Characteristics And Functions Of This Part Of The Brain
The corona radiata is a brain structure named for its crown shape, formed by nerve fibers that project into the interior of the brain to form the internal capsule, a structure that connects with the cortex.
Located in both hemispheres, each corona radiata connects to its opposite one through the corpus callosum.
Below we explain in more detail what this brain structure consists of, what its characteristics, structure and functions are.
The corona radiata or radiating corona is a structure of the brain formed by nerve fibers (white matter) that make up the internal capsule a region that connects the cerebral cortex with lower areas of the brain and spinal cord.
This region of the brain is called the corona radiata because its nerve fibers project out in a kind of structure reminiscent of a crown.
The nerves of the corona radiata carry information between brain cells in the cerebral cortex and cells in the brain stem The cortex is the area responsible for processing conscious information, while the brainstem is responsible for connections between the spinal cord and the brain. Both are involved in sensation and motor function, and the corona radiata connects the motor and sensory nerve pathways between these structures.
The corona radiata can be affected by diseases capable of affecting the cerebral white matter such as multiple sclerosis, causing significant intellectual, social and emotional dysfunctions.
Structure and composition
The corona radiata is composed of a large set of projection fibers; a group of afferent fibers, which transmit information to the cerebral cortex; and a group of efferent fibers, which travel in the opposite direction, handling information from the cortex.
In each cerebral hemisphere and underlying the cortex, there is a large amount of white matter formed by fibers, which can be: association fibers, responsible for connecting different parts within the same cerebral hemisphere; commissural fibers, which connect regions between the two hemispheres; and projection fibers, which connect the cerebral cortex with distant underlying structures.
In the brain, projection fibers are grouped within the internal capsule. This structure is a compact band of white matter that is composed of ascending and descending nerve fibers, which connect the cerebral cortex to the brainstem and spinal cord.
The projection fibers of the internal capsule open in a fan shape forming the corona radiata. Many of these fibers establish reciprocal connections between the thalamus and the cerebral cortex
These connections make up the following structures: the anterior thalamic radiation, formed by fibers that connect the dorsomedial nucleus of the thalamus and the prefrontal cortex; the medial thalamic radiation, which includes the somatosensory projection from the thalamus to the parietal lobe; the posterior thalamic radiation, connecting the thalamus and the occipital lobe cortex; and the inferior thalamic radiation, formed by fibers that connect the nuclei of the thalamus with the cortex of the temporal lobe, forming the auditory radiation.
Principal functions
As we have seen, the nerve fibers of the corona radiata converge to form the internal capsule. This divides, in turn, another structure called the striatum or striatum nucleus which receives information from the cerebral cortex and is part of the basal ganglia.
The function of the basal ganglia is to regulate and control movements, manage learning related to automated procedures (for example, driving a vehicle), intervene in motivational and emotional processes, or manage activities related to planning.
The internal capsule is directly related to two of the structures that make up the basal ganglia: the caudate nucleus and the putamen These two regions are separated by the descending fibers of the internal capsule.
The caudate nucleus participates in the modulation of movement indirectly; and the putamen, is mainly responsible for the motor control of the body and plays a relevant role in operant conditioning.
Lesions that affect this brain structure
The corona radiata can be damaged by different causes, such as a stroke. Strokes involve small branches of blood vessels and those that affect the corona radiata are generally called subcortical effusions, lacunar effusions, or white matter effusions.
The reason why this region is called white matter is because it is highly myelinated, which means that it is protected by a special type of fatty tissue that insulates and helps nerve cells: myelin. They are also called subcortical strokes because they are found in the deeper, subcortical region of the brain, in contrast to more superficial or cortical regions.
People who suffer accidents or damage to an area such as the corona radiata suffer from what is called cerebrovascular disease, which is characterized by the presence of narrowed blood vessels and prone to developing blood clots in the brain.
Sometimes strokes involving the corona radiata can be relatively small and cause no symptoms. In this case, they are called silent attacks or, in English, “silent strokes.”
On the other hand, a stroke in a region such as the corona radiata can produce nonspecific symptoms, such as loss of autonomy and daily living skills a predictor of stroke, even when there are no significant signs on a brain MRI or CT scan.
In addition to a stroke, there are other causes of damage to the corona radiata, such as: brain tumors, spread of cancer by metastasis, brain hemorrhage, head trauma, or brain infections.
With everything, There are two keys to prevention: healthy lifestyle habits and regular medical care Not smoking, eating a healthy diet, relaxing and avoiding stressful situations or addressing medical problems such as high cholesterol or hypertension are some of the protective factors that will help us prevent diseases and strokes.
