Topographic volume-standardization atlas of the human brain

Abstract

Specific anatomical patterns are seen in various diseases affecting the brain. Clinical studies on the topography of pathologies are often limited by the absence of a normalization of the prevalence of pathologies to the relative volume of the affected anatomical structures. A comprehensive reference on the relative volumes of clinically relevant anatomical structures serving for such a normalization, is currently lacking. The analyses are based on anatomical high-resolution three-dimensional T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging data of 30 healthy Caucasian volunteers, including 14 females (mean age 37.79 years, SD 13.04) and 16 males (mean age 38.31 years, SD 16.91). Semi-automated anatomical segmentation was used, guided by a neuroanatomical parcellation algorithm differentiating 96 structures. Relative volumes were derived by normalizing parenchymal structures to the total individual encephalic volume and ventricular segments to the total individual ventricular volume. The present investigation provides the absolute and relative volumes of 96 anatomical parcellation units of the human encephalon. A larger absolute volume in males than in females is found for almost all parcellation units. While parenchymal structures display a trend towards decreasing volumes with increasing age, a significant inverse effect is seen with the ventricular system. The variances in volumes as well as the effects of gender and age are given for each structure before and after normalization. The provided atlas constitutes an anatomically detailed and comprehensive analysis of the absolute and relative volumes of the human encephalic structures using a clinically oriented parcellation algorithm. It is intended to serve as a reference for volume-standardization in clinical studies on the topographic prevalence of pathologies.

Keywords: Anatomy; In vivo; Magnetic resonance imaging; Topography; Volumes.

Fig. 1

Volumes of general anatomical structures: absolute and relative volumes of the cerebral lobes, the basal ganglia, the diencephalon as well as the brainstem and cerebellum. a Color scheme of the anatomy, gender and age. b Absolute volumes in mm³. Mean volumes are given as bars. Gender stratification is provided with boxplots. The individual measurements are shown as dots with continuous color-coding indicating age. c Relative volumes normalized to the total individual encephalic volume (without ventricles). The graphic elements follow B. f female; m male

Fig. 2

Volumes of the cerebral gyral segments: absolute and relative volumes of the cerebral gyral segments. a Color scheme of the anatomy, gender and age. b Absolute volumes in mm³. Mean volumes are given as bars. Gender stratification is provided with boxplots. The individual measurements are shown as dots with continuous color-coding indicating age. c Relative volumes normalized to the total individual encephalic volume (without ventricles). The graphic elements follow B. ANG angular gyrus, f female, F1 superior frontal gyrus, F2 middle frontal gyrus, F3 inferior frontal gyrus, m male, O1 superior occipital gyrus, O2 middle occipital gyrus, O3 inferior occipital gyrus, PHG parahippocampal gyrus, SCA subcallosal area, SMG supramarginal gyrus, SPL superior parietal lobule, T1 superior temporal gyrus, T2 middle temporal gyrus, T3 inferior temporal gyrus

Fig. 3

Volumes of central prosencephalic structures: absolute and relative volumes of the anatomical white and gray matter structures of the central prosencephalon. a Color scheme of the anatomy, gender and age. b Absolute volumes in mm³. Mean volumes are given as bars. Gender stratification is provided with boxplots. The individual measurements are shown as dots with continuous color-coding indicating age. c Relative volumes normalized to the total individual encephalic volume (without ventricles). The graphic elements follow B. f female, m male

Fig. 4

Volumes of brainstem and cerebellar structures: absolute and relative volumes of the anatomical structures of the brainstem and the cerebellum. a Color scheme of the anatomy, gender and age. b Absolute volumes of the mesencephalon, pons, medulla oblongata as well as cerebellar peduncles and cerebellar lobes in mm³. Mean volumes are given as bars. Gender stratification is provided with boxplots. The individual measurements are shown as dots with continuous color-coding indicating age. c Relative volumes of the mesencephalon, pons, medulla oblongata as well as cerebellar peduncles and cerebellar lobes. Volumes were normalized to the total individual encephalic volume (without ventricles). The graphic elements follow B. d Absolute volumes of the cerebellar vermian and hemispheric lobules in mm³. The graphic elements follow B. e Relative volumes of the cerebellar vermian and hemispheric lobules normalized to the total individual encephalic volume (without ventricles). The graphic elements follow B. f female, m male

Fig. 5

Volumes of the ventricular system: absolute and relative volumes of the anatomical divisions of the ventricular system. a Color scheme of the anatomy, gender and age. b Absolute volumes in mm³. Mean volumes are given as bars. Gender stratification is provided with boxplots. The individual measurements are shown as dots with continuous color-coding indicating age. c Relative volumes normalized to the total individual encephalic volume (without ventricles). The graphic elements follow B. d Relative volumes normalized to the total individual ventricular volume. The graphic elements follow B. f female, LV lateral ventricle, m male