Which statement correctly describes the central sulcus?

Which statement correctly describes the central sulcus?

• A. Separates the frontal and parietal lobes
• B. Separates the frontal and occipital lobes
• C. Separates the parietal and occipital lobes
• D. Separates the temporal and frontal lobes

Answer: (A)

The central sulcus marks the border between the frontal lobe in front and the parietal lobe behind it, and it separates the primary motor cortex in the precentral gyrus from the primary somatosensory cortex in the postcentral gyrus. Because of this, describing the separation of the frontal and parietal lobes is the correct characterization. Other lobar separations are defined by different grooves: the Sylvian fissure separates the frontal/parietal region from the temporal lobe, and the parieto-occipital sulcus separates the parietal from the occipital lobes; the central sulcus does not separate temporal or occipital regions.

The central sulcus marks the border between the frontal lobe in front and the parietal lobe behind it, and it separates the primary motor cortex in the precentral gyrus from the primary somatosensory cortex in the postcentral gyrus. Because of this, describing the separation of the frontal and parietal lobes is the correct characterization. Other lobar separations are defined by different grooves: the Sylvian fissure separates the frontal/parietal region from the temporal lobe, and the parieto-occipital sulcus separates the parietal from the occipital lobes; the central sulcus does not separate temporal or occipital regions.