449 



I have used a new nomenclature in this abstract for two reasons : 



1) to emphasize the distinctive relations of the various occipital sulci 

 to the cortical area containing the stria Gennari and 2) to call atten- 

 tion in an unequivocal manner to the bewildering misuse of terms in 

 reference to the occipital region of the brain. 



For example, the term "sulcus occipitalis superior" has been 

 applied to 1) the occipital ramus of the sulcus intraparietalis (De- 

 JEKINE, op. cit., T. 1, p. 271), 2) the sulcus intrastriatus (by various 

 writers), and 3) to the dorsal ramus of the latter (Zuckerkandl). 

 The term sulcus occipitalis lateralis has been applied 1) to the sulcus 

 lunatus (in the human brain) by Eberstaller and many other writers, 



2) to the sulcus intrastriatus (occipitalis superior) by several writers, 

 and 3) to the sulcus infrastriatus (occipitalis inferior). The term sulcus 

 occipitalis transversus has been applied to 1) the transverse caudal 

 appendage of the intraparietal sulcus, 2) the sulcus lunatus ("Affen- 

 spalte"), 3) the sulcus occ. paramesialis (Spalteholz), and 4) the 

 sulcus intrastriatus (occ. superior) [Flatau and Jacobsohn]. The term 

 sulcus occ. inferior has been applied to 1) the sulcus infrastriatus and 

 2) the sulcus intrastriatus (occ. superior) [Zuckerkandl]. 



This astounding confusion of terminology might be further illus- 

 trated merely by reference to the works of Zuckerkandl, Kohl- 

 BRUGGE and Dejerine, already quoted ; and if we seek further afield 

 in the literature the stultifying misuse of terms becomes even more 

 bewildering, if that be possible. 



In addition to the actual abuses of terminology much confusion 

 has been caused by misleading suggestions of homologies, which have 

 been put forward. Burt Wilder, for example, has stated that the 

 parietal operculum (see Fig. 1), which is formed by the operculation 

 of the upper edge of the inferior parietal lobule in most human brains, 

 is "analogous though probably not homologous with the occipital oper- 

 culum of monkeys' brains". 



Yet in the same place he represents the "exoccipital" sulcus (the 

 so-called anterior occipital sulcus, which he regards as the homologue 

 of the "Atfenspalte") on the surface of the parietal operculum and 

 pursuing a course at right angles to the direction of the intraparietal 

 sulcus, from the ventral lip of which the parietal operculum (mihi) is 

 formed. I need only refer to the detailed analysis of the literature 

 relating to the "Affenspalte" in Zuckerkandl's recent memoir (op, cit. 

 supra) for innumerable instances of the confusion resulting from er- 

 roneous suggestions regarding the homologue of the "Atfenspalte" in 

 the human brain. If we take the stria Gennari as our guide and study 



Anat. Anz. XXIV. Aufsätze. 29 



