open access

Vol 81, No 2 (2022)
Original article
Submitted: 2021-02-04
Accepted: 2021-03-05
Published online: 2021-03-22
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Volumetric measurements of the subcortical structures of healthy adult brains in the Turkish population

H. Soysal1, N. Acer2, M. Özdemir3, Ö. Eraslan3
·
Pubmed: 33778938
·
Folia Morphol 2022;81(2):294-306.
Affiliations
  1. Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Dentistry, Ankara Yıldırım Beyazıt University, Ankara, Turkey
  2. Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Arel University, Istanbul, Turkey
  3. Department of Radiology, Dışkapı Yıldırım Beyazıt Health Application and Research Centre, Medical Sciences University, Ankara, Turkey

open access

Vol 81, No 2 (2022)
ORIGINAL ARTICLES
Submitted: 2021-02-04
Accepted: 2021-03-05
Published online: 2021-03-22

Abstract

Background: The interest in the morphological development of brain structures during childhood and adolescence arises from discussions on subcortical anomalies and sexual dimorphism, from adolescent changes in cognitive functions supported by cortical and subcortical structures to a wide range of childhood neuropsychiatric diseases. This study aims to investigate the subcortical structures regarding age/gender changes in the healthy adult human brain using web-based volBrain.
Materials and methods: In this study, 303 normal healthy adults (males and females) were examined using a 1.5 T unit with a 20-channel head coil.
Results: The volumes of white matter, grey matter, total brain, cerebrospinal fluid, and total intracranial volume were significantly higher in males than those in females. Our analysis revealed a significantly larger accumbens volume in females. With the age of less than or equal to 50 years, older males were found to have higher total lateral ventricle, putamen, thalamus, amygdala, cerebrum, white matter and grey matter volumes than females. In the age group of 50 years and older mean total volumes of thalamus, globus pallidus and accumbens were higher in females than those in males. Right hemisphere volumes in younger and older age groups were higher except for caudate volume in the older age group; the mean of caudate was significantly higher in females than those in males.
Conclusions: These conclusions might be important for the explanation of the effects of gender and age in cross-sectional structural magnetic resonance imaging studies. Also, knowing the volume changes of the subcortical structures can provide convenience about the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of various neuromental disorders.

Abstract

Background: The interest in the morphological development of brain structures during childhood and adolescence arises from discussions on subcortical anomalies and sexual dimorphism, from adolescent changes in cognitive functions supported by cortical and subcortical structures to a wide range of childhood neuropsychiatric diseases. This study aims to investigate the subcortical structures regarding age/gender changes in the healthy adult human brain using web-based volBrain.
Materials and methods: In this study, 303 normal healthy adults (males and females) were examined using a 1.5 T unit with a 20-channel head coil.
Results: The volumes of white matter, grey matter, total brain, cerebrospinal fluid, and total intracranial volume were significantly higher in males than those in females. Our analysis revealed a significantly larger accumbens volume in females. With the age of less than or equal to 50 years, older males were found to have higher total lateral ventricle, putamen, thalamus, amygdala, cerebrum, white matter and grey matter volumes than females. In the age group of 50 years and older mean total volumes of thalamus, globus pallidus and accumbens were higher in females than those in males. Right hemisphere volumes in younger and older age groups were higher except for caudate volume in the older age group; the mean of caudate was significantly higher in females than those in males.
Conclusions: These conclusions might be important for the explanation of the effects of gender and age in cross-sectional structural magnetic resonance imaging studies. Also, knowing the volume changes of the subcortical structures can provide convenience about the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of various neuromental disorders.

Get Citation

Keywords

cortical volume, subcortical nuclei, sex differences, magnetic resonance imaging, healthy adult brain, volBrain

About this article
Title

Volumetric measurements of the subcortical structures of healthy adult brains in the Turkish population

Journal

Folia Morphologica

Issue

Vol 81, No 2 (2022)

Article type

Original article

Pages

294-306

Published online

2021-03-22

Page views

5638

Article views/downloads

1348

DOI

10.5603/FM.a2021.0033

Pubmed

33778938

Bibliographic record

Folia Morphol 2022;81(2):294-306.

Keywords

cortical volume
subcortical nuclei
sex differences
magnetic resonance imaging
healthy adult brain
volBrain

Authors

H. Soysal
N. Acer
M. Özdemir
Ö. Eraslan

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