Brain, Meninges & CSF Anatomy
Gray matter
Gray matter is brain tissue made up mainly of nerve cell bodies, including the cortex.
In short: Gray matter
- It includes the cerebral cortex.
- Misplaced gray matter is called heterotopia.
- It contrasts with white matter (nerve fibers).
- Abnormal gray matter can be part of associated brain differences.
What it is
It is brain tissue rich in nerve cell bodies, including the cerebral cortex. It contrasts with white matter, which is made of connecting nerve fibers.
Understanding Gray matter
Abnormal gray matter development or location can be part of associated brain differences in encephalocele — for example, heterotopia, where clusters of gray matter end up in the wrong place due to abnormal migration during development. Such findings can affect development and seizure risk.
Why it matters
Understanding gray matter helps families interpret imaging findings like heterotopia and see why the brain's tissue structure — not just the encephalocele — is examined.
Common questions
What is gray matter?
Tissue made of nerve cell bodies.
What is misplaced gray matter called?
Heterotopia.
How does it differ from white matter?
Gray matter is cell bodies; white matter is connecting fibers.
Bottom line
Gray matter is nerve-cell-body tissue including the cortex, sometimes misplaced as heterotopia.
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