Grey matter - wikipedia Grey matter For other uses, see Grey matter ( disambiguation ). Grey matter The formation of the spinal nerve from the dorsal and ventral roots. ( Grey matter labeled at center right. ) Micrograph showing grey matter, with the characteristic neuronal cell bodies ( dark shade of pink ), and white matter with its characteristic fine meshwork - like appearance ( left of image - lighter shade of pink ). HPS stain. Details Identifiers Latin Substantia grisea TA A14. 1.00. 002 FMA 67242 Anatomical terminology ( edit on Wikidata ) Grey matter ( or gray matter ) is a major component of the central nervous system, consisting of neuronal cell bodies, neuropil ( dendrites and myelinated as well as unmyelinated axons ), glial cells ( astrocytes and oligodendrocytes ), synapses, and capillaries. Grey matter is distinguished from white matter, in that it contains numerous cell bodies and relatively few myelinated axons, while white matter contains relatively few cell bodies and is composed chiefly of long - range myelinated axon tracts. The colour difference arises mainly from the whiteness of myelin. In living tissue, grey matter actually has a very light grey colour with yellowish or pinkish hues, which come from capillary blood vessels and neuronal cell bodies. Contents 1 Structure 2 Function 3 Clinical significance 4 History 4.1 Etymology 5 Additional images 6 See also 7 References 8 External links Structure Grey matter refers to unmyelinated neurons and other cells of the central nervous system. It is present in the brain, brainstem and cerebellum, and present throughout the spinal cord. Grey matter is distributed at the surface of the cerebral hemispheres ( cerebral cortex ) and of the cerebellum ( cerebellar cortex ), as well as in the depths of the cerebrum ( thalamus ; hypothalamus ; subthalamus, basal ganglia -- putamen, globus pallidus, nucleus accumbens ; septal nuclei ), cerebellar ( deep cerebellar nuclei -- dentate nucleus, globose nucleus, emboliform nucleus, fastigial nucleus ), brainstem ( substantia nigra, red nucleus, olivary nuclei, cranial nerve nuclei ). Grey matter in the spinal cord is known as the grey column which travels down the spinal cord distributed in three grey columns that are presented in an `` H '' shape. The forward - facing column is the anterior grey column, the rear - facing one is the posterior grey column and the interlinking one is the lateral grey column. The grey matter on the left and right side is connected by the grey commissure. The grey matter in the spinal cord consists of interneurons, as well as the cell bodies of projection neurons. Diagram of a spinal vertebra. The grey matter is in the central part of the spinal cord. Cross-section of spinal cord with grey matter labelled. Grey matter undergoes development and growth throughout childhood and adolescence. Recent studies using cross-sectional neuroimaging have shown that by around the age of 8 the volume of grey matter begins to decrease. However, the density of grey matter appears to increase as a child develops into early adulthood. Males tend to exhibit grey matter of increased volume but lower density than that of females. Function Grey matter contains most of the brain 's neuronal cell bodies. The grey matter includes regions of the brain involved in muscle control, and sensory perception such as seeing and hearing, memory, emotions, speech, decision making, and self - control. The grey matter in the spinal cord is split into three grey columns : The anterior grey column contains motor neurons. These synapse with interneurons and the axons of cells that have travelled down the pyramidal tract. These cells are responsible for the movement of muscles. The posterior grey column contains the points where sensory neurons synapse. These receive sensory information from the body, including fine touch, proprioception, and vibration. This information is sent from receptors of the skin, bones, and joints through sensory neurons whose cell bodies lie in the dorsal root ganglion. This information is then transmitted in axons up the spinal cord in spinal tracts, including the dorsal column - medial lemniscus tract and the spinothalamic tract. The lateral grey column is the third column of the spinal cord. The grey matter of the spinal cord can be divided into different layers, called Rexed laminae. These describe, in general, the purpose of the cells within the grey matter of the spinal cord at a particular location. Interneurons present in the grey matter of the spinal cord Rexed laminae groups the grey matter in the spinal cord according to its function. Clinical significance This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. ( January 2017 ) High alcohol consumption has been correlated with significant reductions in grey matter volume. Short - term cannabis use ( 30 days ) is not correlated with changes in white or grey matter. However, several cross-sectional studies have shown that repeated long - term cannabis use is associated with smaller grey matter volumes in the hippocampus, amygdala, medial temporal cortex, and prefrontal cortex, with increased grey matter volume in the cerebellum. Long - term cannabis use also alters white matter integrity in an age - dependent manner, with heavy cannabis use during adolescence and early adulthood causing the greatest amount of damage. Meditation has been shown to change grey matter structure. Habitual playing of action video games has been reported to promote a reduction of grey matter in the hippocampus while 3D platformer games have been reported to increase grey matter in the hippocampus. Women and men with equivalent IQ scores have differing proportions of grey to white matter in cortical brain regions associated with intelligence. Pregnancy renders substantial changes in brain structure, primarily reductions in gray matter volume in regions subserving social cognition. The gray matter reductions endured for at least 2 years post-pregnancy. History Etymology In the current edition of the official Latin nomenclature, Terminologia Anatomica, substantia grisea is used for English grey matter. The adjective grisea for grey is however not attested in classical Latin. The adjective grisea is derived from the French word for grey, gris. Alternative designations like substantia cana and substantia cinerea are being used alternatively. The adjective cana, attested in classical Latin, can mean grey, or greyish white. The classical Latin cinerea means ash - coloured. Additional images Human brain right dissected lateral view Schematic representation of the chief ganglionic categories ( I to V ). See also Grey matter heterotopia References Jump up ^ Purves D, Augustine GJ, Fitzpatrick D, Hall WC, LaMantia AS, McNamara JO, White LE ( 2008 ). Neuroscience ( 4th ed. ). Sinauer Associates. pp. 15 -- 16. ISBN 978 - 0 - 87893 - 697 - 7. Jump up ^ Kolb B, Whishaw IQ ( 2003 ). Fundamentals of human neuropsychology ( 5th ed. ). New York : Worth Publishing. p. 49. ISBN 978 - 0 - 7167 - 5300 - 1. 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External links Why Gray Matter is Gray Nervous tissue CNS Tissue Types Grey matter White matter Projection fibers Association fiber Commissural fiber Lemniscus Nerve tract Decussation Commissure Neuropil Meninges Cell Types Neuronal Pyramidal Purkinje Granule Glial insulating : Myelination : Oligodendrocyte other Astrocyte Radial glial cell Ependymal cells Tanycyte Microglia PNS General Dorsal Root Ganglion Ramus Ventral Root Ramus Ramus communicans Gray White Autonomic ganglion ( Preganglionic nerve fibers Postganglionic nerve fibers ) Nerve fascicle Funiculus Connective tissues Epineurium Perineurium Endoneurium Neuroglia Myelination : Schwann cell Neurilemma Myelin incisure Node of Ranvier Internodal segment Satellite glial cell Neurons / nerve fibers Parts Soma Axon hillock Axon Telodendron Axon terminals Axoplasm Axolemma Neurofibril / neurofilament Dendrite Nissl body Dendritic spine Apical dendrite / Basal dendrite Types Bipolar Unipolar Pseudounipolar Multipolar Interneuron Renshaw Afferent nerve fiber / Sensory neuron GSA GVA SSA SVA fibers Ia or Aα Ib or Golgi or Aα II or Aβ and Aγ III or Aδ or fast pain IV or C or slow pain Efferent nerve fiber / Motor neuron GSE GVE SVE Upper motor neuron Lower motor neuron α motorneuron β motorneuron γ motorneuron Termination Synapse Electrical synapse / Gap junction Chemical synapse Synaptic vesicle Active zone Postsynaptic density Autapse Ribbon synapse Neuromuscular junction Sensory receptors Meissner 's corpuscle Merkel nerve ending Pacinian corpuscle Ruffini ending Muscle spindle Free nerve ending Nociceptor Olfactory receptor neuron Photoreceptor cell Hair cell Taste bud The spinal cord General features Cervical enlargement Lumbar enlargement Conus medullaris Filum terminale Cauda equina Meninges Central canal Terminal ventricle Grey columns Posterior grey column Marginal nucleus Substantia gelatinosa of Rolando Nucleus proprius Rexed lamina V Rexed lamina VI Lateral grey column Intermediolateral nucleus Posterior thoracic nucleus Anterior grey column Interneuron Alpha motor neuron Onuf 's nucleus Gamma motor neuron Other Rexed laminae Central gelatinous substance Gray commissure White matter Sensory Posterior Posterior column - medial lemniscus pathway : Gracile Cuneate Lateral : Spinocerebellar dorsal ventral Spinothalamic lateral anterior Posterolateral Spinotectal Spinoreticular tract Spino - olivary tract Motor Lateral Corticospinal Lateral Extrapyramidal Rubrospinal Olivospinal Raphespinal Anterior Corticospinal Anterior Extrapyramidal Vestibulospinal Reticulospinal Tectospinal Both Anterior white commissure External features Ventral Anterior median fissure Anterolateral sulcus Dorsal Posterior median sulcus Posterolateral sulcus Anatomy of the cerebral cortex of the human brain Frontal lobe Superolateral Prefrontal Superior frontal gyrus 6 8 Middle frontal gyrus 9 10 46 Inferior frontal gyrus : 11 47 - Pars orbitalis Broca 's area 44 - Pars opercularis 45 - Pars triangularis Superior frontal sulcus Inferior frontal sulcus Precentral Precentral gyrus Precentral sulcus Medial / inferior Prefrontal Superior frontal gyrus 6 Medial frontal gyrus 8 9 Paraterminal gyrus / Paraolfactory area 12 Straight gyrus 11 Orbital gyri / Orbitofrontal cortex 10 11 12 Ventromedial prefrontal cortex 10 Subcallosal area 25 Olfactory sulcus Orbital sulcus Precentral Paracentral lobule Paracentral sulcus Both Primary motor cortex Premotor cortex 6 Supplementary motor area 6 Supplementary eye field 6 Frontal eye fields 8 Parietal lobe Superolateral Superior parietal lobule 5 7 Inferior parietal lobule 40 - Supramarginal gyrus 39 - Angular gyrus Parietal operculum 43 Intraparietal sulcus Medial / inferior Paracentral lobule 5 Precuneus 7 Marginal sulcus Both Postcentral gyrus / Primary somatosensory cortex Secondary somatosensory cortex 5 Posterior parietal cortex 7 Occipital lobe Superolateral Occipital pole of cerebrum Lateral occipital gyrus 18 19 Lunate sulcus Transverse occipital sulcus Medial / inferior Visual cortex 17 Cuneus Lingual gyrus Calcarine sulcus Temporal lobe Superolateral Transverse temporal gyrus / Auditory cortex 41 42 Superior temporal gyrus 38 22 / Wernicke 's area Middle temporal gyrus 21 Superior temporal sulcus Medial / inferior Fusiform gyrus 37 Medial temporal lobe 27 28 34 35 36 Inferior temporal gyrus 20 Inferior temporal sulcus Interlobar sulci / fissures Superolateral Central ( frontal + parietal ) Lateral ( frontal + parietal + temporal ) Parieto - occipital Preoccipital notch Medial / inferior Longitudinal fissure Cingulate ( frontal + cingulate ) Collateral ( temporal + occipital ) Callosal sulcus Limbic lobe Parahippocampal gyrus anterior Entorhinal cortex Perirhinal cortex Postrhinal cortex Posterior parahippocampal gyrus Prepyriform area Cingulate cortex / gyrus Subgenual area 25 Anterior cingulate 24 32 33 Posterior cingulate 23 31 Isthmus of cingulate gyrus : Retrosplenial cortex 26 29 30 Hippocampal formation Hippocampal sulcus Fimbria of hippocampus Dentate gyrus Rhinal sulcus Other Supracallosal gyrus Uncus Amygdala Insular cortex Insular cortex General Operculum Poles of cerebral hemispheres Some categorizations are approximations, and some Brodmann areas span gyri. Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Grey_matter&oldid=853159664 '' Categories : Neuroanatomy Central nervous system Hidden categories : Pages with unresolved properties Use British English from January 2017 Articles to be expanded from January 2017 All articles to be expanded Articles using small message boxes Talk Contents About Wikipedia Afrikaans Bosanski Català Čeština Dansk Deutsch Eesti Ελληνικά Español فارسی Français 한국어 Հայերեն Italiano עברית Bahasa Melayu Nederlands 日本 語 Norsk Polski Português Русский Simple English Slovenčina Slovenščina کوردی Српски / srpski Srpskohrvatski / српскохрватски Suomi Svenska ไทย Türkçe Українська Tiếng Việt 中文 27 more Edit links This page was last edited on 2 August 2018, at 20 : 32 ( UTC ). Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution - ShareAlike License ; additional terms may apply. By using this site, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. 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Question: the gray matter of the spinal cord contains
Answer: neuronal cell bodies, neuropil (dendrites and myelinated as well as unmyelinated axons), glial cells (astrocytes and oligodendrocytes), synapses, and capillaries