sulcus

biology

Also known as: sulci

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July 14, 2026

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A sulcus (plural: sulci) is a furrow or groove. In biology, it most commonly refers to a shallow furrow on the surface of the brain that separates adjacent convolutions, also known as gyri. These sulci, along with the gyri, increase the surface area of the cerebral cortex, which is crucial for higher cognitive functions. The pattern of sulci and gyri is relatively constant and is used to divide the cerebral hemispheres into lobes: frontal, parietal, temporal, and occipital. For example, the central sulcus separates the frontal and parietal lobes, and the lateral sulcus separates the temporal lobe from the frontal and parietal lobes.1234

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human cardiovascular system
External surface of the heart
Shallow grooves called the interventricular sulci, containing blood vessels, mark the separation between ventricles on the front and back surfaces of the heart. There are two grooves on the external surface of the heart. One, the atrioventricular groove, is along the line where the right atrium and the right ventricle…
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Shallow grooves called the interventricular sulci, containing blood vessels, mark the separation between ventricles on the front and back surfaces of the heart. There are two grooves on the external surface of the heart. One, the atrioventricular groove, is along the line where the right atrium and the right ventricle…
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dinoflagellate
A longitudinal groove, the sulcus, extends from the annulus posteriorly to the point at which a second flagellum is attached. The nuclei of dinoflagellates are larger than those of other eukaryotes. So-called armoured dinoflagellates are covered with cellulose plates, which may have long spiny extensions; some species lacking armour…
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A longitudinal groove, the sulcus, extends from the annulus posteriorly to the point at which a second flagellum is attached. The nuclei of dinoflagellates are larger than those of other eukaryotes. So-called armoured dinoflagellates are covered with cellulose plates, which may have long spiny extensions; some species lacking armour…
Read More