Postcentral gyrus

The postcentral gyrus is an important cerebral fold located within the parietal lobe. It is situated between the central sulcus at the front and the postcentral sulcus at the back. This gyrus extends downward and forward from the upper edge of the cerebral hemisphere. Its main function is to perceive general somatic sensations from the entire body, making it the primary sensory area. Additionally, the postcentral gyrus reaches the inner surface of the cerebral hemisphere, forming the back part of the paracentral lobule (also referred to as the posterior paracentral gyrus).

In the postcentral gyrus, our body parts are represented in a specific sequence, known as the sensory homunculus. On the outer side of the brain, the face and upper body are represented, while the inner side represents the legs. Therefore, if there is a stroke in the middle cerebral artery, it would lead to the loss of sensation in the upper limbs. On the other hand, a stroke in the anterior cerebral artery would result in the sensation loss affecting the lower limbs.