The cingulate gyrus lies on the medial aspect of the cerebral hemisphere. It forms a major part of the limbic system which has functions in emotion and behaviour. The frontal portion is termed the anterior cingulate gyrus (or cortex) ^1,2. 

Gross anatomy

Location

The cingulate gyrus extends from the subcallosal gyrus in the frontal lobe anteriorly to the isthmus posteriorly. It follows the superior convexity of the corpus callosum separated from it by the callosal sulcus ^1,3.

The anterior portion lies inferior to the medial frontal gyrus separated from it by the cingulate sulcus. The most anterior portion ends below the rostrum of the corpus callosum ^1,3.

The middle and most horizontal portion lies inferior to the paracentral lobule separated from it by the cingulate sulcus ^1,2. 

Its posterior portion (posterior cingulate gyrus) lies inferior to the precuneus separated from it by the subparietal sulcus. Connections between the precuneus and cingulate gyrus are anterior and posterior to this sulcus. The posterior cingulate gyrus and isthmus lie anterior to the occipital lobe separated from it by the parieto-occipital sulcus ^1,3. 

Arterial supply

It receives vascular supply from the pericallosal arteries, which are branches of the anterior cerebral artery ⁴.

Related pathology

The cingulate cortex is part of the limbic system and there is evidence that it has a role in emotion, attention and social behaviour ^5,6. Cingulate volumetric size and activity may predict response to electroconvulsive therapy for mood disorders ^7,8, and abnormalities have been described in schizophrenia ⁹.

Cingulate gyrus epilepsy can occur but is rare condition. Given the location of the cingulate gyrus, seizures can spread to temporal, frontal, or motor areas, resulting in a diverse range of symptoms ^10-12.

• anterior cingulate seizures typically present with emotional manifestations (e.g. fright, screaming, aggressive behaviour, laughter), gestural automatisms, hypermotor activity, autonomic changes (e.g. bradycardia), and ictal pouting (a downturned mouth) ^10-12

• posterior cingulate seizures often mimic temporal lobe seizures and may present with abdominal/gustatory auras, déjà vu, and impaired awareness, as well as bilateral tonic and hypermotor seizures ^10-12