The inferior temporal gyrus is the lowest of the three gyri on the outer side of each temporal lobe, below the middle temporal gyrus; it curves round the lower edge of the lobe onto its underside. [1]
The 3D brain needs JavaScript. The text below still says where the inferior temporal gyrus is and what it does.
Slice
Opens cut by a front (coronal) slice through the inferior temporal gyrus. Drag to turn, pinch or scroll to zoom, tap any part to name it; .
Takes part in: recognising faces — see every part of each lit together.
Where it is
It lies below the middle temporal gyrus, separated from it by the inferior temporal sulcus, and behind it is connected with the inferior occipital gyrus. [1][2]
It extends around the lower outer border of the temporal lobe onto its underside, where the inferior (occipitotemporal) sulcus limits it. [1]
Across that sulcus, on the underside of the lobe, lies the fusiform gyrus. [3]
Paired: there is one in each hemisphere; this model lights both. [1][4]
What it does
It is one of the higher levels of the ventral visual stream, associated with representing objects, places, faces and colours. [1]
It may also be involved in face perception and in recognising numbers and words. [1]
The ventral stream is the “what” pathway: it runs from the primary visual cortex forward along the lower temporal lobe and deals with recognising what things are. [5]
Connections
The inferior longitudinal fasciculus, a long bundle of nerve fibres, connects the occipital lobe with the temporal lobe and carries visual information forward along it. [6]
Other names
ITG, third temporal gyrus; Brodmann area 20 (BA20) corresponds roughly to it. [1][7]
Size
On this model the left inferior temporal gyrus measures about 96 mm front to back, 29 mm top to bottom and 44 mm side to side (the box it fits in, not its volume); the right one is its mirror image. [4]
Centre of the left inferior temporal gyrus compared with the centre of the left middle temporal gyrus: 11 mm further forward, 11 mm lower, 10 mm closer to the midline; 18 mm apart in a straight line. [4]
Centre of the left inferior temporal gyrus compared with the centre of the left fusiform gyrus: 6 mm further back, 14 mm further from the midline; 15 mm apart in a straight line. [4]
Facts describe anatomy and normal function only. The 3D model is the adult male BodyParts3D brain (credits and licence); real brains vary in size and shape, so its measurements describe one model, not anyone’s brain.