Dissected View of Insula and Deep Cerebral Structures. The superior temporal gyrus, with Wernicke's area in its posterior region, forms most of the temporal operculum. At the center of the image is the insula.  Deep to the insular cortex, from superficial to deep, lie the extreme capsule, claustrum, external capsule, and putamen .  On the right side of the brain is seen in sagittal view the interventricular foramen of Monro. The foramen is bordered posteriorly by the anterior pole of the thalamus and anteriorly by the column of the fornix.  The anterior commissure crosses the midline and indents the ventral surface of the lenticular nucleus on its way to the temporal lobe.  (Image courtesy of AL Rhoton, Jr.)