Anatomy
Fact-checked

At TheHealthBoard, we're committed to delivering accurate, trustworthy information. Our expert-authored content is rigorously fact-checked and sourced from credible authorities. Discover how we uphold the highest standards in providing you with reliable knowledge.

Learn more...

What is Periventricular White Matter?

Donn Saylor
Donn Saylor

Periventricular white matter (PVWM) is a type of brain matter comprised of nerve fibers that generate nerve impulses at a fast rate. It is positioned along the side of the brain's lateral ventricles. This matter plays an important role within the central nervous system and is largely responsible for the actions of the body's muscles.

The nerve fibers that make up periventricular white matter are axons, which are long, thin extensions of nerve cells. The axons are covered with a sheath of electrical insulation called myelin. Myelin serves to amplify the speed of nerve impulses within the brain.

PVWM is positioned along the side of the brain's lateral ventricles.
PVWM is positioned along the side of the brain's lateral ventricles.

Periventricular white matter has two primary duties. It functions as a connecting unit between areas of grey matter within the brain. Grey matter is another vital component of the central nervous system and consists largely of neural cell bodies, which are important to the production of nerve impulses. Periventricular white matter also transports impulses between neurons.

Multiple sclerosis is the most prevalent condition to affect PVWM.
Multiple sclerosis is the most prevalent condition to affect PVWM.

There are three different types of channels this type of white matter utilizes to transmit impulses; these channels are called tracts. Projection tracts direct messages from the cortex to other areas of the brain, from the brain to the muscles, or into the brain via sense receptors. Commissural tracts conduct messages between the left and right hemispheres of the brain. Within one hemisphere of the brain, messages travel through association tracts.

The presence of PVWM may be confirmed through brain imaging scans.
The presence of PVWM may be confirmed through brain imaging scans.

Periventricular white matter, sometimes referred to by the acronym PVWM, is usually white, off-white, or light pink in color. The pink color is present because of the capillary veins in the lipid tissues that make up myelin. Grey matter, despite its name, is also pink, though typically of a noticeably darker shade.

Changes in PVWM are common throughout the aging process. The slowing of motor speed is a natural consequence of growing older. But changes in PVWM can sometimes be caused by a more serious medical problem. A specific type of dementia called Binswanger's disease, migraine, and stroke have all been shown to induce radical changes in PVWM. When plaque builds up in PVWM, Alzheimer's disease may result.

When plaque builds up in PVWM, Alzheimer's disease may result.
When plaque builds up in PVWM, Alzheimer's disease may result.

By far the most prevalent condition to affect PVWM is multiple sclerosis. In patients with MS, the myelin sheathed around the axons of PVWM slowly denigrate due to inflammation. The extent of PVWM damage can be gauged by a form of imaging technology called diffusion tensor imaging, which provides a detailed look at the white matter areas of the brain.

Discussion Comments

Mor

Even though people always think of the brain as being "grey matter", there is actually more white matter in there than there is grey matter.

As it says in the article, the white matter is mostly made up of myelinated axons. These are like thin fibers.

In fact, I read recently that there is around 175,000km of myelinated axons in the brain of a young man. There is more like 150,000km in the brain of a young woman.

I'm not sure why there is that kind of difference, but it does add to the whole "Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus" debate, doesn't it?

pastanaga

@croydon - MS is bad, and I hope they do find a cure for it soon as well. But, it's not the worst thing that can happen to someone.

It doesn't necessarily shorten your lifespan and while people associate it with wheelchairs, most people with MS don't have to use a wheelchair and manage to maintain their independence.

It takes a lot of managing of course, and it's no walk in the park, but it's not completely devastating.

If anyone has recently been diagnosed with MS they should reach out to their local MS organization to find out more, particularly to talk to others who have the same thing. It's a good way to calm some of your worst fears about the disease.

croydon

Multiple sclerosis is such a terrible disease. I hope that they find a cure for it soon.

It's just so frustrating for the person to not have control over their own body.

I had a second cousin who had MS and although I hardly ever saw her, whenever I did as a child, I found it difficult to act normally around her, because she seemed almost scary to me at first, with her jerky movements and difficulty talking.

As I grew older, I realized that she was a person like all the other adults around me (she was quite a bit older than me) and that it wasn't her making those movements. It was the disease.

Of course, this was quite a while ago and there are more advanced treatments available now.

But I still pray for the day that they manage to cure it altogether.

Post your comments
Login:
Forgot password?
Register:
    • PVWM is positioned along the side of the brain's lateral ventricles.
      By: stockshoppe
      PVWM is positioned along the side of the brain's lateral ventricles.
    • Multiple sclerosis is the most prevalent condition to affect PVWM.
      By: designua
      Multiple sclerosis is the most prevalent condition to affect PVWM.
    • The presence of PVWM may be confirmed through brain imaging scans.
      By: Mikhail Basov
      The presence of PVWM may be confirmed through brain imaging scans.
    • When plaque builds up in PVWM, Alzheimer's disease may result.
      By: chuugo
      When plaque builds up in PVWM, Alzheimer's disease may result.
    • Migraines have been shown to induce changes in PVWM.
      By: WavebreakMediaMicro
      Migraines have been shown to induce changes in PVWM.
    • Periventricular white matter functions as a connecting unit between areas of grey matter within the brain.
      By: CLIPAREA.com
      Periventricular white matter functions as a connecting unit between areas of grey matter within the brain.
    • Changes to PVWM are common during the aging process.
      By: Gianfranco Bella
      Changes to PVWM are common during the aging process.