In lower magnification photomicrographs, insular cortex can be identified by its three-layered appearance. The cellular layers divide into thirds such that the superficial layers (II and IV) and deep layer (VI) appear darker than the intervening layer V, which has cell-sparse gaps on either side. This trilaminar look is not apparent in the caudally adjacent perirhinal cortex rather, there are no cell-sparse gaps and cells of layer V are more densely packed, especially in area 35. Several cytoarchitectonic details also distinguish the anteriorly adjacent insular areas from the perirhinal cortex area 36. In the insular cortex, layers V and VI are approximately of the same thickness and readily distinguished. Layer V is broad and composed of medium to large, darkly stained pyramidal cells. It is continuous across the two regions, forming a broad, homogeneous band with cells of similar size, shape, staining characteristics, and packing density. When the perirhinal cortex begins, the single homogeneous, band-like layer V is no longer present, but replaced bysmaller and more densely packed layer V cells.
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