Final answer:
The ridges and grooves of the cerebral cortex are referred to as gyri and sulci respectively, with these structures contributing significantly to the division of the brain into functional areas.
Step-by-step explanation:
The ridges and grooves of the cerebral cortex are best defined by the terms gyri and sulci.
The cerebral cortex is the outermost layer of the brain and is characterized by a series of folds and grooves. The folds, known as gyri, increase the surface area of the cerebral cortex, which allows for a greater number of neurons to be packed into this layer. The grooves that separate these ridges are called sulci. This intricate design of gyri and sulci helps in dividing the brain into its various functional zones, each responsible for different aspects of cognitive function and neural processing. The most notable groove is the longitudinal fissure, which divides the brain into left and right hemispheres.