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Anatomy of the ventricular system

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Notes

Anatomy of the Ventricular System

Figure 1. A. Midsagittal section of brain. B. Transverse section of midbrain.
Figure 2. Midsagittal section of brain and skull showing flow of cerebral spinal fluid (CSF).
Figure 3. Midsagittal view showing the subarachnoid cisterns. Note: Lateral cerebellomedullary cisterns cannot be seen in this section.
Figure 4. Sites of CSF production (C) and absorption (B). A. Inferior view of calvarium. B. Sagittal view showing site of CSF absorption into dural venous sinuses. C. Close-up of choroid plexus.
Figure 5. Lateral view of ventricular system.
Figure 6. Transverse section at the level of the interventricular foramina.
Figure 7. Coronal section at the level of the red nucleus.
Figure 8. Borders of the fourth ventricle. A. Sagittal view showing the roof of the fourth ventricle. B. Dorsal view showing the floor of the fourth ventricle (cerebellum removed).
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Questions

USMLE® Step 1 style questions USMLE

0 of 1 complete

A group of investigators is studying the pathway of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) flow in the ventricular system. Which of the following best describes the direction of CSF flow?

Transcript

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Content Reviewers

Viviana Popa, MD,Leah Labranche, PhD, MSc, BSc(Hons),Laura Welke, PhD

An adult human brain weighs about 1.5 kgs, but we don’t really feel it weighing us down!

That’s because the brain is cushioned by cerebrospinal fluid or CSF, which can be found within brain cavities called ventricles.

These cavities are involved in the production, transport and removal of CSF, and they are connected to each other. So, as a whole they are often referred to as the ventricular system of the brain.

CSF doesn’t only fill the ventricles, but also the subarachnoid space, which surrounds the brain and spinal cord. This way, CSF cushions and protects the brain from head trauma, and it also provides buoyancy so that the brain doesn’t compress blood vessels and cranial nerve roots against the cranium. It also provides protection against sudden intracranial pressure changes.

CSF can also transport nutrients for nervous tissue,

as well as remove metabolic waste products.

It can also transport hormones, and

influence the brain's excitability by regulating its ionic composition. .

Now, the ventricular system consists of four ventricles: two lateral ventricles, the third ventricle and the fourth ventricle.

CSF flows from the lateral ventricles through the left and right interventricular foramina, also called the foramina of Monro, to the third ventricle.

From here, it passes through the cerebral aqueduct to reach the fourth ventricle. CSF can then flow caudally into the central canal of the spinal cord.

The fourth ventricle also has two lateral apertures, called the foramina of Luschka,

and a median aperture, called the foramen of Magendie, both of which allow CSF to reach the subarachnoid space.

The lateral ventricles are the largest. They occupy both cerebral hemispheres, and they’re present all four lobes, This is best seen on coronal sections of the brain,