2. • The subarachnoid cisterns, or basal cisterns, are cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) filled
compartments within the subarachnoid space where the pia mater and arachnoid
membrane are not in close approximation.
• As they are interconnected, their patency is essential for CSF circulation. Cisterns may
have vessels and/or cranial nerves passing through them.
11. • 1. Great cerebral vein of
Galen
2. Internal cerebral vein
3. Thalamostriate vein
A. Cistern of the laminae
terminalis
B. Chiasmatic cistern
C. Interpeduncular cistern
D. Ambient cistern
E. Quadrigeminal cistern
F. Cerebellopontine
cistern
G. Prepontine cistern
H. Lateral
cerebellomedullary cistern
I. Cisterna magna
12. • 1.Intraventricular
foramen of Monroe
2. Posterior floor of the
third ventricle formed
by the convex superior
border of the midbrain
3. Cerebral aqueduct
of Sylvius
4. Median aperture of
Magendie
13. PERICALLOSAL CISTERN
• Unpaired
• containing - pericallosal artery
• It lies between the superior surface of the corpus
callosum and the inferior edge of the falx cerebri
• extends from the genu to the splenium of the corpus
callosum
14.
15. CISTERN OF THE LAMINA TERMINALIS
• Unpaired
• The cistern of lamina terminalis lies anterior to the anterior wall of the
3rd ventricle in the midline
• Acts as a connection between the pericallosal and interpeduncular
cisterns.
• Contents-
• anterior cerebral arteries (A1 and A2 segments)
• anterior communicating artery
• recurrent artery of Heubner
• subcallosal artery
• orbito-frontal arteries
16.
17.
18. SUPRASELLAR CISTERN
• Also known as the chiasmatic cistern
• The suprasellar cistern is located above the sella turcica, under
the hypothalamus and between the uncus of the temporal lobes.
• Contents
• proximal part of the Sylvian fissure (sometimes separately termed
the Sylvian cistern)
• the optic chiasm
• the infundibular stalk
• the cerebrovascular circle of Willis.
Relations
• It is continuous posteriorly with the interpeduncular cistern
22. INTERPEDUNCULAR CISTERN
• The interpeduncular cistern is an unpaired CSF-filled subarachnoid
cistern located between the cerebral peduncles.
• Contents-
• Oculomotor nerves (CN III),
• distal basilar artery,
• the origin of the posterior cerebral arteries (and thalamoperforating
arteries)
• the origin of the superior cerebellar arteries.)
26. CRURAL CISTERNS
• Crural cisterns
• Location: Between the Crus cerebri (cerebral peduncles - uncus of temporal
lobe
• Contents: P2 segment of PCA
Superior cerebellar artery
Anterior choroidal artery
Basal vein of Rosenthal
• (paired): between the cerebral crus and uncus of the temporal lobe
27. AMBIENT CISTERN
• The ambient cistern is a thin, sheet-like extension of the quadrigeminal
cistern that extends laterally around the midbrain and posterior to the
thalami.
• It acts as the connection between the quadrigeminal cistern and
the interpeduncular cistern. The term "ambient cistern" may be used to
refer to these connections and the quadrigeminal cistern as a whole.
• Contents
• It contains several vessels and nerves:
• posterior cerebral arteries
• superior cerebellar arteries
• basal veins of Rosenthal
• trochlear nerve (CN IV)
30. QUADRIGEMINAL CISTERN
• Also known as superior cistern or cistern of the great cerebral vein
• It is located between the colliculi, the splenium of the corpus callosum and the superior
surface of the cerebellum and extends from the third ventricle to the great cerebral vein.
It contains several vessels and nerves:
• posterior cerebral arteries
• posterior choroidal arteries
• superior cerebellar arteries
• trochlear nerve (CN IV)
• venous confluence at the junction of the : vein of Galen , inferior sagittal sinus, straight
sinus
36. PREPONTINE CISTERN (UNPAIRED)
• Simply pontine cistern is unpaired
• located ventral to the pons and dorsal to the clivus
• Contents
• the basilar artery, some of its branches (pontine perforators and the origin of the AICA)
• transverse pontine veins .
• The abducens nerve (CN VI), in its wall
• Communicate with interpeduncular cistern and cisterna magna.
39. PREMEDULLARY CISTERN
• It extends from the pontomedullary junction above, to the foramen
magnum below, between the lower clivus and anterior medulla.
• It is separated from the prepontine cistern above by the medial pontomedullary
membrane.
• Posterolaterally it communicates with the lateral cerebellomedullary cisterns.
Contents
• It contains several vessels and nerves:
• vertebrobasilar confluence
• anterior spinal artery
• posterior inferior cerebellar artery (PICA)
• hypoglossal nerve (CN XII)
42. CISTERNA MAGNA
• Also known as the posterior cerebellomedullary cistern is the largest cisterns
• Located between the cerebellum and the dorsal surface of the medulla oblongata at and
above the level of the foramen magnum. CSF produced in the ventricular system drains
into the cisterna magna from the fourth ventricle via the median aperture (of
Magendie) and the lateral apertures (of Luschka) 1,2.
• Several vessels and nerves course through the lateral part of the cistern:
• vertebral arteries
• posterior inferior cerebellar arteries (PICA)
• glossopharyngeal nerve (CN IX)
• vagus nerve (CN X)
• spinal accessory nerve (CN XI)
46. CEREBELLOPONTINE ANGLE CISTERN
• Also known as the pontocerebellar cistern, is a triangular cistern
• Paired---lateral to the pons, at the cerebellopontine angle
Contents:
• CN VII , CN VIII
• flocculus of the cerebellum
• foramen Luschka of the 4th ventricle
• anterior inferior cerebellar artery (AICA)
Relations:
• CN V lies superior to this space.
• CN IX, CN X, and CN XI lie inferior
• the middle cerebellar peduncle is inferior
48. SUPERIOR CEREBELLAR CISTERN
• (unpaired): posterior to the quadrigeminal cistern, between the superior surface of
cerebellum and tentorium
49.
50. SYLVIAN CISTERN
• Also known as the insular cistern, is the deep (cisternal) part of
the Sylvian fissure.
• two paired cisterns on either side
• Medially, it communicates with the carotid cistern. Laterally, it becomes
the superficial part of the Sylvian fissure.
Contents-
• middle cerebral artery: proximal parts (M1 and M2 segments) and the
origins of their branches (eg, lenticulostriate arteries)
• collaterals to the basal vein of Rosenthal
• middle cerebral veins
• fronto-orbital veins
53. CAROTID CISTERN
• The carotid cistern is one of the basal (subarachnoid) cisterns that surrounds
the supraclinoid internal carotid artery.
• Contents: Internal carotid artery
Origin of ACA, MCA, AchA & PCoA
54. CAROTID CISTERNS
• Surrounds the supraclinoid internal carotid artery.
• Location: Lateral to the sella Inferior the anterior clinoid process and
Superior to the cavernous sinus
• Contents: Internal carotid artery
Origin of ACA, MCA, AchA & PCoA
• The carotid cistern borders the following named CSF spaces:
• laterally: the Sylvian cistern/fissure
• posteriorly: the crural cistern and (separated by the Lillequist membrane) interpeduncular cistern
• medially: the chiasmatic (suprasellar) and lamina terminalis cister
55.
56. Vellecula Cerebelli
Location CSF cistern between the cerebellar tonsils
Connects the foramen of Megendi and
cisterna magna
Contents PICA
