Third ventricle

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Brain: Third ventricle

Scheme showing relations of the ventricles to the surface of the brain.
Latin ventriculus tertius cerebri
Gray's p.813
NeuroNames hier-429

The third ventricle (ventriculus tertius) is one of four connected fluid-filled cavities comprising the ventricular system within the human brain. It is a median cleft between the two thalami, and is filled with cerebrospinal fluid (CSF).

It is in the midline, between the left and right lateral ventricles. Running through the third ventricle is the Interthalamic adhesion, fibers which connect the two thalami.

Communication

It communicates with the lateral ventricles anteriorly by the interventricular foramina (of Monro).

It communicates with the fourth ventricle posteriorly by the cerebral aqueduct (of Sylvius).

Development

The third ventricle, similarly to other parts of the ventricular system of the brain, develop from the central canal of the neural tube. Specifically, the third ventricle originates from the portion of the tube that is present in the developing prosencephalon, and subsequently in the developing encephalopathy.[1]

Boundaries

Third ventricle

It is bounded by the thalamus and hypothalamus on both the left and right sides. The lamina terminalis forms the anterior wall of the third ventricle. The floor of the third ventricle can be opened between the mamillary bodies and the pituitary gland, this is called an endoscopic third ventriculostomy.

Protrusions

There are two protrusions on the anterior aspect of the third ventricle:

  • the supra-optic recess (above the optic chiasma)
  • the infundibular recess (above the pituitary stalk).

Additionally, there are two protrusions on the posterior aspect, above the cerebral aqueduct:

In casts of the ventricular system, a small 'hole' may be seen in the body of the third ventricle. This is formed where the two thalami are joined together at the interthalamic adhesion (not seen in all people).

See also

References

  1. ↑ Le, Tao; Bhushan, Vikas; Vasan, Neil (2010). First Aid for the USMLE Step 1: 2010 20th Anniversary Edition. USA: The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. p. 126. ISBN 978-0-07-163340-6. 

Additional images

  • Coronal section of brain immediately in front of pons.

  • Coronal section of brain through intermediate mass of third ventricle.

  • Coronal section of lateral and third ventricles.

  • Drawing of a cast of the ventricular cavities, viewed from above.

  • Coronal section of brain through anterior commissure.

  • Diagram showing the positions of the three principal subarachnoid cisternæ.

  • Median sagittal through the hypophysis of an adult monkey. Semidiagrammatic.

  • Third ventricle

  • Third ventricle

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Third ventricle.
Epithalamus
Surface
Grey matter
Thalamus
Surface
Grey matter/
nuclei
White matter
Hypothalamus
Surface
Grey matter
Autonomic zones
Endocrine
Emotion
White matter
Pituitary
Subthalamus
Ventricular system:
Third ventricle

M: CNS

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