Subarachnoid cisterns

Subarachnoid cisterns

Diagram showing the positions of the three principal subarachnoid cisterns.
Details
Latin cisterna
Dorlands
/Elsevier
c_37/12241802

Anatomical terminology

The subarachnoid cisterns are spaces formed by openings, where the arachnoid mater and the pia mater are separated, in the subarachnoid space of the brain. These cisterns are filled with cerebrospinal fluid.

Although the pia mater adheres to the surface of the brain, closely following the contours of its gyri and sulci, the arachnoid covers only its superficial surface. It follows from this that in certain areas around the brain the pia and arachnoid are separated widely; in such regions cavities are formed called the subarachnoid cisterns.

Although they are often described as distinct compartments, the subarachnoid cisterns are not truly anatomically distinct. Rather, these subarachnoid spaces are separated from each other by a trabeculated porous wall with various-sized openings.

There are many cisterns in the brain with several especially large, notable ones each with their own name.

Some major subarachnoid cisterns:

  1. The vertebral artery and the origin of the posterior inferior cerebellar artery (PICA).
  2. The ninth (IX), tenth (X), eleventh (XI) and twelfth (XII) cranial nerves.
  1. The basilar artery and the origin of the anteroinferior cerebellar artery (AICA).
  2. The origin of the superior cerebellar arteries.
  3. The sixth (VI) cranial nerve.
  1. The optic chiasm
  2. The bifurcation of the basilar artery.
  3. Peduncular segments of the posterior cerebral arteries (PCA).
  4. Peduncular segments of the superior cerebellar arteries.
  5. Perforating branches of the PCA.
  6. The posterior communicating arteries (PCoA).
  7. The basal vein of Rosenthal.
  8. The third (III) cranial nerve, which passes between the posterior cerebral and superior cerebellar arteries.
  1. The seventh (VII) and eighth (VIII) cranial nerves.
  2. The anteroinferior cerebellar artery (AICA).
  3. The fifth (V) cranial nerve and the petrosal vein.
  1. The great cerebral vein.
  2. The posterior pericallosal arteries.
  3. The third portion of the superior cerebellar arteries.
  4. Perforating branches of the posterior cerebral and superior cerebellar arteries.
  5. The third portion of the posterior cerebral arteries.
Its supratentorial portion contains:
  1. The basal vein of Rosenthal.
  2. The posterior cerebral artery.
Its infratentorial portion contains:
  1. The superior cerebellar artery.
  2. The fourth (IV) nerve.
  1. The anterior choroidal artery.
  2. The medial posterior choroidal artery.
  3. The basal vein of Rosenthal.
  1. The internal carotid artery.
  2. The origin of the anterior choroidal artery.
  3. The origin of the posterior communicating artery.
  1. The middle cerebral artery.
  2. The middle cerebral veins.
  3. The fronto-orbital veins.
  4. Collaterals to the basal vein of Rosenthal.
  1. The anterior cerebral arteries (A1 and proximal A2).
  2. The anterior communicating artery.
  3. Heubner's artery.
  4. The hypothalamic arteries.
  5. The origin of the fronto-orbital arteries.

It is of clinical significance that cerebral arteries, veins and cranial nerves must pass through the subarachnoid space, and these structures maintain their meningeal investment until around their point of exit from the skull.

References

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