THE VENTRICULAR SYSTEM

The ventricles of the brain are a communicating network of cavities filled with cerebrospinal
fluid (CSF) and located within the brain parenchyma. The ventricular system is composed of 2
lateral ventricles, the third ventricle, the cerebral aqueduct, and the fourth ventricle. The choroid
plexuses located in the ventricles produce CSF, which fills the ventricles and subarachnoid
space, following a cycle of constant production and reabsorption.
GROSS ANATOMY:
The ventricular system is embryologically derived from the neural canal, forming early in the
development of the neural tube. The 3 brain vesicles (prosencephalon, mesencephalon and
rhombencephalon) form around the end of the first gestational month. The neural canal dilates
within the prosencephalon, leading to the formation of the lateral ventricles and third ventricle.
The cavity of the mesencephalon forms the cerebral aqueduct. The dilation of the neural canal
within the rhombencephalon forms the fourth ventricle.
The lateral ventricles communicate with the third ventricle through interventricular foramens,
and the third ventricle communicates with the fourth ventricle through the cerebral aqueduct.
During early development, the septum pellucidum is formed by the thinned walls of the 2
cerebral hemispheres and contains a fluid-filled cavity, named the cavum, which may persist.
LATERAL-VENTRICLES:

The lateral ventricles are two curved openings (shaped like a horseshoe) located deep within the
top section of the brain, that provide a pathway for cerebrospinal fluid. Cerebrospinal fluid is the
cushiony fluid that protects the brain and spine from trauma. There is one lateral ventricle on
each side of the brain. Two lateral ventricles are the largest of all the ventricles in the brain. They
are surrounded by periventricular white matter. White matter is a group of white nerve fibers that
conduct nerve impulses quickly
The lateral ventricle is also known as the ventriculus lateralis and the ventricle of cerebral
hemisphere.
The largest cavities of the ventricular system are the lateral ventricles. Each lateral ventricle is
divided into a central portion, formed by the body and atrium (or trigone), and 3 lateral
extensions or horns of the ventricles.The central portion or the body of the ventricle is located
within the parietal lobe. The roof is formed by the corpus callosum, and the posterior portion of
the septum pellucidum lies medially. The anterior part of the body of the fornix, the choroid
plexus, lateral dorsal surface of the thalamus, stria terminalis, and caudate nucleus, form the floor
of the lateral ventricle.
The interventricular foramen is located between the thalamus and anterior pillar of the fornix, at
the anterior margin of the body. The 2 interventricular foramens (or foramina of Monro) connect
the lateral ventricles with the third ventricle. The body of the lateral ventricle is connected with
the occipital and temporal horns by a wide area named the atrium.
THE ANTERIOR HORN:

Extends forward into the frontal lobe.
It is continuous posteriorly with the body of the ventricle at the interventricular foramen.
The roof is formed by the undersurface of the anterior part of the corpus callosum, the
genu which limits the anterior horn anteriorly.
The floor is formed by the rounded head of the caudate nucleus medially; a small portion
is formed by the superior surface of the rostrum of the corpus callosum.
The medial wall is formed by the septum pellucidum and the anterior column of the
fornix.
THE POSTERIOR HORN:

Extends posteriorly into the occipital lobe.
The roof and lateral wall are formed by the fibers of the tapetum of the corpus callosum.
Lateral to the tapetum are the fibers of the optic radiation
The medial wall of the posterior horn has two elevations.
The superior swelling (bulb of posterior horn): is produced by the splenial fibers of the
corpus callosum (forceps major) passing posteriorly into the occipital lobe.
The inferior swelling (calcar avis): is produced by the calcarine sulcus.
.
THE INFERIOR HORN:
Extends anteriorly into the temporal lobe.
The roof is formed by the inferior surface of the tapetum of the corpus callosum and by
the tail of the caudate nucleus which passes anteriorly to end in the amygdaloid nucleus.
Medial to the tail of the caudate nucleus is the stria terminalis, which also ends anteriorly
in the amygdaloid nucleus.
The floor is formed laterally by the collateral eminence, produced by the collateral
fissure, and medially by the hippocampus.
The anterior end of the hippocampus is expanded and slightly furrowed to form the
peshippocampus.
The hippocampus is composed of gray matter; however, the ventricular surface of the
hippocampus is covered by a thin layer of white matter called the alveus, which is formed
from the axons of the cells of the hippocampus.
These axons converge on the medial border of the hippocampus to form a bundle known
as the fimbria.
The fimbria of the hippocampus becomes continuous posteriorly with the Posterior
column of the fornix.





CHOROID PLEXUS OF THE LATERAL VENTRICLE:

The choroid plexus is, in fact, the irregular lateral edge of the tela choroidea, which is a
twolayered fold of pia mater situated between the fornix superiorly and the upper surface
of the thalamus
Projects into the ventricle on its medial aspect and is a vascular fringe composed of pia
mater covered with the ependymal lining of the ventricular cavity.
At the junction of the body of the lateral ventricle and the inferior horn, the choroid
plexus is continued into the inferior horn and projects through the choroidal fissure
The function of the choroid plexus is to produce cerebrospinal fluid.

THIRD VENTRICLE:
The third ventricle is the narrow vertical cavity of the diencephalon. A thin tela choroidea
supplied by the medial posterior choroidal arteries (branch of posterior cerebral artery) is formed
in the roof of the third ventricle. The fornix and the corpus callosum are located superiorly. The
lateral walls are formed by the medial thalamus and hypothalamus. The anterior commissure, the
lamina terminalis, and the optic chiasm delineate the anterior wall. The floor of the third
ventricle is formed by the infundibulum, which attaches the hypophysis, the tuber cinereum, the
mammillary bodies, and the upper end of the midbrain. The posterior wall is formed by the
pineal gland and habenular commissure. The interthalamic adhesions are bands of gray matter
with unknown functional significance, which cross the cavity of the ventricle and attach to the
external wall. The third ventricle also communicates with the fourth ventricle through the narrow
cerebral (sylvian or mesencephalic) aqueduct.
CEREBRAL-AQUEDUCT:

The cerebral aqueduct is a narrow opening in the brain that connects the third ventricle with the
fourth ventricle, allowing cerebrospinal fluid to flow between these two areas. Ventricles are
openings in the brain that provide a pathway for cerebrospinal fluid. The cerebral aqueduct is
about 3/4 of an inch long and is lined with ependymal and is surrounded by the grey mater called
the central grey. Ependymal is a type of membrane that lines the ventricles of the brain. The
cerebral aqueduct can be found in the midbrain. The cerebral aqueduct is the only major part of
the ventricle system that does not contain a choroid plexus. The choroid plexus is a cluster of
blood vessels that lines the ventricles and produce cerebrospinal fluid.
FOURTH VENTRICLE:
Is a tent-shaped cavity filled with CSF. It is situated anterior to the cerebellum and posterior to
the pons and the superior half of the medulla oblongata. It is lined with ependyma and is
continuous above with the cerebral aqueduct of the midbrain and below with the central canal of
the medulla oblongata and the spinal cord.The fourth ventricle possesses lateral boundaries, a
roof, and a rhomboid-shaped floor.
LATERAL BOUNDARIES:
Cephalic part: superior cerebellar peduncle
Caudal part: inferior cerebellar peduncle

THE ROOF (POSTERIOR WALL):

The tent-shaped roof projects into the cerebellum
The superior part is formed by the medial borders of the two superior cerebellar
peduncles and a connecting sheet of white matter called the superior medullary velum.
The inferior part of the roof is formed by the inferior medullary velum, which consists of
a thin sheet devoid of nervous tissue and formed by the ventricular ependyma and its
posterior covering of pia mater.
This part of the roof (inferior) is pierced in the midline by a large aperture, the median
aperture or foramen of Magendie.
Lateral recesses extend laterally around the sides of the medulla and open anteriorly as
the lateral openings of the fourth ventricle, or the foramina of Luschka.
Thus, the cavity of the fourth ventricle communicates with the subarachnoid s pace
through these three openings.
These important openings provide the only exit which permits the cerebro spinal fluid to
flow from the ventricular system into the subarachnoid space.
From the subarachnoid space CSF is absorbed continuously in the arachnoid villi
&granulations in the superior sagittal sinus.

THE FLOOR (RHOMBOID FOSSA):

The diamond-shaped floor is formed by the posterior surface of the pons and the cranial
half of the medulla oblongata.
It is covered by a thin layer of gray substance continuous with that of the medulla
spinalis; superficial to this is a thin lamina of neuroglia which constitutes the ependyma
of the ventricle and supports a layer of ciliated epithelium.
The floor is divided into symmetrical halves by the median sulcus.
On each side of this sulcus, the re is an elevation, the medial eminence, which is bounded
laterally by another sulcus, the sulcus limitans.
Lateral to the sulcus limitans, there is the vestibular area beneath which the vestibular
nuclei lie.
The facial colliculus is a slight swelling at the inferior end of the medial eminence that is
produced by the fibers from the motor nucleus of the facial nerve looping over the
abducens nucleus.
At the superior end of the sulcus limitans, there is a bluishgray area, produced by a
cluster of nerve cells containing melanin pigment; the substantia ferruginea
Strands of nerve fibers, the stria medullaris, derived from the arcuate nuclei, emerge from
the median sulcus and pass laterally over the medial eminence and the vestibular area and
enter the inferior cerebellar peduncle to reach the cerebellum
Inferior to the stria medullaris, the following features should be recognized in the floor of
the ventricle:
The most medial is the hypoglossal triangle, which indicates the position of the
underlying hypoglossal nucleus.
Lateral to this is the vagal triangle, beneath which lies the dorsal motor nucleus of
the vagus.
The area postrema is a narrow area between the vagal triangle and the lateral margin
of the ventricle,just rostral to the opening into the central canal.
The inferior part of the vestibular area also lies lateral to the vagal triangle.
CEREBROSPINAL FLUID:
Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is considered a part of the transcellular fluids. It is contained in the
ventricles and the subarachnoid space and bathes the brain and spinal cord. The CSF is contained
within the meninges and acts as a cushion to protect the brain from injury with position or
movement. It has been estimated that this water bath effect gives the 1400g brain an effective
net weight of only 50g. The total volume of CSF is 150 mls.
FORMATION:
The cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is produced from arterial blood by the choroid plexuses of the
lateral and fourth ventricles by a combined process of diffusion, pinocytosis and active transfer.
A small amount is also produced by ependymal cells. The choroid plexus consists of tufts of
capillaries with thin fenestrated endothelial cells. These are covered by modified ependymal cells
with bulbous microvilli. The total volume of CSF in the adult ranges from140 to 270 ml. The
volume of the ventricles is about 25 ml. CSF is produced at a rate of 0.2 - 0.7 ml per minute or
600-700 ml per day.
The CSF is formed by the choroid plexus (50%) and directly from the walls of the ventricules
(50%). CSF flows through the foramens of Magendie & Luschka into the subarachnoid space of
the brain and spinal cord. It is absorbed by the arachnoid villi (90%) and directly into cerebral
venules (10%)..
CIRCULATION:
As aforementioned, CSF is produced in the ventricles, with the greatest volume being secreted
by the choroid plexus within the lateral ventricles. Net fluid flow is in a pulsatile manner owing
to changes in vascular pressures within the cardiac cycle, and it follows a specific pathway as a
consequence of sites of proximal production and distal absorption. The presence of cilia
throughout the ventricular system also aid unidirectional flow. In order to describe the transport
of CSF through the brain and cord, let us begin with a description of the flow beginning in the
lateral ventricles:
There are two lateral ventricles which are deep in the cerebral hemispheres just inferior to the
corpus collosum. They are separated by a membranous tissue septum - the septum pellucidum.
CSF produced within these ventricles will flow inferiorly to coalesce within the third ventricle
via the foramen of Monro. From here, again flowing inferiorly, the pathway will be into the
fourth ventricle via the aqueduct of Sylvius (or cerebral aqueduct). The fourth ventricle is
posterior to the brainstem and anterior to the cerebellum, and it is from here that CSF flows into
the central canal of the spinal cord, or into the basal cisterns and subarachnoid spaces via the
foramen of Magendie (median aperture) or the foramen of Lushka (x2 - lateral apertures). The
basal cisterns distribute CSF to the deeper structures of the brain, whilst the subarachnoid spaces
ensure the cord and cerebral convexities are surrounded by CSF.
FUNCTION:
Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), clear, colourless liquid that fills and surrounds the brain and
the spinal cord and provides a mechanical barrier against shock.
Formed primarily in the ventricles of the brain, the cerebrospinal fluid supports the brain
and provides lubrication between surrounding bones and the brain and spinal cord.
When an individual suffers a head injury, the fluid acts as a cushion, dulling the force by
distributing its impact.
The fluid helps to maintain pressure within the cranium at a constant level.
The fluid also transports metabolic waste products, antibodies, chemicals, and
pathological products of disease away from the brain and spinal-cord tissue into the
bloodstream. CSF is slightly alkaline and is about 99 percent water. There are about 100
to 150 ml of CSF in the normal adult human body.