The quadrigeminal cistern (also cistern of great cerebral vein, vein of Galen cistern, superior cistern, Bichat's canal, or peripineal cistern) is a

subarachnoid cistern The subarachnoid cisterns are spaces formed by openings in the subarachnoid space, an anatomic space in the meninges of the brain. The space is situated between the two meninges, the arachnoid mater and the pia mater. These cisterns are filled w ...

situated between

splenium The corpus callosum (Latin for "tough body"), also callosal commissure, is a wide, thick nerve tract, consisting of a flat bundle of commissural fibers, beneath the cerebral cortex in the brain. The corpus callosum is only found in placental m ...

corpus callosum The corpus callosum (Latin for "tough body"), also callosal commissure, is a wide, thick nerve tract, consisting of a flat bundle of commissural fibers, beneath the cerebral cortex in the brain. The corpus callosum is only found in placental ...

, and the superior surface of the

cerebellum The cerebellum (: cerebella or cerebellums; Latin for 'little brain') is a major feature of the hindbrain of all vertebrates. Although usually smaller than the cerebrum, in some animals such as the mormyrid fishes it may be as large as it or eve ...

. It contains a part of the great cerebral vein, the

posterior cerebral artery The posterior cerebral artery (PCA) is one of a pair of cerebral arteries that supply oxygenated blood to the occipital lobe, as well as the medial and inferior aspects of the temporal lobe of the human brain. The two arteries originate from the d ...

, quadrigeminal artery, glossopharyngeal nerve (CN IX), and the

pineal gland The pineal gland (also known as the pineal body or epiphysis cerebri) is a small endocrine gland in the brain of most vertebrates. It produces melatonin, a serotonin-derived hormone, which modulates sleep, sleep patterns following the diurnal c ...

Structure

The quadrigeminal cistern lies between the

of the

(superiorly), the

cerebellar vermis The cerebellar vermis (from Latin ''vermis,'' "worm") is located in the medial, cortico-nuclear zone of the cerebellum, which is in the posterior cranial fossa, posterior fossa of the cranium. The primary fissure in the vermis curves ventrolatera ...

(inferiorly and posteriorly), and the tentorial margin. It is just superior to the

tectum The midbrain or mesencephalon is the uppermost portion of the brainstem connecting the diencephalon and cerebrum with the pons. It consists of the cerebral peduncles, tegmentum, and tectum. It is functionally associated with vision, hearing, mo ...

of the mesencephalon (midbrain). It lies medial to part of the medial

occipital cortex The occipital lobe is one of the four major lobes of the cerebral cortex in the brain of mammals. The name derives from its position at the back of the head, from the Latin , 'behind', and , 'head'. The occipital lobe is the visual processing ...

. It is posterior to the brainstem and

third ventricle The third ventricle is one of the four connected cerebral ventricles of the ventricular system within the mammalian brain. It is a slit-like cavity formed in the diencephalon between the two thalami, in the midline between the right and lef ...

; it extends between the layers of the

tela choroidea The tela choroidea (or tela chorioidea) is a region of meninges, meningeal pia mater that adheres to the underlying ependyma, and gives rise to the choroid plexus in each of the brain’s Ventricular system, four ventricles. ''Tela'' is Latin for ...

of the

. The cistern may extend anterior-ward between the thalamus and corpus callosum to form the ''cistern of velum interpositum''.

The superior cistern contains a number of important structures, including: * great cerebral vein - lies superiorly, helps to form its superior wall. * (caudal, distal portions of) internal cerebral veins (as they converge to form the great cerebral vein) * (parts of the)

posterior cerebral arteries The posterior cerebral artery (PCA) is one of a pair of cerebral arteries that supply oxygenated blood to the occipital lobe, as well as the medial and inferior aspects of the temporal lobe of the human brain. The two arteries originate from the d ...

(their (sources differ) P3 segments/P4 segments) * (parts of the) medial posterior choroidal arteries and lateral

posterior choroidal artery The posterior cerebral artery (PCA) is one of a pair of cerebral arteries that supply oxygenated blood to the occipital lobe, as well as the medial and inferior aspects of the temporal lobe of the human brain. The two arteries originate from the d ...

* (parts of the) quadrigeminal artery * (the exit of the) trochlear nerve (CN IV) * (the exit of the) glossopharyngeal nerve (CN IX) *

Clinical significance

Arteriovenous malformations An arteriovenous malformation (AVM) is an abnormal connection between arteries and veins, bypassing the capillary system. Usually congenital, this vascular anomaly is widely known because of its occurrence in the central nervous system (usually ...

of the great cerebral vein can create an enlarged pouch of vein in the superior cistern. This is derived from the prosencephalic vein present during

prenatal development Prenatal development () involves the development of the embryo and of the fetus during a viviparous animal's gestation. Prenatal development starts with fertilization, in the germinal stage of embryonic development, and continues in fetal de ...

. This can be diagnosed soon after birth.

Medical ultrasound Medical ultrasound includes Medical diagnosis, diagnostic techniques (mainly medical imaging, imaging) using ultrasound, as well as therapeutic ultrasound, therapeutic applications of ultrasound. In diagnosis, it is used to create an image of ...

may be used, where it displaces the

Angiography Angiography or arteriography is a medical imaging technique used to visualize the inside, or lumen, of blood vessels and organs of the body, with particular interest in the arteries, veins, and the heart chambers. Modern angiography is perfo ...

may also be used. The superior cistern may be opened during

neurosurgery Neurosurgery or neurological surgery, known in common parlance as brain surgery, is the specialty (medicine), medical specialty that focuses on the surgical treatment or rehabilitation of disorders which affect any portion of the nervous system ...

. This is used in order to access deeper brain structures, such as the

superior colliculus In neuroanatomy, the superior colliculus () is a structure lying on the tectum, roof of the mammalian midbrain. In non-mammalian vertebrates, the Homology (biology), homologous structure is known as the optic tectum or optic lobe. The adjective f ...

History

The superior cistern may also be known as the cistern of great cerebral vein, the quadrigeminal cistern, and Bichat's canal.

References

{{Authority control Meninges

Structure

Contents

Clinical significance

History

References