Prepontine cistern
Latincisterna pontis
Caption 2Scheme of roof of fourth ventricle. The arrow is in the foramen of Majendie.
1: Inferior medullary velum
2: Choroid plexus
3: Cerebellomedullary cistern of subarachnoid cavity
4: Central canal
5: Corpora quadrigemina
6: Cerebral peduncle
7: superior medullary velum
8: Ependymal lining of ventricle
9: Prepontine cistern of subarachnoid cavity

The prepontine cistern, or pontine cistern is one of the subarachnoid cisterns situated ventral to the pons.[1] It contains the basilar artery.[2]: 478 Each lateral aperture opens into the pontine cistern just posterior to the cranial nerve VIII.[3][2]: 483

Anatomy

The pontine cistern is situated ventral to the pons,[1][3] in the interval between ventral aspect of the pons, and the clivus.[2]: 478

Contents

The cistern contains the origin of the abducens nerve (CN VI),[1][3] the basilar artery[3] and the origin of the basilar artery and of its branches,[1] and the anterior inferior cerebellar artery, and superior cerebellar artery.[1][3]

Relations

It is continuous inferiorly with the subarachnoid space of the spinal canal, posterolaterally with the cerebellopontine cistern of either side, and rostrally/anteriorly with the interpeduncular cistern.[1]

References

  1. ^ Standring, Susan (2020). Gray's Anatomy: The Anatomical Basis of Clinical Practice. 42th ed. New York. p. 413. ISBN 978-0-7020-7707-4. OCLC 1201341621
  2. ^ Sinnatamby, Chummy S. (2011). Last's Anatomy. 12th ed. ISBN 978-0-7295-3752-0.
  3. ^ Shafique, Shiza & Rayi, Appaji (2023), "Anatomy, Head and Neck, Subarachnoid Space", StatPearls, Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing, PMID 32491453, retrieved 2023-08-01