Ventricles

The ventricular system is a set of hollow cavities in the brain filled with cerebrospinal fluid.

Learning Objective

Describe the function and locations of the ventricles in the brain

Key Points

The ventricular system is continuous with the central canal of the spinal cord.
The ventricles are filled with cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), which bathes and cushions the brain and spinal cord within their bony confines.
CSF flows from the lateral ventricles via the foramina of Monro into the third ventricle.
CSF flows from the third ventricle to the fourth ventricle via the cerebral aqueduct in the brainstem.
CSF flows from the fourth ventricle into the central canal of the spinal cord or into the cisterns of the subarachnoid space via three small foramina: the central foramen of Magendie and the two lateral foramina of Luschka.
The cerebral aqueduct and the foramina are very small and easily blocked, which would cause high pressure in the lateral ventricles and hydrocephalus.

Terms

lateral foramina of Luschka
Also known as the lateral aperture, an opening in each lateral extremity of the fourth ventricle of the human brain that provides a conduit for cerebrospinal fluid to flow from the brain's ventricular system into the subarachnoid space.
cerebral aqueduct
The channel in the brain which connects the third ventricle to the fourth ventricle. Also called the aqueduct of sylvius. It is surrounded by the periaqueductal gray.
cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)
A clear, colorless bodily fluid produced in the choroid plexus of the brain that acts as a cushion or buffer for the cortex, providing a basic mechanical and immunological protection to the brain inside the skull.

Example

In the late 1970s, CT scans of the ventricles revolutionized the study of mental disorders. Researchers found that on average, individuals with schizophrenia had enlarged ventricles compared to healthy subjects. This became the first evidence that mental disorders are biological in origin and led to a reinvigoration of the study of such conditions via modern scientific techniques.

Full Text

The ventricular system is a set of four interconnected cavities (ventricles) in the brain and the location of CSF production. This system is continuous with the central canal of the spinal cord.

The system comprises four ventricles:

right and left lateral ventricles (the first and second ventricles)
third ventricle
fourth ventricle

CSF Production

The cavities of the cerebral hemispheres are called lateral ventricles or first and second ventricles. These two ventricles open into the third ventricle by a common opening called the foramen of Monro.

CSF is produced by modified ependymal cells of the choroid plexus found in all components of the ventricular system except for the cerebral aqueduct and the posterior and anterior horns of the lateral ventricles. The brain and spinal cord are covered by a series of tough membranes called meninges, which protect these organs from rubbing against the bones of the skull and spine. The CSF within the skull and spine is found between the pia mater and the arachnoid and provides further cushioning. EndFra

CSF Flow Within Ventricles

CSF flows from the lateral ventricles via the foramina of Monro into the third ventricle, and then into the fourth ventricle via the cerebral aqueduct in the brainstem. From there, it passes into the central canal of the spinal cord and into the cisterns of the subarachnoid space via three small foramina: the central foramen of Magendie and the two lateral foramina of Luschka. The fluid then flows around the superior sagittal sinus to be reabsorbed via the arachnoid villi into the venous system. CSF within the spinal cord can flow all the way down to the lumbar cistern at the end of the cord around the cauda equina.

Brain Ventricles

Lateral and anterior views of the brain ventricles, including the third and fourth ventricle, lateral ventricles, interventricular foramen, cerebral aqueduct, and central canal.

Ventricular System Dysfunction and Disease

Diseases of the ventricular system include abnormal enlargement (hydrocephalus) and inflammation of the CSF spaces (meningitis, ventriculitis) caused by infection or introduction of blood following trauma or hemorrhage. The aqueduct between the third and fourth ventricles is very small, as are the foramina. This means they can be easily blocked, causing high pressure in the lateral ventricles. This is a common cause of hydrocephalus (known colloquially as "water on the brain"), an extremely serious condition due to the damage caused by the pressure as well as the nature of the block (e.g., a tumor or inflammatory swelling).

Embryonic Development of the Ventricles

The structures of the ventricular system are embryologically derived from the center of the neural tube (the neural canal). As the future brain stem aspect of the primitive neural tube develops, the neural canal expands dorsally and laterally, creating the fourth ventricle. The cerebral aqueduct is formed from the part of the neural canal that does not expand and remains the same at the level of the midbrain superior to the fourth ventricle. The fourth ventricle narrows at the obex, where the fourth ventricle narrows to become the central canal in the caudal medulla.

[ edit ]

Prev Concept

Cerebrospinal Fluid and Its Circulation

Functions of the Brain Stem

Next Concept