Cerebral aqueduct

Cerebral aqueduct
Section through superior colliculus showing path of oculomotor nerve.
Drawing of a cast of the ventricular cavities, viewed from the side.
Details
Part ofVentricular system
Identifiers
Latinaqueductus mesencephali (cerebri)
aqueductus Sylvii
MeSHD002535
NeuroNames509
NeuroLex IDbirnlex_1261
TA98A14.1.06.501
TA25910
FMA78467
Anatomical terms of neuroanatomy

The cerebral aqueduct (aqueduct of the midbrain, aqueduct of Sylvius, Sylvian aqueduct, mesencephalic duct) is a small, narrow tube connecting the third and fourth ventricles of the brain.[1][2] The cerebral aqueduct is a midline structure that passes through the midbrain. It extends rostrocaudally through the entirety of the more posterior part of the midbrain. It is surrounded by the periaqueductal gray (central gray), a layer of gray matter.[3]

Congenital stenosis of the cerebral aqueduct is a cause of congenital hydrocephalus.[3]

It is named for Franciscus Sylvius.

  1. ^ Sinnatamby, Chummy S. (2011). Last's Anatomy (12th ed.). p. 476. ISBN 978-0-7295-3752-0.
  2. ^ Rubino, Jessica M.; Hogg, Jeffery P. (2024), "Neuroanatomy, Cerebral Aqueduct (Sylvian)", StatPearls, Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing, PMID 31082032, retrieved 2024-07-02
  3. ^ a b Standring, Susan (2020). Gray's Anatomy: The Anatomical Basis of Clinical Practice (42th ed.). New York: Elsevier. p. 409. ISBN 978-0-7020-7707-4. OCLC 1201341621.