| Cisterna magna | |
|---|---|
 Diagram showing the positions of the three principal cisterns in the brain. The cisterna magna is labelled as cisterna cerebellomedullaris at the lower right. | |
| Details | |
| System | Ventricular |
| Identifiers | |
| Latin | cisterna magna,[1] cisterna cerebellomedullaris posterior[1] |
| MeSH | D002946 |
| TA98 | A14.1.01.208 |
| TA2 | 5402 |
| FMA | 83721 |
| Anatomical terms of neuroanatomy | |
The cisterna magna (posterior cerebellomedullary cistern,[1] or cerebellomedullary cistern[2][3]) is the largest of the subarachnoid cisterns. It occupies the space created by the angle between the caudal/inferior surface of the cerebellum, and the dorsal/posterior surface of the medulla oblongata (it is created by the arachnoidea that bridges this angle[3]). The fourth ventricle communicates with the cistern via the unpaired midline median aperture.[2][3] It is continuous inferiorly with the subarachnoid space of the spinal canal.[3]
The cisterna magna contains the two vertebral arteries, the origins of the two posterior inferior cerebellar arteries, the glossopharyngeal nerve (CN IX), vagus nerve (CN X), accessory nerve (CN XI), hypoglossal nerve (XII), and choroid plexus.[3] The vertebral artery and posterior inferior cerebellar artery of either side pass traverse either lateral portion of the cistern.[2]
- ^ a b c "Anatonomina". www.terminologia-anatomica.org. Retrieved 2023-08-01.
- ^ a b c Sinnatamby, Chummy S. (2011). Last's Anatomy (12th ed.). Elsevier Australia. p. 440. ISBN 978-0-7295-3752-0.
- ^ a b c d e 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.
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