Cave of septum pellucidum

Cavum septum pellucidum
Normal brain and cave of septum pellucidum as shown on a stylized horizontal section through the brain
Difference between cave of septum pellucidum (CSP), cavum Vergae (CV) and cavum veli interpositi (CVI)
3 = third ventricle
4 = fourth ventricle
Details
Identifiers
LatinCavum septi pellucidi
TA98A14.1.09.263
TA25648
FMA61874
Anatomical terms of neuroanatomy
Cave of septum pellucidum seen on CT

The cave of septum pellucidum (CSP), cavum septi pellucidi, or cavity of septum pellucidum is a slit-like space in the septum pellucidum that is present in fetuses but usually fuses during infancy. The septum pellucidum is a thin, laminated translucent vertical membrane in the midline of the brain separating the anterior horns of the right and left lateral ventricles. It lies posterior to the corpus callosum. Persistence of the cave of septum pellucidum after infancy has been loosely associated with neural maldevelopment and several mental disorders that correlate with decreased brain tissue.[1][2][3][4][5]

The cave of septum pellucidum is bounded anteriorly by the genu of the corpus callosum, superiorly by the body of the corpus callosum, posteriorly by the anterior limb and pillars of the fornix, inferiorly by the anterior commissure and the rostrum of the corpus callosum, and laterally by the leaflets of the septum pellucidum.[6]

In prenatal development of the fetus, the laminae of the septum pellucidum separate to form a small cavity – the cave of septum pellucidum. This is an important normal structure to identify in the sonographic assessment of the fetal brain. In post-natal life, the laminae of the septum pellucidum usually fuse, which obliterates the cavum. The cavity contains cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) that filters from the ventricles through the septal laminae.[7]

There are individual differences in the degree of CSP; whereas some have complete closure of the cavum, others present with a small degree (4–6 mm wide, in the coronal plane) of incomplete closure.[4] The most common type of CSP is noncommunicating; that is, it does not connect to the brain's ventricular system. Because of this lack of communication, the previous use of the term "fifth ventricle" is no longer used, and the fifth ventricle is the name often used for the terminal ventricle.

CSP is present in 100% of fetuses, but over 85% of them fuse by 3–6 months after birth.[8][9]

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference Galarza-2004 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference May-2004 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference Zhang-2003 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ a b Raine A, Lee L, Yang Y, Colletti P (September 2010). "Neurodevelopmental marker for limbic maldevelopment in antisocial personality disorder and psychopathy". The British Journal of Psychiatry. 197 (3): 186–192. doi:10.1192/bjp.bp.110.078485. PMC 2930915. PMID 20807962.
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference McKee-2009 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ Born CM, Meisenzahl EM, Frodl T, Pfluger T, Reiser M, Möller HJ, et al. (October 2004). "The septum pellucidum and its variants. An MRI study". European Archives of Psychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience. 254 (5): 295–302. doi:10.1007/s00406-004-0496-z. PMID 15365704. S2CID 43633687.
  7. ^ Oteruelo FT (1986). "On the cavum septi pellucidi and the cavum Vergae". Anatomischer Anzeiger. 162 (4): 271–278. PMID 3813041.
  8. ^ Farruggia S, Babcock DS (April 1981). "The cavum septi pellucidi: its appearance and incidence with cranial ultrasonography in infancy". Radiology. 139 (1): 147–150. doi:10.1148/radiology.139.1.7208915. PMID 7208915.
  9. ^ "Paediatric Imaging: Cavum septum pellucidum". Medcyclopedia.com. Archived from the original on 2011-05-26.