The Lateral Ventricle Flashcards
Where is the anterior horn of the lateral ventricle
curves downwards into the frontal lobe from the interventricular foramen. The roof and anterior wall are formed by the body and the genu of the callosum. The septum and the fornix lie medially
What is the caudate nucleus?
Has a head, body and tail and forms a large buldge in the anterior horn of the lateral ventricle
What surrounds the body of the lateral ventricle?
It is roofed over by the corpus callosum, and the fornix and septum form the medial wall
What is the striae terminalis
A slender bundle of white fibres accompanying the curve of the caudate around into the temporal horn of the ventricle and connecting the amygdala with the septum and hypothalamus
What does the temporal (inferior) horn of the lateral ventricle consist of?
The tail of the caudate and the stria terminalis both follow the inner curve of the ventricle and become continuous with the amygdaloid body at the tip of the inferior horn
Where is the amygdala (amygdaloid body) in the lateral ventricle?
It overlies on the medial side of the tip of the inferior horn deep in the uncus.
Its continuous medially with the cortex of the temporal lobe and posteriorly with the tail of the caudate nucleus
What is the hippocampus?
A complex infolding of cortex forming a convex curve which lies in the floor of the inferior horn of the ventricle.
Anteriorly it is expanded and shows two or three shallow grooves giving it a paw like appearance - pes hippocampi
What is the fimbria?
Efferent fibres from the hippocampus heading to the fornix forming a flattened, longitudinal bundle of white matter on the medial margin of the ventricular surface of the hippocampus
What is the posterior horn of the lateral ventricle?
The extension of the lateral ventricle into the occipital lobe
What are the effects of limbic system lesions?
Anterograde amnesia
Emotions and emotional responses in the absence of external stimulation
inappropriate emotional responses
Inability to detect others’ emotional state
Inability to regulate emotions
What is hydrocephalus?
Blockage of CSF flow in the ventricles (e.g. tumours) or in the subarachnoid space (e.g. adhesions following trauma or meningitis)- this leads to a rise in fluid pressure causing ventricles to swell
Symptoms are of raised intercranial presssure:
Headaches
Unsteadiness
Mental impairment
Presure can be releived by insertion of a shunt connecting the ventricular system to the peritoneum or jugular vein
