Pontine cistern | |
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![]() Diagram showing the positions of the three principal subarachnoid cisternæ. (Cisterna pontis labeled at left center.) | |
![]() Scheme of roof of fourth ventricle. The arrow is in the foramen of Majendie. 1: Inferior medullary velum 2: Choroid plexus 3: Cerebellomedullary cistern of subarachnoid cavity 4: Central canal 5: Corpora quadrigemina 6: Cerebral peduncle 7: superior medullary velum 8: Ependymal lining of ventricle 9: Pontine cistern of subarachnoid cavity | |
Details | |
Identifiers | |
Latin | cisterna pontis |
NeuroNames | 556 |
Anatomical terms of neuroanatomy |
The pontine cistern (or prepontine cistern[1]) is a subarachnoid cistern situated ventrally/anteriorly to the pons.[1][2][3]: 478 It contains the basilar artery.[3]: 478 Each lateral aperture opens into the pontine cistern just posterior to the cranial nerve VIII.[2][3]: 483
The pontine cistern is situated ventrally/anteriorly to the pons,[1][2] in the interval between ventral aspect of the pons, and the clivus.[3]: 478
The cistern contains the origin of the abducens nerve (CN VI),[1][2] the basilar artery[2] and the origin of the basilar artery and of its branches,[1] and the anterior inferior cerebellar artery, and superior cerebellar artery.[1][2]
It is continuous inferiorly with the subarachnoid space of the spinal canal, posterolaterally with the cerebellopontine cistern of either side, and rostrally/anteriorly with the interpeduncular cistern.[1]