Fourth Ventricle: Anatomy, Definition And Function | Kenhub

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The fourth ventricle is one of the interconnected fluid-filled cavities within the human brain. There are four of these cavities in the brain, three of which are located within the cerebrum (two lateral ventricles and the third ventricle). These cavities and their content constitute the ventricular systemof the brain.

The fourth ventricle lies dorsal to the pons and medulla (of the brainstem) and ventral to the cerebellum. It extends from the cerebral aqueduct (aqueduct of Sylvius) superiorly, extending inferiorly into the central canal of brainstem and spinal cord. Its surface is lined by an epithelial layer called the ependyma, and is bathed with cerebrospinal fluid (CSF).

The fourth ventricle has an anterior/ventral floor with a characteristic diamond shape (rhomboid fossa), and a posterior/dorsal tent-shaped roof. CSF produced and/or flowing into the fourth ventricle can exit to the subarachnoid space through lateral apertures and a single median aperture located in the inferiorportion of the roof.

This article will discuss the anatomy and function of the fourth ventricle.

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