TY - JOUR
T1 - The middle perforated substance of the diencephalon
AU - Mohajel Shoja, Mohammadali
AU - Tubbs, R. Shane
AU - Shokouhi, Ghaffar
AU - Loukas, Marios
AU - Ghabili, Kamyar
AU - Oakes, W. Jerry
PY - 2008/4/1
Y1 - 2008/4/1
N2 - The diencephalon, upper brain stem and other basal brain structures are supplied chiefly by penetrating branches of the cerebral arteries. We examined the retrochiasmatic space between the superior border of the pons and posterior edge of the optic chiasm in six randomly selected adult fresh brain specimens. Lateral or anterolateral to the mamillary bodies, two small quadrangular spaces (2.5 × 3.5 mm) were found that were limited laterally by the junction of the optic tract and crus cerebri. These spaces were pierced on each side by 1 to 5 small penetrating branches (premamillary arterial complex) of the posterior communicating artery. A single, large and obliquely oriented penetrating branch of the posterior communicating artery (the so-called premamillary, thalamotuberal or mamillothalamic artery) was found to pierce this area in all specimens. Based on our findings, the above-mentioned vessels of this perforating substance supply the floor of third ventricle, hypothalamus and ventral thalamic nuclei. Hence, special attentions should be made during surgery in this area such as third ventriculostomy for hydrocephalus.
AB - The diencephalon, upper brain stem and other basal brain structures are supplied chiefly by penetrating branches of the cerebral arteries. We examined the retrochiasmatic space between the superior border of the pons and posterior edge of the optic chiasm in six randomly selected adult fresh brain specimens. Lateral or anterolateral to the mamillary bodies, two small quadrangular spaces (2.5 × 3.5 mm) were found that were limited laterally by the junction of the optic tract and crus cerebri. These spaces were pierced on each side by 1 to 5 small penetrating branches (premamillary arterial complex) of the posterior communicating artery. A single, large and obliquely oriented penetrating branch of the posterior communicating artery (the so-called premamillary, thalamotuberal or mamillothalamic artery) was found to pierce this area in all specimens. Based on our findings, the above-mentioned vessels of this perforating substance supply the floor of third ventricle, hypothalamus and ventral thalamic nuclei. Hence, special attentions should be made during surgery in this area such as third ventriculostomy for hydrocephalus.
KW - Lateral perforating substance
KW - Posterior communicating artery
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=48749110446&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=48749110446&partnerID=8YFLogxK
M3 - Article
C2 - 18702237
AN - SCOPUS:48749110446
SN - 1122-6714
VL - 113
SP - 97
EP - 101
JO - Italian Journal of Anatomy and Embryology
JF - Italian Journal of Anatomy and Embryology
IS - 2
ER -