Cistern of lamina terminalis

Cistern of lamina terminalis is a subarachnoid cistern found in the human brain. It is a dilation of the subarachnoid space between the lamina terminalis and the dorsum sellae of the sphenoid bone.

Anatomy

The cistern of lamina terminalis is located in the anterior part of the brain, superior to the optic chiasm and inferior to the anterior commissure. It is filled with cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and is surrounded by various important anatomical structures, including the anterior cerebral artery and its branches, the recurrent artery of Heubner, and the anterior communicating artery.

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Cistern of lamina terminalis and surrounding structures

Clinical significance

The cistern of lamina terminalis is of clinical importance due to its location and the structures it is associated with. It is often involved in the surgical approach to lesions in the anterior cranial fossa and the sellar region, such as pituitary adenomas and craniopharyngiomas.

The cistern can also be involved in various pathological conditions. For example, rupture of an aneurysm in the anterior communicating artery can lead to bleeding into the cistern of lamina terminalis, causing subarachnoid hemorrhage.

See also

• Subarachnoid cisterns
• Lamina terminalis
• Subarachnoid space