Fourth ventricle
(Redirected from Ventriculus quartus)
Fourth Ventricle
The Fourth ventricle is one of the four connected fluid-filled cavities within the human brain. These cavities, known as ventricles, are responsible for the production, transport and removal of cerebrospinal fluid, which bathes the central nervous system.
Anatomy[edit | edit source]
The fourth ventricle extends from the obex to a region in the brain called the cerebral aqueduct. It is located within the pons and the medulla oblongata, two important structures in the brainstem. The fourth ventricle has a characteristic diamond shape in cross-sections of the human brain. It is continuous with the central canal of the spinal cord and connects to the subarachnoid space through three openings - the median aperture and the two lateral apertures.
Function[edit | edit source]
The primary function of the fourth ventricle, like other brain ventricles, is to produce and transport cerebrospinal fluid. This fluid serves several important functions in the central nervous system, including the provision of buoyancy and protection for the brain, transportation of nutrients, and removal of waste products.
Clinical significance[edit | edit source]
Abnormalities or blockages of the fourth ventricle can lead to conditions such as hydrocephalus, a condition characterized by an excessive accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid in the brain. This can cause increased intracranial pressure and can lead to symptoms such as headache, nausea, vomiting, and in severe cases, can be life-threatening.
See also[edit | edit source]
References[edit | edit source]
Fourth ventricle Resources | |
---|---|
|
Search WikiMD
Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound) available.
Advertise on WikiMD
WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia |
Let Food Be Thy Medicine Medicine Thy Food - Hippocrates |
Translate this page: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
தமிழ்,
తెలుగు,
Urdu,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
বাংলা
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
Greek,
português do Brasil,
polski,
română,
русский,
Nederlands,
norsk,
svenska,
suomi,
Italian
Middle Eastern & African
عربى,
Turkish,
Persian,
Hebrew,
Afrikaans,
isiZulu,
Kiswahili,
Other
Bulgarian,
Hungarian,
Czech,
Swedish,
മലയാളം,
मराठी,
ਪੰਜਾਬੀ,
ગુજરાતી,
Portuguese,
Ukrainian
Medical Disclaimer: WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. The information on WikiMD is provided as an information resource only, may be incorrect, outdated or misleading, and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. Please consult your health care provider before making any healthcare decisions or for guidance about a specific medical condition. WikiMD expressly disclaims responsibility, and shall have no liability, for any damages, loss, injury, or liability whatsoever suffered as a result of your reliance on the information contained in this site. By visiting this site you agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, which may from time to time be changed or supplemented by WikiMD. If you do not agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, you should not enter or use this site. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.
Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD