Third ventricle
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| Brain: Third ventricle | ||
|---|---|---|
 | ||
| Scheme showing relations of the ventricles to the surface of the brain. | ||
| Latin | ventriculus tertius cerebri | |
| NeuroNames | hier-429 | |
| Dorlands/Elsevier | v_06/12853453 | |
The third ventricle (ventriculus tertius) is one of four connected fluid-filled cavities comprising the ventricular system within the human brain. It is a median cleft between the two thalami, and is filled with cerebrospinal fluid (CSF).
It is in the midline, between the left and right lateral ventricles.
Communication
It communicates with the lateral ventricles anteriorly by the interventricular foramina (of Monro).
It communicates with the fourth ventricle posteriorly by the cerebral aqueduct (of Sylvius).
Development
Developmentally the third ventricle represents the cavity of the diencephalon.
Boundaries
It is bounded by the thalamus and hypothalamus on both the left and right sides. The lamina terminalis forms the anterior wall of the third ventricle.
Protrusions
There are two protrusions on the front of the third ventricle:
- the supra-optic recess (above the optic chiasma)
- the infundibular recess (above the pituitary stalk).
In casts of the ventricular system, a small 'hole' may be seen in the body of the third ventricle. This is formed where the two thalami are joined together at the interthalamic adhesion (not seen in all people).
See also
Additional images
 Coronal section of brain immediately in front of pons. |
 Coronal section of brain through intermediate mass of third ventricle. |
 Coronal section of lateral and third ventricles. |
 Drawing of a cast of the ventricular cavities, viewed from above. |
 Coronal section of brain through anterior commissure. |
 Diagram showing the positions of the three principal subarachnoid cisternæ. |
 Median sagittal through the hypophysis of an adult monkey. Semidiagrammatic. |
External links
ja:第三脳室nl:Derde ventrikel no:Tredje ventrikkel
Acknowledgement and Attribution Regarding Sources of Content
Some of the initial content on this page may be incorporated in part from copyleft sources in the public domain including wikis such as Wikipedia and AskDrWiki. Drug information for patients came from the The National Library of Medicine. Infectious disease information may have come from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Differential Diagnoses are drawn from clinicians as well as an amalgamation of 3 sources: 1.The Disease Database; 2. Kahan, Scott, Smith, Ellen G. In A Page: Signs and Symptoms. Malden, Massachusetts: Blackwell Publishing, 2004:3; 3. Sailer, Christian, Wasner, Susanne. Differential Diagnosis Pocket. Hermosa Beach, CA: Borm Bruckmeir Publishing LLC, 2002:7 .
