Cisterna magna
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The cisterna magna (also known as the cerebellomedullary cistern) is the largest of the subarachnoid cisterns.
Gross anatomy
The cisterna magna is located between the cerebellum and the dorsal surface of the medulla oblongata at and above the level of the foramen magnum. CSF produced in the ventricular system drains into the cisterna magna from the fourth ventricle via the median aperture (of Magendie) and the lateral apertures (of Luschka) 1-2.
Several vessels and nerves course through the cistern:
- vertebral arteries
- posterior inferior cerebellar arteries (PICA)
- glossopharyngeal nerve (CN IX)
- vagus nerve (CN X)
- spinal accessory nerve (CN XI)
Radiographic features
Antenatal ultrasound
- cisterna magna normally measures between 2-10 mm in the second and third trimesters 4
CT/MRI
- cisterna magna normally measures 3-8mm in the midsagittal plane when measured from the posterior margin of the foramen magnum to the caudal margin of the inferior vermis 3
Variant anatomy
-<p>The <strong>cisterna magna</strong> (also known as the <strong>cerebellomedullary cistern</strong>) is the largest of the <a href="/articles/subarachnoid-cisterns">subarachnoid cisterns</a>.</p><h4>Gross anatomy</h4><p>The cisterna magna is located between the <a href="/articles/cerebellum">cerebellum</a> and the dorsal surface of the <a href="/articles/medulla-oblongata">medulla oblongata</a>. CSF produced in the<a href="/articles/ventricular-system"> ventricular system</a> drains into the cisterna magna from the <a href="/articles/fourth-ventricle">fourth ventricle</a> via the <a href="/articles/median-aperture-of-magendie">median aperture (of Magendie)</a> and the <a href="/articles/lateral-apertures-of-luschka">lateral apertures (of Luschka)</a> <sup>1-2</sup>.</p><h4>Radiographic features</h4><h5>Antenatal ultrasound</h5><ul><li>cisterna magna normally measures between 2-10 mm in the second and third trimesters <sup>4</sup>- +<p>The <strong>cisterna magna</strong> (also known as the <strong>cerebellomedullary cistern</strong>) is the largest of the <a href="/articles/subarachnoid-cisterns">subarachnoid cisterns</a>.</p><h4>Gross anatomy</h4><p>The cisterna magna is located between the <a href="/articles/cerebellum">cerebellum</a> and the dorsal surface of the <a href="/articles/medulla-oblongata">medulla oblongata</a> at and above the level of the foramen magnum. CSF produced in the<a href="/articles/ventricular-system"> ventricular system</a> drains into the cisterna magna from the <a href="/articles/fourth-ventricle">fourth ventricle</a> via the <a href="/articles/median-aperture-of-magendie">median aperture (of Magendie)</a> and the <a href="/articles/lateral-apertures-of-luschka">lateral apertures (of Luschka)</a> <sup>1-2</sup>.</p><p>Several vessels and nerves course through the cistern:</p><ul>
- +<li><a href="/articles/vertebral-artery">vertebral arteries</a></li>
- +<li><a href="/articles/posterior-inferior-cerebellar-artery">posterior inferior cerebellar arteries (PICA)</a></li>
- +<li><a href="/articles/glossopharyngeal-nerve">glossopharyngeal nerve (CN IX)</a></li>
- +<li><a href="/articles/vagus-nerve">vagus nerve (CN X)</a></li>
- +<li><a href="/articles/spinal-accessory-nerve">spinal accessory nerve (CN XI)</a></li>
- +</ul><h4>Radiographic features</h4><h5>Antenatal ultrasound</h5><ul><li>cisterna magna normally measures between 2-10 mm in the second and third trimesters <sup>4</sup>
References changed:
- 5. Butler P, Mitchell A, Healy JC. Applied Radiological Anatomy. Cambridge University Press. (2012) ISBN:0521766664. <a href="http://books.google.com/books?vid=ISBN0521766664">Read it at Google Books</a> - <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0521766664">Find it at Amazon</a><span class="ref_v3"></span>
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