Rhombencephalon
Citation, DOI, disclosures and article data
Citation:
Morgan M, Jones J, Bell D, et al. Rhombencephalon. Reference article, Radiopaedia.org (Accessed on 07 Mar 2025) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-33060
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rID:
33060
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Disclosures:
At the time the article was created Matt A. Morgan had no recorded disclosures.
View Matt A. Morgan's current disclosures
Last revised:
Disclosures:
At the time the article was last revised Jeremy Jones had no recorded disclosures.
View Jeremy Jones's current disclosures
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12 times, by
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Systems:
Sections:
Synonyms:
- Fetal rhombencephalon
- Fetal hindbrain
- Embryonic rhombencephalon
- Cystic rhombencephalon
- Rhombencephalic vesicle
- Rhombencephalons
- Rhombencephala
- Fetal hindbrains
- Hindbrains
- Hindbrain
The rhombencephalon (plural: rhombencephalons or rhombencephala), or hindbrain is a primary vesicle of the neural tube.
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Development
During the fifth week of embryological development, the rhombencephalon further subdivides into the secondary brain vesicles, the metencephalon and the myelencephalon 1.
The metencephalon goes on to form the pons, the majority of the cerebellum and the fourth ventricle. The myelencephalon becomes the medulla oblongata, and the central canal 1. The most rostral portion of the cerebellum receives contributions from the mesencephalon, and the floor of the fourth ventricle is derived in part, from the myelencephalon.
At week 22, the typical shape of the brainstem is recognisable, however, the cerebellum does not reach its final configuration until well after birth 2.
Pathology
The most common structural disorder of hindbrain development is the Chiari malformation.
Radiographic features
The embryonic/fetal rhombencephalon is visible with endovaginal ultrasound at ~8-10 weeks as a hypoechoic region in the posterior embryonic/fetal head. Strictly speaking, this is the rhomboid fossa, part of the rhombencephalon complex rather than the rhombencephalon itself 5. The hypoechoic region represents the developing rhombencephalon/hindbrain (medulla, pons, and cerebellum).
This is a normal structure and is reportedly visible in all embryonic/fetal exams at 8-10 weeks 2. It becomes a normal fourth ventricle after the 11th week.
References
- 1. Vishram Singh. Textbook of Clinical Embryology. (2014) ISBN: 9788131236208
- 2. Mario Ubaldo Manto. Cerebellar Disorders. (2010) ISBN: 9781139487269
- 3. Doubilet P. Ultrasound Evaluation of the First Trimester. Radiol Clin North Am. 2014;52(6):1191-9. doi:10.1016/j.rcl.2014.07.004
- 4. Cyr D, Mack L, Nyberg D, Shepard T, Shuman W. Fetal Rhombencephalon: Normal US Findings. Radiology. 1988;166(3):691-2. doi:10.1148/radiology.166.3.3277241
- 5. Winter T. The Fetal Rhombencephalon at First-Trimester US. Radiographics. 2019;39(3):911. doi:10.1148/rg.2019180216
- 6. Watson C, Bartholomaeus C, Puelles L. Time for Radical Changes in Brain Stem Nomenclature—Applying the Lessons From Developmental Gene Patterns. Front Neuroanat. 2019;13. doi:10.3389/fnana.2019.00010
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