Fourth ventricle

Fourth ventricle
Scheme showing relations of the ventricles to the surface of the brain. (Fourth ventricle labeled at bottom center.)
Drawing of a cast of the ventricular cavities, viewed from above. (Fourth ventricle visible at bottom center.)
Details
Identifiers
Latin	ventriculus quartus
MeSH	A08.186.211.276.500
NeuroNames	hier-617
NeuroLex ID	Fourth ventricle
TA	A14.1.05.701
FMA	78469
Anatomical terms of neuroanatomy []

The fourth ventricle is one of the four connected fluid-filled cavities within the human brain. These cavities, known collectively as the ventricular system, consist of the left and right lateral ventricles, the third ventricle, and the fourth ventricle. The fourth ventricle extends from the cerebral aqueduct (aqueduct of Sylvius) to the obex, and is filled with cerebrospinal fluid (CSF).

The fourth ventricle has a characteristic diamond shape in cross-sections of the human brain. It is located within the pons or in the upper part of the medulla. CSF entering the fourth ventricle through the cerebral aqueduct can exit to the subarachnoid space of the spinal cord through two lateral apertures and a single, midline median aperture.

The fourth ventricle has a "roof" dorsally a "floor" ventrally, and side walls formed by the cerebellar peduncles. The roof of the fourth ventricle is formed by the cerebellum (superior and inferior medullary vela). The fastigium, (Latin for summit), is used to refer to the peak of the fourth ventricle.The fastigial nucleus lies immediately above the roof of the fourth ventricle.

The floor of the fourth ventricle is formed by the rhomboid fossa. Among the prominent features of the floor of the fourth ventricle are the:

The ventricular system including the fourth ventricle, develops from the central canal of the neural tube. Specifically, the fourth ventricle originates from the portion of the tube that is present in the developing rhombencephalon. During the first trimester of pregnancy the central canal expands into the lateral, third and fourth ventricles, connected by thinner channels.Choroid plexuses appear in the ventricles which produce cerebrospinal fluid. If the flow of fluid is blocked ventricles may become enlarged and cause hydrocephalus.