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The distribution of arachnoid membrane within the velum interpositum

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Abstract

Background

There is as yet little knowledge as to the arachnoid architecture within the velum interpositum. The aim of this study was to clarify the distribution of the arachnoid membrane within the velum interpositum and its relationship with the arachnoid envelope over the pineal region.

Methods

In seven adult cadaver heads, histological sections of the third ventricle roof, stained with Masson’s trichrome stains, were studied under light microscopy.

Results

Within the velum interpositum, there are two arachnoid layers. The dorsal layer of arachnoid membrane envelops the internal cerebral veins and fixes them to the surrounding tela choroidea as well as the ventral arachnoid layer. The ventral layer of arachnoid membrane is a direct anterior extension of the arachnoid envelope over the pineal region and covers the midline inferior layer of tela choroidea. Both arachnoid layers end near the foramen of Monro.

Conclusions

The membranous roof of the third ventricle comprises two layers of the tela choroidea and two arachnoid layers. These two arachnoid layers are derived from the arachnoid envelope over the pineal region.

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Conflicts of interest

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurosurgery, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, 1838 Guangzhou Dadao Bei Street, Guangzhou, 510515, People’s Republic of China

    Xi-an Zhang, Songtao Qi, Jun Fan, Guanglong Huang, Junxiang Peng & Jiaming Xu

Authors
  1. Xi-an Zhang
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  2. Songtao Qi
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  3. Jun Fan
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  4. Guanglong Huang
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  5. Junxiang Peng
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  6. Jiaming Xu
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Songtao Qi.

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Comment

Many intracranial surgical procedures can be accomplished without injuries to the brain by working in the subarachnoid space. This is the principle of microneurosurgery that is well known to all neurosurgeons. The understanding of the microanatomy of the arachnoid membranes and the subarachnoid cisterns, therefore, remains a fundamental issue of microneurosurgery. Nevertheless, anatomical studies usually provide descriptions of the subarachnoid cisterns, mostly emphasising the anatomy of the cerebral blood vessels and the cranial nerves within the cisterns, whereas the arachnoid membranes have not yet been detailedextensively. In this article the authors provide an elegant microscopic anatomy study describing the distribution of the arachnoid membrane of the roof of the third ventricle. In surgical approaches to the third ventricle or pineal regions, the roof of third ventricle has to be opened or dissected in specific situations. Authors emphasise the role of the arachnoid membrane as a fundamental plane for safe dissection of the vascular structures lying within the membranous third ventricle roof, especially the internal cerebral veins. Information provided by this study contributes to our understanding of the microscopic anatomy of the velum interpositum and roof of the third ventricle.

Alfredo Conti,

Messina, Italy

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Zhang, Xa., Qi, S., Fan, J. et al. The distribution of arachnoid membrane within the velum interpositum. Acta Neurochir 154, 1711–1715 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00701-012-1436-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00701-012-1436-8

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