Microanatomy of ambient cistern and its clinical significance

Objective To study the microanatomy and their clinical significance of ambient cistern.Methods Twenty(forty hemispheres) formalin fixed adult cadaveric brains which had been perfused with red and blue latex were evaluated by simulating subtemproal approach.The blood vessels and nerves(basal veins and trochlear nerve)were observed and measured.Results Anterior ehoroidal artery,basal vein,posterior cerebral artery and trochlear nerve were found in ambient cistern.The basilar veins and trochlear nerve were observed and measured.The distance between the basilar vein and posterior cerebral artery at the lateral geniculate body is(4.86 ± 1.25) mm.The diameter of BV is 1.0~4.2 mm.Mesencephali was in front of sulcus lateral,and the mean linear distances from tentorial edge to BV,from the anterior border to BV and from the lateral geniculate body to BV are(9.04 ±0.68) mm,(4.08 ±1.25) mm,and(6.02 ±2.01) mm,respectively.The distance between posterior clinoid process and the location where trochlear nerve penetrates tentorial notch incisura is(12.88 ±3.25) mm.The length of trochlear nerve in tentorial notch incisura is(6.78 ±1.88) mm.Conclusion A good knowledge of the microsurgical anatomy of the ambient cistern is helpful for the better protection of vessles and nerves and the decrease of complications.