The cistern of lateral cerebral fossa[1] (also cistern of the lateral sulcus, or Sylvian cistern[2]) is an elongated[3] subarachnoid cistern formed by arachnoid mater bridging the lateral sulcus between the frontal, temporal, and parietal opercula. The cistern contains the middle cerebral artery (MCA)[2] and its branches,[4] and the two (i.e. superficial and deep) middle cerebral veins (MCVs).[2]
| Cistern of lateral cerebral fossa | |
|---|---|
| Details | |
| Identifiers | |
| Latin | cisterna fossae lateralis cerebri[1] |
| TA98 | A14.1.01.210 |
| TA2 | 5394 |
| FMA | 83723 |
| Anatomical terms of neuroanatomy | |
The cistern is subdivided into three compartments: the superficial opercular compartment (SOC) (most superficial), deep opercular compartment (DOC) (intermediate), and cisternal compartment (CC) (deepest). The SOC contains the superficial MCV, and distal branches of the MCA; the DOC contains the M3 segment of the MCA; the CC contains the M1 and M2 segments of MCA, and the deep MCV.[4]
