The microanatomical structure of the cistern of the lamina terminalis

Microanatomical dissection was performed on 14 formalin-fixed human cadaveric head specimens to provide information relevant for surgical procedures involving the cistern of the lamina terminalis (LT). The cistern of the LT was located in the midline of the telencephalon and was tent-shaped. The superior wall was located between the septal areas bilaterally, the lateral walls leaned laterally downwards, the anterior wall was the integrated line of the bilateral leptomeninges, the posterior and the inferoposterior walls were composed of the LT, the inferior margin was the arachnoid membrane between the optic nerves, and the inferoanterior wall usually formed a recess in front of the optic chiasm. In summary, the shape of the cistern of the LT is relatively constant, which is helpful for predicting the direction of hemorrhage of an aneurysm of the anterior communicating artery; in distinguishing its neural, vascular, and fibrous contents; and guiding surgical procedures. Crown Copyright (C) 2010 Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.