Fourth ventricle.

It is the cavity of the hindbrain, lying between the cerebellum posteriorly and the pons and medulla oblongata anteriorly. The fourth ventricle is a tent shaped cavity filled with cerebrospinal fluid. It is lined with ependyma and continuous above with cerebral aqueduct and below with central canal of medulla oblongata. On each size, a narrow prolongation, the lateral recess, projects around the brainstem; its lateral aperture (forame of Luschka) lies below the cerebellar flocculus (small lobe of
the cerebellum at the posterior border of the middle cerebellar peduncle).

Boundaries. Floor Called rhomboid fossa. It is formed by the dorsal surface of the pons and upper part of the medulla. Thus, the floor of the fourth ventricle is divided into pontine and medullary parts separated by the stria medullaris. A. Pontine part. This part presents a depression called superior fovea that separates the medial eminence from the upper vestibular area. The lower part of the medial eminence present a prominent elevation called facial colliculus. This colliculus is produced by the abducent nucleus surrounded by the facial nerve fibers. The upper vestibular area is produced by the lateral and superior vestibular nuclei. B. Medullary part. This area presents an inverted V - shaped depression called inferior fovea which divides into three trigones from medial to lateral. Hypoglossal trigone that overlies the hypoglossal nucleus. Vagal trigone that overlies the dorsal nucleus of the vagus Vestibular trigone ( inferior vestibular area ) that overlies the inferior and medial vestibular nuclei

Lateral wall i. ii. Roof i. ii. iii. Upper part : superior medullary velum between the two superior cerebellar peduncles. Middle part : part of the cerebellum Lower part L inferior medullary velum between the two inferior cerebellar peduncles. Upper part : superior cerebellar peduncles. Lower part : inferior cerebellar peduncles as well as gracile and cuneate tubercles.

Recesses of the 4th ventricle i. ii. Two lateral recesses Dorsal or cerebellar recess

Communication of the 4th ventricle i. ii. iii. With the 3rd ventricle through the aqueduct of sylvius With central canal of the spinal cord With the two subarachnoid space through a. Two lateral foramina of Luschka b. One median foramen of Magendie.