lateralventrikkene

Lateral ventricles are a pair of C-shaped cavities located within the cerebral hemispheres of the brain. They are part of the ventricular system, a network of interconnected spaces filled with cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), which plays a crucial role in cushioning the brain, removing waste, and maintaining intracranial pressure. The lateral ventricles are the largest of the ventricles and are situated deep within each hemisphere, extending from the frontal lobe through the parietal, occipital, and temporal lobes.

Each lateral ventricle consists of several parts: the anterior horn (frontal lobe), the body (parietal lobe), the posterior horn (occipital lobe), and the inferior horn (temporal lobe). These regions are connected through the interventricular foramina (foramina of Monro) to the third ventricle, which is located in the midline.

The walls of the lateral ventricles are lined with ependymal cells, which produce CSF. The ventricles are also surrounded by various brain structures, including key neural pathways and gray matter regions involved in higher cognitive functions. The circulation of CSF from the lateral ventricles continues through the interventricular foramina into the third ventricle, then flows through the cerebral aqueduct into the fourth ventricle before reaching the spinal canal and subarachnoid space.

Abnormalities in the lateral ventricles, such as enlargement (ventriculomegaly), can indicate neurological conditions like hydrocephalus, brain atrophy, or other pathological processes. The study of lateral ventricles is important in neuroanatomy, neuroimaging, and clinical diagnosis.