Ventricles of the brain
Learning objectives
After going through this study unit, you should be able to:
- Explain what is the ventricular system of the brain and its function.
- Describe the structures that comprise the ventricular system of the brain.
Watch videos
The ventricles of the brain are an interconnected network of cavities filled with cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) located within the brain parenchyma. The ventricular system consists of the two lateral ventricles, the third ventricle, and the fourth ventricle. The choroid plexuses, located within each ventricle, produce CSF which fills the ventricles and subarachnoid space. This fluid cushions the brain and spinal cord from injury and also serves as a nutrient delivery and waste removal system for the brain.
Want to explore the ventricular system of the brain and the choroid plexus? Check out our videos below!
Take a quiz
Test your knowledge of the ventricles of the brain by taking our quiz below!
Browse atlas
:watermark(/images/watermark_5000_10percent.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/overview_image/582/8VzbTRjFXVO6E9Z7jvdsg_ventricles-of-the-brain_english.jpg){kind=logo}
Review all the structures you learned today with the atlas gallery below.
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/ventriculus-lateralis-sinister/SictAdvCU4S8NFlwLuAPDw_Ventriculus_lateralis_sinister_01.png "Left lateral ventricle (Ventriculus lateralis sinister); Image: Paul Kim"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/ventriculus-lateralis-dexter/ASGyuXwChsWPhiJT4BO7jw_Ventriculus_lateralis_dexter_01.png "Right lateral ventricle (Ventriculus lateralis dexter); Image: Paul Kim"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/cornu-anterius-ventriculi-lateralis/OfrGShXAiJi1zC6WgpCzpg_Cornu_anterius_01.png "Frontal horn of lateral ventricle (Cornu frontale ventriculi lateralis); Image: Paul Kim"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/pars-centralis-ventriculi-lateralis/moQX3Lqu69XLlmQQK9dNOA_Pars_centralis_01.png "Body of lateral ventricle (Pars centralis ventriculi lateralis); Image: Paul Kim"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/trigonum-colaterale/VvrqAQD0dTiqXLv4VDwjbA_Trigonum_collaterale_01.png "Atrium of lateral ventricle (Atrium ventriculi lateralis); Image: Paul Kim"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/cornu-posterius-ventriculi-lateralis/ycq0LzGR7SPb5drXvDgAaw_Cornu_posterius_01.png "Occipital horn of lateral ventricle (Cornu occipitale ventriculi lateralis); Image: Paul Kim"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/cornu-inferius-ventriculi-lateralis/1RUqN3VpsgFuNDHP2DqWQ_Cornu_inferius_01.png "Temporal horn of lateral ventricle (Cornu temporale ventriculi lateralis); Image: Paul Kim"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/foramen-interventriculare/5RCgggRChdzVeyhCQ0L3g_Foramen_interventriculare_01.png "Interventricular foramen (Foramen interventriculare); Image: Paul Kim"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/ventriculus-tertius-3/QI1WvrA8l9WylteXMLXxw_Ventriculus_tertius_01.png "Third ventricle (Ventriculus tertius); Image: Paul Kim"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/recessus-supraopticus-2/uloP3sdXdwZit8dmfBSQ_Recessus_supraopticus_01.png "Supraoptic recess (Recessus supraopticus); Image: Paul Kim"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/recessus-infundibuli-2/IIwNYnK5n1VEwfiFh2cgig_Recessus_infundibuli_01.png "Infundibular recess of third ventricle (Recessus infundibuli ventriculi tertii); Image: Paul Kim"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/recessus-suprapinealis/cHBdtufXLlO42fw1P1TUpQ_Recessus_suprapinealis_01.png "Suprapineal recess (Recessus suprapinealis); Image: Paul Kim"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/recessus-pinealis/U3fjzUMbsmevOrZ7veMhtQ_Recessus_pinealis_m01.png "Pineal recess of third ventricle (Recessus pinealis ventriculi tertii); Image: Paul Kim"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/aqueductus-cerebri-3/sfFpWUzA357C7m2jU62dA_Aqueductus_cerebri_01.png "Cerebral aqueduct (Aqueductus cerebri); Image: Paul Kim"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/ventriculus-quartus-3/IxIebEKGr4ReRbXGlvvmhg_Ventriculus_quartus_01.png "Fourth ventricle (Ventriculus quartus); Image: Paul Kim"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/recessus-lateralis/iTnmqxjA8VNKzmPZinuA_Recessus_lateralis_m01.png "Lateral recess of fourth ventricle (Recessus lateralis ventriculi quarti); Image: Paul Kim"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/canalis-centralis-medullae-spinalis/8MTwZfcezoGqHpdtqFjyvA_Canalis_centralis_medullae_spinlalis_02.png "Central canal of spinal cord (Canalis centralis medullae spinalis); Image: Paul Kim"){kind=logo}
Summary
| Definition | Interconnected cavities within the brain that produce and contain CSF |
| Function | Protect the brain from injury Nutrition of the brain and waste removal |
| Composition | Lateral ventricles (2) Third ventricle Fourth Ventricle |
| Related structures | Interventricular foramen (of Monro): lateral ventricles → third ventricle Cerebral aqueduct (of Sylvius): third ventricle → fourth ventricle |
Well done!
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