Pontocerebellar cistern
Cisterna pontocerebellaris
- Synonym: Cerebellopontine angle cistern
- Eponym: Waterbed of Hilton
- Acronym: CPA
- Related terms: Cerebellopontine cistern
Definition
The pontocerebellar cistern (cerebellopontine angle cistern (CPA)) is an expanded space in the cerebellopontine angle filled with cerebrospinal fluid. It communicates with the 4th ventricle by a lateral aperture.
Boundaries: the cerebellopontine cistern is bounded superiorly by the tentorium cerebelli at the the ponto-mesencephalic junction, posteriorly by the anterior surface of cerebellum, inferiorly by the last cranial nerves (X-XI-XII) at the ponto-medularis junction, anteriorly by the posterior surface of petrous part or temporal bone, and medially by the pons.
Relationships: superiorly to the lateral mesencephalic cistern (crural cistern + ambiens cistern), anteromedially the both sides of the prepontine cistern, inferiorly the lateral cerebellomedullary cistern.
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Text by Antoine Micheau, MD - Copyright IMAIOS
