Supratentorial cisterns

The subarachnoid cisterns can be divided into an infratentorial and a supratentorial group.

The supratentorial cisterns are can be subdivided into unpaired basal and dorsal cisterns, and paired lateral cisterns:

• Rostral basal cisterns

  • Hypophysial cistern

  • Chiasmatic cistern

  • Cistern of lamina terminalis

• Rostral lateral cisterns

  • Carotid cistern

  • Olfactory cistern

  • Cistern of lateral cerebral fossa

  • Cistern of cerebral vallecula

  • Cistern of central sulcus

• Rostral dorsal cisterns

  • Quadrigeminal cistern

  • Cistern of transverse fissure

  • Pericallosal cistern