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Central part of lateral ventricle

The central part of the lateral ventricle, also known as the body or cella media, is a key portion of the ventricular system in the human brain. Located within the parietal lobe, it forms the segment of the lateral ventricle lying between the frontal (anterior) horn and the occipital (posterior) horn. The central part contains cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and is bordered superiorly by the corpus callosum, inferiorly by the thalamus and caudate nucleus, and laterally by the tapetum. Its precise location and relation to adjacent neuroanatomical structures make it clinically relevant in neuroimaging and in the assessment of various pathologies.

Synonyms

  • Body of the lateral ventricle

  • Cella media

  • Pars centralis ventriculi lateralis

Function

  • Conduction and storage of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) between the lateral ventricular horns

  • Plays a role in cushioning the brain and maintaining intracranial pressure

  • Serves as an anatomical landmark in neuroimaging and neurosurgery

  • May indirectly affect adjacent neural tissue in case of ventricular dilatation or pathology

MRI Appearance

  • T1-Weighted Images:

    • Appears hypointense (dark) relative to brain parenchyma, as CSF is low signal on T1

    • Margins are sharp if normal, but may be distorted in hydrocephalus or atrophy

  • T2-Weighted Images:

    • Appears hyperintense (bright) due to the high water content of CSF

    • Borders are clearly defined unless effaced by mass effect or edema

  • FLAIR (Fluid-Attenuated Inversion Recovery):

    • CSF within the central part is suppressed, appearing dark

    • Hyperintense signals in adjacent parenchyma may indicate pathology (e.g., periventricular white matter disease)

CT Appearance

  • Appears as a well-defined, CSF-density (hypodense) region in the center of the lateral ventricle

  • The margins are easily distinguished from surrounding brain tissue, unless obscured by hemorrhage, mass, or edema

  • In cases of hydrocephalus, the central part is dilated

  • Calcifications or hemorrhages may be seen in adjacent structures but not within the ventricle itself under normal circumstances

MRI images

Central part of lateral ventricle; Body of lateral ventricle mri 3t axial image

MRI images

Central part of lateral ventricle; Body of lateral ventricle mri 3t coronal image

MRI images

Central part of lateral ventricle; Body of lateral ventricle mri 3t sagittal image