Topics

Topic

design image
Choroid plexus of the lateral ventricle

The choroid plexus of the lateral ventricle is a specialized vascular and epithelial structure responsible for the production of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). It consists of a folded layer of capillaries covered by ependymal cells and projects into the ventricular cavity.

It is a normal intraventricular structure with a characteristic location and imaging appearance and serves as an important anatomical landmark in neuroimaging.

Synonyms

  • Lateral ventricular choroid plexus

  • Choroid plexus (lateral ventricle)

Location

  • Located within the lateral ventricles

  • Most prominent in the body and atrium (trigone) of the lateral ventricle

  • Extends from the interventricular foramen (of Monro) posteriorly

  • Attached to the choroid fissure

  • Absent from the frontal horn and occipital horn

  • Situated medial to the thalamus and inferior to the corpus callosum (body region)

Anatomical components

  • Vascular core:

    • Fenestrated capillaries derived from anterior and posterior choroidal arteries

  • Epithelial layer:

    • Modified ependymal cells forming the blood–CSF barrier

  • Connective tissue stroma:

    • Supports vascular and epithelial elements

Relations

Superiorly:

  • Corpus callosum (body of lateral ventricle)

Inferiorly:

  • Thalamus (body and atrium)

Medially:

  • Septum pellucidum (anterior body)

  • Fornix

Laterally:

  • Caudate nucleus (body)

Posteriorly:

  • Atrium of the lateral ventricle

Vascular supply

  • Anterior choroidal artery (branch of internal carotid artery)

  • Posterior choroidal arteries (branches of posterior cerebral artery)

Venous drainage

  • Choroidal veins

  • Internal cerebral veins

Function

  • CSF production: Major contributor to cerebrospinal fluid formation

  • Blood–CSF barrier: Regulates exchange between blood and CSF

  • Homeostasis: Maintains ionic composition and nutrient balance of CSF

  • Waste removal: Facilitates clearance of metabolic byproducts

MRI appearance (normal)

T1-weighted images:

  • Choroid plexus: Isointense to mildly hyperintense relative to brain parenchyma

  • Configuration: Lobulated or frond-like structure within ventricular cavity

T2-weighted images:

  • Normal plexus: Intermediate signal intensity

  • Surrounding CSF: High signal, clearly outlining the plexus

FLAIR:

  • Normal: Intermediate signal; CSF suppression improves delineation

  • Symmetry: Usually bilateral and symmetric

Diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI):

  • Normal: No diffusion restriction

  • Appearance: Similar signal to adjacent brain tissue

Post-contrast T1-weighted images:

  • Normal: Marked, homogeneous enhancement due to lack of blood–brain barrier

  • Characteristic feature: Strong enhancement helps differentiate it from intraventricular pathology

CT appearance (normal)

Non-contrast CT:

  • Choroid plexus: Iso- to slightly hyperdense relative to brain tissue

  • Physiologic calcification: Common, especially in the atrium (trigone)

Post-contrast CT:

  • Normal: Intense, homogeneous enhancement

MRI images

MRI Choroid plexus of the lateral ventricle anatomy image -img-00000-00000

MRI images

MRI Choroid plexus of the lateral ventricle anatomy image -img-00000-00000_00001