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Temporal horn of lateral ventricle

Description of the Temporal Horn of Lateral Ventricle
The temporal horn of the lateral ventricle is the inferior extension of the lateral ventricle into the temporal lobe. It forms part of the ventricular system and is bordered superiorly and laterally by the tapetum of the corpus callosum, medially by the hippocampus, and inferiorly by the collateral eminence. It contains cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and is an important anatomical landmark in neuroimaging, often evaluated for signs of mass effect, hydrocephalus, or atrophy in various neurological conditions.

Synonyms

  • Inferior horn of the lateral ventricle

  • Temporal ventricular horn

  • Temporal extension of the lateral ventricle

MRI Appearance

  • T2-Weighted Imaging:

    • Appears hyperintense (bright) due to the CSF content.

    • Clearly outlines the temporal horn as a fluid-filled cavity.

    • Surrounding structures such as the hippocampus are hypointense compared to CSF.

  • T1-Weighted Imaging:

    • Appears hypointense (dark) relative to brain parenchyma due to CSF.

    • Margins are well-defined against adjacent grey and white matter.

  • FLAIR Imaging:

    • Temporal horn appears hypointense (dark), as the FLAIR sequence nulls the CSF signal.

    • Useful for detecting periventricular lesions or abnormal signal changes in adjacent brain tissue.

CT Appearance

  • The temporal horn appears as a low-density (hypodense) region due to the CSF content.

  • Well-demarcated extension of the lateral ventricle into the temporal lobe.

  • May become more prominent in cases of cerebral atrophy, hydrocephalus, or space-occupying lesions causing mass effect.

MRI images

Temporal horn of lateral ventricle; Inferior horn of lateral ventricle mri 3t coronal image

MRI images

Temporal horn of lateral ventricle; Inferior horn of lateral ventricle mri 3t sagottal image