subarachnoid cisterns

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The subarachnoid cisterns, or basal cisterns, are compartments within the subarachnoid space where the pia mater and arachnoid membrane are not in close approximation and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) forms pools or cisterns (Latin: "box"). As they are interconnected, their patency is essential for CSF circulation. Cisterns may have vessels and/or cranial nerves passing through them.

The named subarachnoid cisterns are (roughly from superior to inferior):

pericallosal cistern (unpaired): superior to the cistern of the lamina terminalis, superior to the corpus callosum
cistern of the lamina terminalis (unpaired): superior to the suprasellar cistern, anterior to the anterior wall of the third ventricle
Sylvian cistern (paired): deep part of the Sylvian fissure
cistern of the velum interpositum (unpaired): between the layers of tela choroidea in the roof of the third ventricle
suprasellar (chiasmatic) cistern (unpaired): anterior to the interpeduncular cistern, surrounds the pituitary infundibulum and optic chiasm
perimesencephalic cisterns
- interpeduncular cistern (unpaired): between the cerebral crura
- crural cisterns (paired): between the cerebral crus and uncus of the temporal lobe
- ambient cisterns (paired): posterolateral to the midbrain
- quadrigeminal cistern (unpaired): between colliculi, splenium of the corpus callosum, and superior surface of the cerebellum
superior cerebellar cistern (unpaired): posterior to the quadrigeminal cistern, between the superior surface of cerebellum and tentorium
prepontine cistern (unpaired): anterior to the pons
cerebellopontine (cerebellopontine angle) cisterns (paired): lateral to the pons, at the cerebellopontine angle
cerebellomedullary (lateral cerebellomedullary) cisterns (paired): lateral to the medulla oblongata
premedullary cistern (unpaired): anterior to the medulla
cisterna magna (unpaired): posterior to the medulla, the largest of the subarachnoid cisterns