The lesser occipital nerve is a cutaneous spinal nerve of the cervical plexus. It arises from second cervical (spinal) nerve (C2). It innervates the skin of the back of the upper neck and of the scalp posterior to the ear.
The great auricular nerve is a cutaneous (sensory) nerve of the head. It originates from the second and third cervical (spinal) nerves (C2-C3) of the cervical plexus. It provides sensory innervation to the skin over the parotid gland and the mastoid process, parts of the outer ear, and to the parotid gland and its fascia.
The midbrain or mesencephalon is the rostral-most portion of the brainstem connecting the diencephalon and cerebrum with the pons. It consists of the cerebral peduncles, tegmentum, and tectum.
The cerebral aqueduct is a small, narrow tube connecting the third and fourth ventricles of the brain. The cerebral aqueduct is a midline structure that passes through the midbrain. It extends rostrocaudally through the entirety of the more posterior part of the midbrain. It is surrounded by the periaqueductal gray, a layer of gray matter.
The subarachnoid cisterns are spaces formed by openings in the subarachnoid space, an anatomic space in the meninges of the brain. The space is situated between the two meninges, the arachnoid mater and the pia mater. These cisterns are filled with cerebrospinal fluid (CSF).
The cisterna magna is the largest of the subarachnoid cisterns. It occupies the space created by the angle between the caudal/inferior surface of the cerebellum, and the dorsal/posterior surface of the medulla oblongata. The fourth ventricle communicates with the cistern via the unpaired midline median aperture. It is continuous inferiorly with the subarachnoid space of the spinal canal.
The anterior choroidal artery is a bilaterally paired artery of the brain. It is typically a branch of the internal carotid artery which supplies the choroid plexus of lateral ventricle and third ventricle as well as numerous structures of the brain.
In human anatomy, the left and right posterior communicating arteries are small arteries at the base of the brain that form part of the circle of Willis.
The carotid sheath is a condensation of the deep cervical fascia enveloping multiple vital neurovascular structures of the neck, including the common and internal carotid arteries, the internal jugular vein, the vagus nerve, and ansa cervicalis. The carotid sheath helps protects the structures contained therein.
The inferior orbital fissure is a gap between the greater wing of sphenoid bone, and the maxilla. It connects the orbit (anteriorly) with the infratemporal fossa and pterygopalatine fossa (posteriorly).
The deep temporal nerves are typically two nerves (one anterior and one posterior) which arise from the mandibular nerve (CN V3) and provide motor innervation to the temporalis muscle.
The nasopalatine nerve (also long sphenopalatine nerve) is a nerve of the head. It is a sensory branch of the maxillary nerve (CN V2) that passes through the pterygopalatine ganglion (without synapsing) and then through the sphenopalatine foramen to enter the nasal cavity, and finally out of the nasal cavity through the incisive canal and then the incisive fossa to enter the hard palate. It provides sensory innervation to the posteroinferior part of the nasal septum, and gingiva just posterior to the upper incisor teeth.
The tuber cinereum is the portion of hypothalamus forming the floor of the third ventricle situated between the optic chiasm, and the mammillary bodies. The tuberal region is one of the three regions of the hypothalamus, the other two being the chiasmatic region and the mamillary region.
The posterior perforated substance is a layer of gray matter which is pierced by small apertures for the transmission of blood vessels. Its inferior part lies on the ventral aspect of the medial portions of the tegmenta and contains the interpeduncular nucleus; its superior part forms part of the floor of the third ventricle.
The inferior cervical ganglion is one of the three cervical sympathetic ganglia. It is situated between the base of the transverse process of the last cervical vertebra and the neck of the first rib, on the medial side of the costocervical artery.
The posteromedial central arteries or paramedian arteries (also are branches of the posterior cerebral artery, and posterior communicating artery. They entering the substance of the brain through the posterior perforated substance. They supply a large portion of the diencephalon as well as some subcortical telencephalic structures.
The prepontine cistern, or pontine cistern is one of the subarachnoid cisterns situated ventral to the pons. It contains the basilar artery. Each lateral aperture opens into the pontine cistern just posterior to the cranial nerve VIII.
The chiasmatic cistern or suprasellar cistern is a small subarachnoid cistern related to the optic chiasm.
The supraduodenal artery are 1-2 small arteries which usually arise from the gastroduodenal artery, and sometimes from the posterior superior pancreaticoduodenal arteries, or common hepatic artery. They provide arterial supply to the anterosuperior portion of the proximal duodenum.
The cistern of lamina terminalis is one of the subarachnoid cisterns. It is situated either superior to the lamina terminalis, or rostral/anterior to the lamina terminalis and anterior commissure between the two frontal lobes of the cerebrum. It is situated rostral/anterior to the third ventricle. The cistern is an extension of interpeduncular cistern. The cistern of lamina terminalis interconnects the chiasmatic cistern and pericallosal cistern.
