A Practical Approach to the Fetal CNS - Part 3-1
What makes the Lateral Ventricle so Great
What makes the Lateral Ventricle so Great
See why the ventricular atrium is Dr. Filly's favorite structure in the fetus!
Take Home Points
why is the ventricular atrium such a key structure
- Despite the dynamic growth of the fetus and brain, the ventricular atrium is essentially stable in size throughout gestation! This makes it an age-independent measurement
- It has an excellent position marker: The choroid plexus
- The walls of the ventricular atrium are perpendicular to the beam, resulting in specular reflection, thus making it easy to see and measure
- Visual assessment is easy: If the choroid plexus fills, or nearly fills, the atrium of the lateral ventricle, no measurement is even necessary
- The atrium is the earliest to dilate in hydrocephalus making it very sensitive.
- Has signs to help us diagnose true positives and avoid false negatives. More on this in later lectures