Morphologic Investigation of Ventriculus Terminalis in Newborns: Embryologic and Clinical Implications

Abstract

Objectives: The aim of this study is to determine morphometric measurements and the variations of the microscopic appearance of the ventriculus terminalis (VT) in the conus medullaris of spinal cord in the newborns. Methods: Material included 35 conus medullaris of the spinal cords obtained from the neonatal cadavers at Ondokuz Mayis University, Medical Faculty Samsun, Turkey, between 2005 and 2009. After a standard dissection, a microscopic study was conducted with a light microscope and a charge coupled device camera and a Mac Vision composite video system. Results: The microscopic anatomic results showed that the VT has 5 main types: spherical-ovoid, elliptical, dilated, forking, and outpouching. In 3 specimens (8.6%), VT had dilated type; in 2 specimens (5.7%), forking type; in 16 specimens (45.7%), elliptical type; in 11 specimens (31.4%), spherical-ovoid type; in 3 specimens (8.6%), outpouching type. Anteroposterior and transverse diameters of the VT range from 2 to 15mm and 7 to 31 mm, respectively. Conclusion: The VT (fifth ventricle) is a normal anatomic structure and is infrequently reported as responsible for neurologic findings, especially in adults. It has different morphologic patterns in the neonatal period without common characteristic. The information reported in this study is of clinical and embryologic value in the practice and diagnosis of pathologies of conus medullaris of spinal cord.