Cisterna magna

The cisterna magna contains the two vertebral arteries, the origins of the two posterior inferior cerebellar arteries, the glossopharyngeal nerve (CN IX), vagus nerve (CN X), accessory nerve (CN XI), hypoglossal nerve (XII), and choroid plexus. The vertebral artery and posterior inferior cerebellar artery of either side pass traverse either lateral portion of the cistern.

Etymology

The Terminologia Anatomica classifies the terms cisterna magna and posterior cerebellomedullary cistern as synonyms. It does not recognise the term "cerebellomedullary cistern" (neither as a synonym or distinct structure) but acknowledges the lateral cerebellomedullary cistern as a distinct structure.

The 42nd edition of Gray's Anatomy (2020) and 12th edition of Last's Anatomy (2011) recognise the cisterna magna and cerebellomedullary cistern as synonyms, and do not describe a separate lateral cerebellomedullary cistern.

According to the 8th edition of the Clinical Oriented Anatomy (2018), the cerebellomedullary cistern is subdivided into the posterior cerebellomedullary cistern (cisterna magna), and the lateral cerebellomedullary cistern.