Abbreviations

• Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)
• Cranial nerves (CN): Oculomotor nerve (CNIII), trochlear nerve (CNIV), trigeminal nerve (CNV), abducens nerve (CNVI), facial nerve (CNVII), vestibulocochlear nerve (CNVIII), glossopharyngeal nerve (CNIX), vagus nerve (CNX), accessory nerve (CNXI), hypoglossal nerve (CNXII)

Synonyms

• Classical nomenclature (simplified nomenclature)
  • Superior (tentorial), inferior (suboccipital), anterior (petrosal) cerebellar surfaces
  • Primary (tentorial), horizontal (petrosal), prebiventral/prepyramidal (suboccipital) cerebellar fissures

Definitions

• Posterior fossa: Houses brainstem & cerebellum, below tentorium cerebelli (infratentorial)
• Brainstem: Composed of midbrain (mesencephalon), pons, & medulla oblongata
• Cerebellum: Largest part of hindbrain, integrates coordinations & fine-tuning of movement & regulation of muscle tone

Overview

Anatomy Relationships