cerebellopontine angle
{{Short description|Structure between the cerebellum and pons}}
{{Infobox brain
| Name = Cerebellopontine angle
| Latin = Angulus pontocerebellaris
| Image = Gray705.png
| Caption = Dissection showing the projection fibers of the cerebellum
| Image2 = Human_brain_midsagittal_cut_color.png
| Caption2 = Angle shown between cerebellum (bright green) and pons (beige) as it meets from the cerebrum
| System =
| Artery =
| Vein =
}}
The cerebellopontine angle (CPA) ({{langx|la|angulus cerebellopontinus}}) is located between the cerebellum and the pons.{{Cite book|last1=Samii|first1=Madjid|title=Surgery of Cerebellopontine Lesions|last2=Gerganov|first2=Venelin|chapter=Microsurgical Anatomy of the Cerebellopontine Angle by the Retrosigmoid Approach |publisher=Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg|pages=9–72|language=en|doi=10.1007/978-3-642-35422-9_2|date=2013|isbn=978-3-642-35421-2}} The cerebellopontine angle is the site of the cerebellopontine angle cistern.{{Cite book |last=Standring |first=Susan |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/1201341621 |title=Gray's Anatomy: The Anatomical Basis of Clinical Practice |year=2020 |isbn=978-0-7020-7707-4 |edition=42nd |location=New York |pages=413 |oclc=1201341621}}
The cerebellopontine angle is also the site of a set of neurological disorders known as the cerebellopontine angle syndrome.
Structure
The cerebellopontine angle is formed by the cerebellopontine fissure. This fissure is made when the cerebellum folds over to the pons, creating a sharply defined angle between them. The angle formed in turn creates a subarachnoid cistern, the cerebellopontine angle cistern. The pia mater follows the outline of the fissure and the arachnoid mater continues across the divide so that the subarachnoid space is dilated at this area, forming the cerebellopontine angle cistern.{{Citation needed|date=August 2023}}
The anterior inferior cerebellar artery (AICA) is the principal vessel of the cerebellopontine angle. It also contains two cranial nerves – the vestibulocochlear nerve and the facial nerve; the cerebellar flocculus and the lateral recess of the fourth ventricle.{{Citation needed|date=August 2023}}
Clinical significance
Tumours can arise in the cerebellopontine angle. Four out of five of these tumours are vestibular schwannomas (commonly known as acoustic neuromas).{{cite journal|last1=Springborg|first1=JB|last2=Poulsgaard|first2=L|last3=Thomsen|first3=J|title=Nonvestibular schwannoma tumors in the cerebellopontine angle: a structured approach and management guidelines.|journal=Skull Base |date=July 2008|volume=18|issue=4|pages=217–27|doi=10.1055/s-2007-1016959|pmid=19119337|pmc=2467479}}
Others found include:
- Arachnoid cyst
- Facial nerve tumour
- Lipoma
- Meningioma
- Schwannoma of other cranial nerves (e.g. CN V >VII>IX, X, XI)
- Metastasis
- Intracranial epidermoid cyst
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- https://web.archive.org/web/20110720103743/http://www.path.utah.edu/casepath/PM%20Cases/PMCase7/PMCase7Part4.htm
{{Pons}}
{{Cerebellum}}
{{Authority control}}
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