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Hind brain
Last reviewed: 23.04.2024
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The posterior and oblong brain formed as a result of the division of the diamond-shaped cerebral bladder.
The posterior brain (metencephalon) includes a bridge located in front (ventrally), and the cerebellum, which is located behind the bridge. The cavity of the hindbrain, and with it the oblong one, is the IV ventricle.
The bridge (pons; variolium bridge) on the base of the trunk portion of the brain has the form of a transversely located cushion that borders the middle brain (with the legs of the brain) at the top (front) and the lower (behind) with the medulla oblongata.
The dorsal surface of the bridge faces the IV ventricle and participates in the formation of its bottom - a diamond-shaped fossa. In the lateral direction, on each side it can narrow and pass into the middle cerebellar pedunculus (pedunculus cerebellaris medius), which extends into the hemisphere of the cerebellum. The border between the middle cerebellar pedicle and the bridge is the place of the trigeminal nerve exit. In the deep transverse furrow that separates the bridge from the pyramids of the medulla oblongata, the roots of the right and left retracting nerves come out. In the lateral part of this furrow, the roots of the facial (VII pair) and the pre-cochlear (VIII pair) nerves are visible.
The cerebellum (cerebellum, small brain) is located posteriorly (dorsally) from the bridge and from the upper (dorsal) part of the medulla oblongata. It lies in the posterior cranial fossa. Above the cerebellum hang the occipital lobes of the cerebral hemispheres, which are separated from the cerebellum by the transverse slit of the large brain (fissura transversa cerebralis).
The cerebellum distinguishes the upper and lower surfaces, the border between which is the posterior edge of the cerebellum, where a deep horizontal slit (fissura horizontalis) passes. It begins at the point of entry into the cerebellum of its middle legs. The upper and lower surfaces of the cerebellum are convex. On the lower surface there is a wide depression - the lobe of the cerebellum (vallecula cerebelli).
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