Cave of septum pellucidum

The cave of septum pellucidum (CSP), cavum septi pellucidi, or cavity of septum pellucidum is a slit-like space in the septum pellucidum that is present in fetuses but usually fuses during infancy. The septum pellucidum is a thin, laminated translucent vertical membrane in the midline of the brain separating the anterior horns of the right and left ventricles. It lies posterior to the corpus callosum. Persistence of the cave of septum pellucidum after infancy has been loosely associated with neural maldevelopment and several mental disorders that correlate with decreased brain tissue.[1][2][3][4][5]

Cave of septum pellucidum
Normal brain and cave of septum pellucidum as shown on a stylized horizontal section through the brain
Difference between cave of septum pellucidum (CSP), cavum Vergae (CV) and cavum veli interpositi (CVI)
3 = third ventricle
4 = fourth ventricle
Details
Identifiers
LatinCavum septi pellucidi
TA98A14.1.09.263
TA25648
FMA61874
Anatomical terms of neuroanatomy
Cave of septum pellucidum seen on CT

The cave of septum pellucidum is bounded anteriorly by the genu of the corpus callosum, superiorly by the body of the corpus callosum, posteriorly by the anterior limb and pillars of the fornix, inferiorly by the anterior commissure and the rostrum of the corpus callosum, and laterally by the leaflets of the septum pellucidum.[6]

In prenatal development of the fetus, the laminae of the septum pellucidum separate to form a small cavity – the cave of septum pellucidum. This is an important normal structure to identify in the sonographic assessment of the fetal brain. In post-natal life, the laminae of the septum pellucidum usually fuse, which obliterates the cavum. The cavity contains cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) that filters from the ventricles through the septal laminae.[7]

There are individual differences in the degree of CSP; whereas some have complete closure of the cavum, others present with a small degree (4–6 mm wide, in the coronal plane) of incomplete closure.[4] The most common type of CSP is noncommunicating; that is, it does not connect to the brain's ventricular system. Because of this lack of communication, the previous use of the term "fifth ventricle" is no longer used, and the fifth ventricle is the name often used for the terminal ventricle.

CSP is present in 100% of fetuses, but over 85% of them fuse by 3–6 months after birth.[8][9]

Cause

The cause of CSP is basically unknown, although it is thought that prenatal alcohol exposure plays a significant role.[4]

Marker for fetal neural maldevelopment

CSP is a marker for fetal neural maldevelopment. The septum pellucidum is a thin, triangular, vertical membrane separating the anterior horns of the left and right lateral ventricles of the brain. It runs as a sheet from the corpus callosum down to the fornix. During fetal development at approximately the twelfth week of gestation, a space forms between two laminae, which is the CSP. At approximately the twentieth week of gestation, the laminae start to close. This closure ends shortly after birth (3–6 months postnatally). Fusion of the CSP is attributed to rapid development of the alvei of the hippocampus, amygdala, septal nuclei, fornix, corpus callosum and other midline structures. Lack of such limbic development interrupts this posterior-to-anterior fusion, resulting in preservation of the CSP into adulthood.[4]

Association with mental disorders

CSP has been loosely associated with schizophrenia,[1] post-traumatic stress disorder,[2] traumatic brain injury,[3] as well as with antisocial personality disorder.[4] CSP is one of the distinguishing features of individuals displaying symptoms of dementia pugilistica (chronic traumatic encephalopathy).[5]

References in film
  • In the 1990 film, Rocky V, a destitute Rocky Balboa visits a doctor before competing in any further boxing matches. A brain scan reveals that he has cavum septi pellucidi brought on by head trauma, especially after his last fight with Ivan Drago. His wife Adrian urges him to retire, and he reluctantly does so.

See also

References
  1. Galarza M, Merlo A, Ingratta A, Albanese E, Albanese A (2004). "Cavum septum pellucidum and its increased prevalence in schizophrenia: a neuroembryological classification". The Journal of Neuropsychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences. 16 (1): 41–6. doi:10.1176/appi.neuropsych.16.1.41. PMID 14990758.
  2. May F, Chen Q, Gilbertson M, Shenton M, Pitman R (2004). "Cavum septum pellucidum in monozygotic twins discordant for combat exposure: relationship to posttraumatic stress disorder" (PDF). Biol. Psychiatry. 55 (6): 656–8. doi:10.1016/j.biopsych.2003.09.018. PMC 2794416. PMID 15013837.
  3. Zhang L, Ravdin L, Relkin N, Zimmerman R, Jordan B, Lathan W, Uluğ A (2003). "Increased diffusion in the brain of professional boxers: a preclinical sign of traumatic brain injury?". AJNR. American Journal of Neuroradiology. 24 (1): 52–7. PMC 8148951. PMID 12533327.
  4. Adrian Raine; Lydia Lee; Yaling Yang; Patrick Colletti (2010). "Neurodevelopmental marker for limbic maldevelopment in antisocial personality disorder and psychopathy". British Journal of Psychiatry. 197 (3): 186–192. doi:10.1192/bjp.bp.110.078485. PMC 2930915. PMID 20807962.
  5. Neuropathol Exp Neurol. 2009 Jul;68(7):709-35. doi: 10.1097/NEN.0b013e3181a9d503. Chronic traumatic encephalopathy in athletes: progressive tauopathy after repetitive head injury. McKee AC, Cantu RC, Nowinski CJ, Hedley-Whyte ET, Gavett BE, Budson AE, Santini VE, Lee HS, Kubilus CA, Stern RA.
  6. Born C, Meisenzahl E, Frodl T, Pfluger T, Reiser M, Möller H, Leinsinger G (2004). "The septum pellucidum and its variants. An MRI study". European Archives of Psychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience. 254 (5): 295–302. doi:10.1007/s00406-004-0496-z. PMID 15365704. S2CID 43633687.
  7. Oteruelo F (1986). "On the cavum septi pellucidi and the cavum Vergae". Anatomischer Anzeiger. 162 (4): 271–8. PMID 3813041.
  8. Farruggia S, Babcock D (1981). "The cavum septi pellucidi: its appearance and incidence with cranial ultrasonography in infancy". Radiology. 139 (1): 147–50. doi:10.1148/radiology.139.1.7208915. PMID 7208915.
  9. "Paediatric Imaging: Cavum septum pellucidum". Medcyclopedia.com. Archived from the original on 2011-05-26.
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