posterior fossa
Brainstem's bony cradle
The posterior fossa is the bowl-shaped depression at the back and base of the skull, housing the cerebellum and brainstem.
In medical contexts, it appears in discussions of tumors, malformations, and surgical approaches: The MRI revealed a posterior fossa mass.
Posterior fossa syndrome can follow surgery in this region, causing speech and movement difficulties.
- cerebellumMovement coordination organ
- brainstemLower neural trunk
- skull baseBottom of the cranium
- duraOutermost meningeal membrane
- meningesBrain and cord coverings
hydrocephalus · fourth ventricle · medulla · pons · craniotomy · tumor · herniation · cistern · neurosurgery · sitting position · tight space · brain tumor · occipital · arachnoid · meningioma · tonsillar · petrous · cranial nerves
- skull partsfrontal bone, skull cap, coronal suture, lambdoid suture, fontanelle
- craniotomy approachescraniotomy, craniectomy, interhemispheric
- Fossae
- skull basecribriform plate, foramen ovale
- brainstembrainstem, brain stem, medulla, medulla oblongata, pons