Exploration of the brain from its basal aspect
The posterior perforated substance and oculomotor nerves
Stanford holds the copyright to the David L. Bassett anatomical images and has assigned
Creative Commons license Attribution-Share
Alike 4.0 International to all of the images.
For additional information regarding use and permissions,
please contact the Medical History Center.
Image #4-7
Exploration of the brain from its basal aspect
The posterior perforated substance and oculomotor nerves
The posterior cerebral arteries, together with most of the branches which entered the interpeduncular fossa, are divided and retracted toward the medulla. The fossa, particularly its posterior recess, is well exposed. The line along which the filaments of the third nerve leave the brain stem appears on each side of the fossa. Note the "posterior perforated substance," an appearance created by pulling out numerous small arteries from the tegmentum in the depths of the fossa.
- Olfactory tract
- Optic nerve (II)
- Internal carotid artery
- Mamillary body
- Optic tract
- Oculomotor nerve (III)
- Cerebral peduncle
- Posterior cerebral artery (divided)
- Superior cerebellar artery
- Pons
- Orbital branch of anterior cerebral artery
- Infundibulum
- Uncus
- Interpeduncular fossa (the posterior perforated substance forms the surface within the fossa)
- Medial central branch of posterior cerebral artery
- Posterior cerebral artery (cut across and retracted)
- Basilar artery