great cerebral vein of Galen

Origin

• a large, unpaired vein formed by the junction of the 2 internal cerebral veins in the caudal part of the tela choroidea (roof) of the 3rd ventricle.

Course

• it passes caudally, between the splenium of the corpus callosum & the pineal gland, then curves dorsally to merge with the inferior sagittal sinus to form the straight sinus.

More general terms

• vein

Additional terms

• corpus callosum
• inferior sagittal sinus (inferior longitudinal sinus)
• internal cerebral vein
• pineal gland (body)
• straight sinus
• tela choroidea