Ch. 25: Neonatal Echoencephalography Vocabulary

Question 1

congenital blockage of the aqueduct commecting the third and fourth ventricles, which causes their dilatation

Answer 1

aqueductal stenosis

Question 2

severe hypoxia, or inadequate oxygenation

Answer 2

asphyxia

Question 3

The ventricle is measured at this site (anterior, occipital, and temporal horn junction) on the axial view

Answer 3

atrium (trigone) of the lateral ventricles

Question 4

transducer is placed above the ear (above the canthomeatal line)

Answer 4

Axial plane

Question 5

part of the brain connecting the forebrain and the spinal cord: consists of the midbrain, pons, and medulla oblongata

Answer 5

Brain stem

Question 6

area of the brain that forms the lateral borders of the anterior horns, anterior to the thalamus

Answer 6

Caudate nucleus

Question 7

Prominent structure best seen in the midline filled with cerebrospinal fluid in the premature infant

Answer 7

Cavum septum pellucidum

Question 8

area of the brain that lies posterior to the brain stem below the tentorium

Answer 8

Cerebellum

Question 9

Largest part of the brain consisting of two equal hemispheres

Answer 9

Cerebrum

Question 10

Congenital defect in which the cerebellum and brain stem are pulled toward the spinal cord (banana sign); frontal bossing or “lemon head” is also evident on ultrasound

Answer 10

Chiari malformation

Question 11

Echogenic cluster of cells important in the production of cerebrospinal fluid that lies along the atrium of the lateral ventricles

Answer 11

Choroid plexus

Question 12

reservoir for cerebral spinal fluid

Answer 12

Cistern

Question 13

Transducer is perpendicular to the anterior fontanelle in the coronal axis of the head

Answer 13

Coronal plane

Question 14

Prominent group of nerve fibers that connect the right and left sides of the brain; found superior to the third ventricle

Answer 14

Corpus callosum

Question 15

Abnormal development of the fourth ventricle, often accompanied by hydrocephalus

Answer 15

Dandy-Walker malformation

Question 16

Treatment for infants with severe respiratory failure who have not responded to maximal conventional ventilatory support

Answer 16

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO)

Question 17

Echogenic fibrous structure (portion of the dura mater) that separates the cerebral hemispheres

Answer 17

Falx cerebri (interhemispheric fissure)

Question 18

Soft space between the bones: the space is usually large enough to accommodate the ultrasound transducer until the age of 12 months

Answer 18

Fontanelle

Question 19

Fragile periventricular tissue (includes the caudate nucleus) that easily bleeds in the premature infant

Answer 19

Germinal matrix

Question 20

Congenital defect characterized by abnormal single ventricular cavity with some form of thalami fusion; caused by an extra chromosome, the prosencephalon fails to devide into hemispheres during embryonic development

Answer 20

holopronsencephaly

Question 21

ventriculomegaly in the neonate; abnormal accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid with the cerebral ventricles, resulting in compression and frequently destruction of brain tissue

Answer 21

Hydrocephalus

Question 22

Decreased oxygen in the body

Answer 22

Hypoxia

Question 23

Three membranes enclosing the brain and spinal cord

Answer 23

meninges

Question 24

infant during the early newborn period

Answer 24

neonate

Question 25

Echogenic white matter necrosis (WMN) best seen in the posterior aspect of the brain or adjacent to the ventricular structures

Answer 25

Periventricular leukomalacia (PVL)

Question 26

Perpendicular to the coronal plane with the transducer in the anterior fontanelle

Answer 26

Sagittal plane

Question 27

fragile area beneath the ependyma that is subject to bleeding in the premature neonate; site of hemorrhage for the germinal matrix

Answer 27

Subependyma

Question 28

cyst that occurs at the site of previous bleed in the germinal matrix

Answer 28

Subependymal cyst

Question 29

groove on the surface of the brain that separates the gyri

Answer 29

Sulcus

Question 30

Echogenic V-shaped "tent" structure in the posterior fossa that separates the cerebellum from the cerebrum

Answer 30

Tentorium cerebelli

Question 31

the region at which the thalamus and caudate nucleus join; the most common location of germinal matrix hemorrhage

Answer 31

Thalamic-caudate groove or notch

Question 32

Two ovoid brain structures located midbrain, situated of either side of the third ventricle superior to the brain stem

Answer 32

Thalamus

Question 33

Inflammation or infection of the ventricles, which appears as echogenic linear structures along the gyri; may also appear as focal echogenic structures within the white matter

Answer 33

Ventriculitis