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Brain, Head and Neck

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Delineating Organs at Risk in Radiation Therapy

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Abstract

The brain is contained within the skull and is enveloped by membranes called meninx, dura mater, arachnoid membrane, and pia mater. Extensions of the dura mater stabilize the position of the brain, forming structures such as the falx cerebri, tentorium cerebelli, cerebellar falx, and sella diaphragm. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), or liquor, produced in the choroid plexuses, protects the delicate nerve structures, sustains the brain, and conveys nutritive and chemical substances and waste products. It flows continuously from ventricles of the central canal of the spinal cord into the subarachnoid space. Diffusion through the arachnoid granulations in the upper sagittal sinus conveys the CSF to the venous bloodstream. In this complex system, the hematoencephalic barrier keeps neural tissue isolated from the general bloodstream.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiation Oncology, “G. d’Annunzio” University, Chieti, Italy

    Giampiero Ausili Cefaro & Domenico Genovesi

  2. Department of Radiation Oncology Mallickrodt Institute of Radiology, Washington University, St. Louis, USA

    Carlos A. Perez

Authors
  1. Giampiero Ausili Cefaro
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  2. Domenico Genovesi
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  3. Carlos A. Perez
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© 2013 Springer-Verlag Italia

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Cefaro, G.A., Genovesi, D., Perez, C.A. (2013). Brain, Head and Neck. In: Delineating Organs at Risk in Radiation Therapy. Springer, Milano. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-88-470-5257-4_2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-88-470-5257-4_2

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Milano

  • Print ISBN: 978-88-470-5256-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-88-470-5257-4

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