Anatomic, velocimetric, and brain motion MRI scans were combined with a computational fluid dynamics model to investigate cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) mixing in the third cerebral ventricle of a healthy male adult. It was found that advection dominates over diffusion in most of the third ventricle. Three zones where diffusion plays an important role in the mixing process were identified. One of these zones, consisting of recessus infundibulus, recessus opticus and the adjacent regions up to commissura anterior, is likely to exist in the general population. We hypothesize that this zone may act as a buffer to flatten concentration peaks of pituitary gland hormones released into the CSF of the third ventricle. We further hypothesize that this zone may facilitate the communication between hypothalamus and the pituitary gland through the third ventricle cerebrospinal fluid by prolonging residence times of the communicated hormones.
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e-mail: dimos.poulikakos@ltnt.iet.mavt.ethz.ch
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October 2007
Technical Papers
Mixing and Modes of Mass Transfer in the Third Cerebral Ventricle: A Computational Analysis
Vartan Kurtcuoglu,
Vartan Kurtcuoglu
Laboratory of Thermodynamics in Emerging Technologies
, ETH Zurich, Sonneggstrasse 3, CH-8092 Zurich, Switzerland
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Michaela Soellinger,
Michaela Soellinger
Institute for Biomedical Engineering,
University and ETH Zurich
, Gloriastrasse 35, CH-8092 Zurich, Switzerland
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Paul Summers,
Paul Summers
Department of Neuroradiology, Nuffield Department of Surgery,
University of Oxford
, John Radcliffe Hospital, Headley Way, Headington, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK
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Dimos Poulikakos,
e-mail: dimos.poulikakos@ltnt.iet.mavt.ethz.ch
Dimos Poulikakos
Laboratory of Thermodynamics in Emerging Technologies
, ETH Zurich, Sonneggstrasse 3, CH-8092 Zurich, Switzerland
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Peter Boesiger
Peter Boesiger
Institute for Biomedical Engineering,
University and ETH Zurich
, Gloriastrasse 35, CH-8092 Zurich, Switzerland
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Vartan Kurtcuoglu
Laboratory of Thermodynamics in Emerging Technologies
, ETH Zurich, Sonneggstrasse 3, CH-8092 Zurich, Switzerland
Michaela Soellinger
Institute for Biomedical Engineering,
University and ETH Zurich
, Gloriastrasse 35, CH-8092 Zurich, Switzerland
Paul Summers
Department of Neuroradiology, Nuffield Department of Surgery,
University of Oxford
, John Radcliffe Hospital, Headley Way, Headington, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK
Dimos Poulikakos
Laboratory of Thermodynamics in Emerging Technologies
, ETH Zurich, Sonneggstrasse 3, CH-8092 Zurich, Switzerlande-mail: dimos.poulikakos@ltnt.iet.mavt.ethz.ch
Peter Boesiger
Institute for Biomedical Engineering,
University and ETH Zurich
, Gloriastrasse 35, CH-8092 Zurich, SwitzerlandJ Biomech Eng. Oct 2007, 129(5): 695-702 (8 pages)
Published Online: February 16, 2007
Article history
Received:
June 13, 2006
Revised:
February 16, 2007
Citation
Kurtcuoglu, V., Soellinger, M., Summers, P., Poulikakos, D., and Boesiger, P. (February 16, 2007). "Mixing and Modes of Mass Transfer in the Third Cerebral Ventricle: A Computational Analysis." ASME. J Biomech Eng. October 2007; 129(5): 695–702. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.2768376
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