The roof of the fourth ventricle in amphibian brains.

The structure of the roof of the fourth ventricle in 10 amphibian species has been examined histologically using serial sections of complete skulls containing the brain and intact meninges. The caudal end of the roof, the posterior tela, consists of a single layer of epithelial cells which are continuous with the ependymal cells which line the walls of the fourth ventricle. The structure of the posterior tela varies according to the species: in the urodele amphibians and Xenopus it consists of a complete and continuous layer of cells, whereas the anurans, excluding Xenopus, have a posterior tela consisting of cells arranged in clumps and short strings. The discontinuous structure of the posterior tela in the anurans gives apparent communication between the ventricular system and the subarachnoid space and this area may be a site for exchange of cerebrospinal fluid between the two compartments.

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