The rhomboid fossa is the diamond-shaped floor of the fourth ventricle, formed by the back of the pons and upper medulla. Many cranial nerve nuclei lie just beneath its surface.
| Location | Floor of the fourth ventricle, on the dorsal pons and upper medulla |
|---|---|
| Parts |
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| Connections |
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| Blood Supply | Basilar artery (pontine branches); Posterior inferior cerebellar artery |
Forms the floor of the fourth ventricle and overlies vital brainstem nuclei.
Tumours of the fourth ventricle, such as medulloblastoma and ependymoma in children, sit on this floor, and surgery must avoid damaging it because of the cranial nerve nuclei beneath. Vomiting from pressure on the area postrema is a common early sign.
Medulloblastoma or ependymoma pressing on the floor, causing vomiting, headache and unsteadiness.
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