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Thalamostriate Vein

vena thalamostriata

The thalamostriate vein (terminal vein) runs in the groove between the thalamus and the caudate nucleus in the floor of the lateral ventricle, draining the basal ganglia, thalamus, and deep white matter. At the foramen of Monro it joins the choroidal vein to form the internal cerebral vein, which pairs with its contralateral counterpart and drains into the vein of Galen.

Region: Head & Skull

Clinical Relevance

Clinical Notes

The thalamostriate vein is the neurosurgical landmark for the foramen of Monro in endoscopic third ventriculostomy and in transventricular approaches to the third ventricle. It must be identified and protected to avoid thalamic hemorrhage. In neonatal intraventricular hemorrhage from germinal matrix bleeding, the thalamostriate vein territory at the caudate nucleus is the primary bleeding site. Thalamostriate vein thrombosis is a rare cause of basal ganglia infarction in hypercoagulable states.

Pathology

Common Injuries & Conditions

Thalamostriate Vein as Foramen of Monro Landmark

The thalamostriate vein running in the caudothalamic groove toward the foramen of Monro is the endoscopic landmark identifying the foramen in third ventriculostomy for obstructive hydrocephalus; inadvertent coagulation or avulsion of the vein produces thalamic hemorrhage, and the vein must be gently displaced rather than coagulated to access the foramen.