Microsurgical anatomy of the pineal region.

The microsurgical anatomy of the pineal region was studied in 30 cadaver brains after the injection of a colored barium/gelatin mixture into the basilar artery and the straight sinus. The relationships of the pineal gland, vein of Galen, precentral cerebellar vein, internal cerebral veins, basal veins of Rosenthal, medial posterior choroidal arteries, quadrigeminal plate, pulvinar, splenium of the corpus callosum, and posterior 3rd ventricle were examined with the operating microscope and are described.