title: Topographic Classification of the Thalamus Surfaces Related to Microneurosurgery: A White Matter Fiber Microdissection Study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe the topographic anatomy of surgically accessible surfaces of the human thalamus as a guide to surgical exploration of this sensitive area.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using the operating microscope, we applied the fiber microdissection technique to study 10 brain specimens. Step-by-step dissections in superior-inferior, medial-lateral, and posterior-anterior directions were conducted to expose the surfaces and nuclei of the thalamus and to investigate the relevant anatomic relationships and visible connections.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 4 distinct free surfaces of the thalamus identified: lateral ventricle surface, velar surface, cisternal surface, and third ventricle surface. Each is described with reference to recognizable anatomic landmarks and to the underlying thalamic nuclei. The neural structures most commonly encountered during the surgical approach to each individual surface are highlighted and described.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Observations from this study supplement current knowledge, advancing the capabilities to define the exact topographic location of thalamic lesions. This improved understanding of anatomy is valuable when designing the most appropriate and least traumatic surgical approach to thalamic lesions. These proposed surface divisions, based on recognizable anatomic landmarks, can provide more reliable surgical orientation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Yeditepe University School of Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey; Department of Neurosurgery, UniversitätsSpital Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Serra
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Yeditepe University School of Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey. Electronic address: drture@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Uğur
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Türe
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, UniversitätsSpital Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Niklaus
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Krayenbühl
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Ege University School of Medicine, İzmir, Turkey.
authors.forename: Gülgün
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Şengül
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Yeditepe University School of Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Dianne C H
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Yaşargil
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Yeditepe University School of Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: M Gazi
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Yaşargil
mesh_terms: D059925:Anatomic Landmarks / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D002102:Cadaver; D006801:Humans; D042282:Microdissection; D008953:Models, Anatomic; D008959:Models, Neurological; D009413:Nerve Fibers, Myelinated / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D013788:Thalamus / Q000166:cytology*; D066127:White Matter / Q000166:cytology*
keywords: Anatomy; Fiber microdissection; Thalamic peduncles; Thalamus; White matter