Ependymal tumor
Encyclopedia
An ependymal tumor is a type of brain tumor
that begins in cells lining the spinal cord
central canal
(fluid-filled space
down the center) or the ventricles
(fluid-filled spaces of the brain). Ependymal tumors may also form in the choroid plexus
(tissue in the ventricles that makes cerebrospinal fluid
). Also called ependymoma
.
Brain tumor
A brain tumor is an intracranial solid neoplasm, a tumor within the brain or the central spinal canal.Brain tumors include all tumors inside the cranium or in the central spinal canal...
that begins in cells lining the spinal cord
Spinal cord
The spinal cord is a long, thin, tubular bundle of nervous tissue and support cells that extends from the brain . The brain and spinal cord together make up the central nervous system...
central canal
Central canal
For the engineering project, see Indiana Central Canal.The central canal is the cerebrospinal fluid-filled space that runs longitudinally through the length of the entire spinal cord. The central canal is contiguous with the ventricular system of the brain...
(fluid-filled space
Space
Space is the boundless, three-dimensional extent in which objects and events occur and have relative position and direction. Physical space is often conceived in three linear dimensions, although modern physicists usually consider it, with time, to be part of a boundless four-dimensional continuum...
down the center) or the ventricles
Ventricular system
The ventricular system is a set of structures containing cerebrospinal fluid in the brain. It is continuous with the central canal of the spinal cord.-Components:The system comprises four ventricles:* right and left lateral ventricles* third ventricle...
(fluid-filled spaces of the brain). Ependymal tumors may also form in the choroid plexus
Choroid plexus
The choroid plexus is a structure in the ventricles of the brain where cerebrospinal fluid is produced...
(tissue in the ventricles that makes cerebrospinal fluid
Cerebrospinal fluid
Cerebrospinal fluid , Liquor cerebrospinalis, is a clear, colorless, bodily fluid, that occupies the subarachnoid space and the ventricular system around and inside the brain and spinal cord...
). Also called ependymoma
Ependymoma
Ependymoma is a tumor that arises from the ependyma, a tissue of the central nervous system. Usually, in pediatric cases the location is intracranial, while in adults it is spinal. The common location of intracranial ependymoma is the fourth ventricle...
.
External links
- Ependymal tumor entry in the public domain NCI Dictionary of Cancer Terms