aqueduct of Sylvius

noun aqueduct of Syl·vi·us \-ˈsil-vē-əs\

Medical Definition of AQUEDUCT OF SYLVIUS

: a channel connecting the third and fourth ventricles of the brain—called also cerebral aqueduct, sylvian aqueduct

Biographical Note for AQUEDUCT OF SYLVIUS

Du·bois \d(y)üb-ˈwä\ (1478–1555), French anatomist. The teacher of Andreas Vesalius and later his steadfast opponent, Dubois attempted to reconcile the best of classical teachings, principally those of Galen, with contemporary observations. Confident that Galen was omniscient in all matters medical, Dubois published in 1555 a systematic account of anatomy based on Galen's writings. He presented a relatively modern method of numbering branches of vessels, structures, and relationships. One of the structures described therein was the channel connecting the third and fourth ventricles of the brain; although his description was not original, the passage became known as the aqueduct of Sylvius, after his latinized professional name.