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Perivascular Spaces

Meaning

Perivascular Spaces, also scientifically known as Virchow-Robin spaces, are fluid-filled, anatomical compartments that circumferentially surround the penetrating arteries and veins as they course through the delicate brain parenchyma. These spaces are now understood to be functionally critical components of the glymphatic system, which operates as the brain’s specialized waste clearance and lymphatic-like mechanism. The structural integrity and functional patency of these spaces are essential for the efficient removal of metabolic byproducts, including neurotoxic proteins like amyloid-beta, a key process for maintaining long-term neurological health and preventing neurodegenerative diseases.