Germinal Matrix Hemorrhage

The brain of this premature fetus (cut in coronal section) shows a germinal matrix hemorrhage with associated white matter damage. Notice that the blood also fills the 3rd ventricle. Germinal matrix hemorrhage is the most common cause of intraventricular hemorrhage in fetuses and babies with a gestation age between 23 and 28 weeks.

The brain of this premature fetus (cut in coronal section) shows a germinal matrix hemorrhage with associated white matter damage. Notice that the blood also fills the 3rd ventricle. Germinal matrix hemorrhage is the most common cause of intraventricular hemorrhage in fetuses and babies with a gestation age between 23 and 28 weeks.