cistern of lateral cerebral fossa cistern of lateral cerebral fossa the cistern of lateral cerebral fossa is a subarachnoid cistern formed in front of each temporal lobe by the arachnoid mater bridging across the lateral sulcus. cistern of lateral cerebral fossadetailsidentifierslatincisterna fossae lateralis cerebrita98a14.1.01.210ta25394fma83723anatomical terms of neuroanatomy this cistern contains the middle cerebral artery.