Laboratory Identifications and Relations -- Cavernous Sinus
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[ SBMP ] [ Skull ] [ Face ]
[ Cavernous Sinus ] [ Orbit ]
[ Parotid Region, TMJ, Mandible ] [ Infratemporal Fossa ]
[ Pterygopalatine Fossa ]
Boundaries
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anterior: superior orbital fissure
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posterior: apex of the petrous portion of temporal bone (region of lacerate
f.)
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superior: diaphragma sellae
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inferior: greater wing of sphenoid lateral to sellae turcica and medial
to f. ovale
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medial: sellae turcica (sphenoid sinus, carotid groove)
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lateral: separation of meningeal dura from periosteal dura near f. ovale
Related Bony Landmarks
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lacerate foramen - transmits emissary v. between cavernous sinus and pterygoid
venus plexus
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pterygoid canal - anterior lip of lacerate foramen
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sellae turcica - dorsum sellae, hypophyseal fossa (for the hypophysis),
tuberculum sellae
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anterior clinoid processes - lateral to path of internal carotid a., support
diaphragma sellae
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chiasmatic groove - marks location of optic chiasm, anterior boundary of
middle cranial fossa
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posterior clinoid processes - support diaphragma sellae
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trigeminal cave - region marking location of trigeminal ganglion
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foramen rotundum - transmits maxillary from cavernous sinus to pterygopalatine
fossa
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foramen ovale - near, but lateral to cavernous sinus
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groove for the greater superficial petrosal nerve - leads from canal anterior
and medial to cavernous sinus
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carotid canal - opening into cavernous sinus and lacerate foramen
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clivus of occipital bone - region of the basilar venus plexus, leads to
anterior vertebral venus plexus
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groove for inferior petrosal sinus - between clivus and petrous portion
of temporal bone, inferior petrosal sinus
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groove for superior petrosal sinus - along superior petrosal ridge of petrous
portion temporal bone
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lesser wing of sphenoid bone - marking location sphenoparietal sinus
Contents
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oculomotor nerve - superior at level of anterior clinoid process
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trochlear nerve - related to lateral lip of diaphragma sellae
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ophthalmic nerve (of V1) - lateral on internal carotid artery
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abducens nerve - lateral on internal carotid artery, strong hint - we always
tag this on your exam
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maxillary nerve (of V2) - floor of cavernous sinus, lateral on internal
carotid artery
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greater superficial petrosal nerve - entering cavernous sinus near lacerate
foramen and carotid canal
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deep petrosal nerve - sympathetic motor root derived from internal carotid
plexus (unlikely laboratory identification - beers to whoever finds it)
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sympathetic root of ciliary ganglion - hard to find on dissection
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internal carotid plexus - autonomic plexus on carotid artery
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carotid siphon - internal carotid artery medial in cavernous sinus and
lateral to sphenoid sinus (an air sinus)
Related Structures
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diaphragma sellae - contains intercavernous sinus, spread of infection
from oposite cavernous sinus
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hypophysis (pituitary gland) - in hypophyseal fossa
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superior petrosal sinus - tributary
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inferior petrosal sinus - tributary
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basilar venus plexus - on clivus, drains through foramen magnum, anterior
vertebral venus plexus
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sphenoparietal sinus - tributary
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emissay vein through lacerate foramen and foramen ovale - difficult to
demonstrate
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superior ophthalmic vein - anterior continuation of cavernous sinus
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The Structural Basis of Medical Practice
- Human Gross Anatomy, Radiology, Embryology
The Pennsylvania State University
College
of Medicine
Email: lae2@psu.edu