What is cavernous sinus in anatomy?
The cavernous sinus is located on either side of the pituitary fossa and body of the sphenoid bone between the endosteal and meningeal layers of the dura. It spans from the apex of the orbit to the apex of the petrous temporal bone.
What is cavernous sinus function?
As a venous sinus, the cavernous sinus receives blood from the superior and inferior ophthalmic veins and from superficial cortical veins, and is connected to the basilar plexus of veins posteriorly.
What are the relations of the cavernous sinus?
Cavernous sinus
| Location | Paired venous cavities that sit on either side of the sphenoid bone, extending from the most posterior aspect of the orbit to the petrous part of the temporal bone. |
|---|---|
| Drains to | Superior and inferior petrosal sinuses |
| Clinical relations | Carotid-cavernous fistula, cavernous sinus thrombosis |
Why is the cavernous sinus of clinical importance?
The cavernous sinus is a true dural venous sinus and not a venous plexus. It is clinically important because of its location, its close relationship to several cranial nerves and the internal carotid artery, and the complex of veins without valves that drain from and to the paired cavernous sinuses.
What directly communicates with cavernous sinus?
The cavernous sinus is associated directly with other sinuses as well; it communicates with the transverse sinus via the superior petrosal sinus and to the internal jugular vein through the inferior petrosal sinus.
How do you know if you have cavernous sinuses?
Symptoms of cavernous sinus thrombosis include: a sharp and severe headache, particularly around the eye. swelling and bulging of the eye(s) and the surrounding tissues. eye pain that’s often severe.
Is cavernous sinus filled with blood?
The cavernous sinuses Each forms a major vein that is part of a network of sinuses that eventually drain into the jugular veins, which carry blood away from the brain.
Is cavernous sinus in brain?
The cavernous sinus Laterally, it is related to the temporal lobe of the brain. The internal carotid artery and the abducens nerve pass through the cavernous sinus.
How is cavernous sinus formed?
After entering the carotid canal, the internal carotid makes a 90-degree turn and travels horizontally in the petrous part of the temporal bone – this is the petrous part of the internal carotid artery. The petrous part of the internal carotid then enters the cavernous sinus via the foramen lacerum.
Is cavernous sinus A plexus?
The cavernous sinus is made up of very thin walled veins that make up a venous plexus. The cavernous sinus receives venous blood from the following: Superior middle cerebral vein. Superior and inferior ophthalmic veins.
What nerves are in the cavernous sinus?
The nerves of the cavernous sinus are the oculomotor nerve (CN III), trochlear nerve (CN IV), ophthalmic nerve (V1), maxillary nerve (V2), abducens nerve (CN VI), and the sympathetic plexus around the internal carotid artery.
Where are the cavernous sinuses located in the human body?
The cavernous sinuses are a clinically important pair of dural sinuses. They are located next to the lateral aspect of the body of the sphenoid bone. This sinus receives blood from the superior and inferior ophthalmic veins, the middle superficial cerebral veins, and from another dural venous sinus; the sphenoparietal sinus.
Where does blood return to after draining the cavernous sinus?
The cavernous sinus drains the ophthalmic veins and can be found on either side of the sella turcica. From here, the blood returns to the internal jugular vein via the superior or inferior petrosal sinuses. Figure 1 – Sagittal section showing the dural venous sinuses and the great cerebral vein
How to tell if you have an abnormal cavernous sinus?
CT criteria suggesting an abnormal cavernous sinus are: (1) asymmetry of size, (2) asymmetry of shape, particularly the lateral wall, and (3) focal areas of abnormal density within the sinus. The neurovascular anatomy of the cavernous sinus is reviewed and correlated with CT findings.
What makes the sinus an unconventional venous system?
The cavernous sinus is an unconventional venous system in the sense that it does not have a unidirectional flow of blood. Owing to the fact that there are no valves in the sinus and its connected veins, the direction of blood flow is dependent on venous pressure. The veins that communicate with the cavernous sinus are:
