Anatomical Study of Cavernous Sinus

Chun, Woo Jin; Lee, Ki Chan; Chu, Jeong Wha

Abstract

Fifty four preparations of the cavernous sinus from twenty seven cadavers were studied in detail under microscopic magnification, with special attention to nerves and arteries related to the wall of the sinus. Significant findings were: 1) Three types of relationship between the nerves and arteries in relation to the wall of the sinus were found. Type I: The nerves III, IV and V-1 were embedded in the lateral wall, and the internal carotid artery(I.C.A.) and nerve IV passed through the cavity of the sinus(26 specimens, 48%), Type II: The cavity of the sinus was divided into two compartments by a septum close to the lateral wall, with nerves VI and V-I located within the septum(18 specimens, 33%), Type III: Anatomy was similar to the type I, except that the I.C.A. was included in the medial or lateral wall(10 specimens, 19%). 2) Arterial variations branching from the intracavernous portion of the I.C.A. were classified into four types. Type I: Meningohypophyseal trunk arising from I.C.A.(28 specimens). Type II: Dorsal meningeal artery from I.C.A.(10 specimens). Type III:Tentorial artery from I.C.A.(4 specimens). Type IV: Meningohypophyseal trunk from I.C.A. in addition, the artery of inferior cavernous sinus(12 specimens). 3) The main three brahcnes of the intracavernous portion of the I.C.A. were the meningohypophyseal artery, which was presented presented in 100% of our specimens, the artery of inferior cavernous sinus(78%), and McConnell's capsular artery(43%). Intracavernous origin of the ophthalmic artery were observed in four specimens(8%). 4) The surgical triangle spaces were found to be present in all our specimens, which were formed by the superior margin of it with the lower margin of nerve IV and by the inferior margin with the upper margin of nerve V-I.