Anat Cell Biol.  2022 Jun;55(2):135-141. 10.5115/acb.22.023.

Morphology of the groove of the inferior petrosal sinus: application to better understanding variations and surgery of the skull base

• Ekanem UOI
• Olewnik
• Porzionato A
• Macchi V
• Iwanaga J
• Loukas M
• Dumont AS
• Caro RD
• Tubbs RS

• KMID: 2531199
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5115/acb.22.023

Abstract

Although adequate venous drainage from the cranium is imperative for maintaining normal intracranial pressure, the bony anatomy surrounding the inferior petrosal sinus and the potential for a compressive canal or tunnel has, to our knowledge, not been previously investigated. One hundred adult human skulls (200 sides) were observed and documented for the presence or absence of an inferior petrosal groove or canal. Measurements were made and a classification developed to help better understand their anatomy and discuss it in future reports. We identified an inferior petrosal sinus groove (IPSG) in the majority of specimens. The IPSG began anteriorly where the apex of the petrous part of the temporal bone articulated with the sphenoid part of the clivus, traveled posteriorly, in a slight medial to lateral course, primarily just medial to the petro-occipital fissure, and ended at the anteromedial aspect of the jugular foramen. When the IPSGs were grouped into five types. In type I specimens, no IPSG was identified (10.0%), in type II specimens, a partial IPSG was identified (6.5%), in type III specimens, a complete IPSG (80.0%) was identified, in type IV specimens, a partial IPS tunnel was identified (2.5%), and in type V specimens, a complete tunnel (1.0%) was identified. An improved knowledge of the bony pathways that the intracranial dural venous sinuses take as they exit the cranium is clinically useful. Radiological interpretation of such bony landmarks might improve patient diagnoses and surgically, such anatomy could decrease patient morbidity during approaches to the posterior cranial fossa.

Keyword

Anatomy; Cadaver; Skull base; Dural venous sinus; Bony groove

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Superior view of the skull base in a bony specimen. The inferior petrosal sinus grooves (arrowheads) are seen traveling from anteriorly just lateral to the dorsum sellae (DS) to posteriorly into the jugular foramen (JF). FM, foramen magnum.

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  Fig. 2 Five types of inferior petrosal sinus groove (superior view on left sides). Type I: No inferior petrosal sinus groove. Type II: A partial inferior petrosal sinus groove. Type III: A complete inferior petrosal sinus groove. Type IV: A partial inferior petrosal sinus tunnel (the arrow marks the ala of the petrous part of the temporal bone that is contributing to a partial tunnel here with a needle placed within it). Type V: A complete inferior petrosal sinus tunnel (the arrows marks the ala. A metal wire is placed into the complete tunnel created by the ala). IAM, internal acoustic meatus; FM, foramen magnum; JF, jugular foramen; JT, jugular tubercle. The asterisk marks the predicted course of the inferior petrosal sinus but without a bony groove. Arrowheads, inferior petrosal sinus groove.

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  Fig. 3 Schematic drawings of the relationship of the inferior petrosal sinus. On the left, the arrows mark the sinus before and after entering the tunnel of a type V and created by the ala (asterisk). On the right side, the ala is removed to show the inferior petrosal sinus along its entire course.

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  Fig. 4 Skull base sample with an inferior petrosal sinus groove (arrowheads) connecting posteriorly into a bony septated jugular foramen (arrow). DS, dorsum sellae; FM, foramen magnum; JF, jugular foramen.

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  Fig. 5 Skull base sample without an inferior petrosal sinus groove on the right (asterisk, type I) and a groove on the left (arrowheads, type II). DS, dorsum sellae; FM, foramen magnum; JF, jugular foramen.

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  Fig. 6 An example of skull base with blue latex injected into the venous sinuses of the posterior cranial fossa. Note the asymmetry between the left and right inferior petrosal sinuses (IPS). The yellow structures are the stumps of the glossopharyngeal, vagus, and accessory nerves. JT, jugular tubercle; IAM, internal acoustic meatus; TM, tectorial membrane; MS, marginal sinus; BVP, basilar venous plexus; SS, sigmoid sinus.

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  Fig. 7 Shiu et al. [20] classification of the four main variations of the inferior petrosal sinus.

Reference

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