title: [Micro anatomy of the cavernous sinus].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The surgical anatomy of the human cavernous sinus has been described by several authors. A clearer understanding of the anatomy of the cavernous sinus has resulted in an increased interest in surgical approaches to this region. Regarding the anatomical concept of the cavernous sinus previous descriptions should be revised.
  
  
  METHODS
  In our study, 35 skull-base blocks including both cavernous sinuses were investigated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There is considerable reason that the lateral wall of the cavernous sinus is covered by a "medial temporal dura layer" attached to the leptomeningeal pockets of the cranial nerves III-V1+2. There is no significant constance of the internal carotid artery within the cavernous sinus. All cranial nerves adjacent to or traversing the cavernous sinus are embedded within a leptomeningeal sheath similar to a pocket. The abducent nerve traverses a venous space, which should be named "petroclival venous confluence" rather than Dorello's canal. The extremely variable cavernous space is covered by a one-layer cell line. There is no evidence of any venous-plexus structure. Fibrose bands (trabecle) are present in different numbers.
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Neurochirurgie, Universitätsklinikum Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Lübeck, 23538 Lübeck, Germany. knopp@medinf.mu-luebeck.de
authors.forename: Ulrich
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Knopp
authors.forename: Manuela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kleedehn
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Kühnel
authors.forename: Abolghassem
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sepehrnia
mesh_terms: D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D002426:Cavernous Sinus / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000601:surgery; D003391:Cranial Nerves / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D006801:Humans; D008576:Meningeal Arteries / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D012886:Skull