title: Location of the abducent nerve within the cavernous sinus.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Knowing the distance between the superior and inferior border of     Parkinson's triangle and the location of the abducent nerve within the cavernous     sinus is important to decrease the complications which may occur during surgery.     We aimed to investigate the cavernous sinus to decrease the complications that     may occur during surgery to this area.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty MRIs without     pituitary gland abnormality were chosen for radiological assessment of CS. These     images were from 18 males and 32 females, with ages ranging from 9 to 58 years     and a median age of 28 years. We evaluated structures within and on the lateral     wall of the cavernous sinus (especially Parkinson's triangle) with magnetic     resonance imaging. The position of the abducent nerve and its level according to     the cranial nerves running close the lateral wall were examined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At the     level of pituitary stalk, the distance between the trochlear nerve and the     ophthalmic nerve ranged from 1 to 4 mm bilaterally. The abducent nerve was     located between the trochlear and the ophthalmic nerves in 30% cases     bilaterally.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The knowledge of the position of the abducent nerve     will provide a great benefit in minimizing the rate of complications that may     occur during the resection of tumors of the cavernous sinus.
authors.affiliation: Gulhane Military Medical Academy, Department of Anatomy, Ankara, Turkey. ykirici@gata.edu.tr
authors.forename: Yalcin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kirici
authors.forename: Cenk
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kilic
authors.forename: Murat
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kocaoglu
mesh_terms: D000010:Abducens Nerve / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000601:surgery; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002343:Carotid Artery, Internal / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000601:surgery; D002426:Cavernous Sinus / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000294:innervation* / Q000601:surgery; D002560:Cerebrovascular Circulation / Q000502:physiology; D002648:Child; D035301:Cranial Fossa, Middle / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D007839:Functional Laterality / Q000502:physiology; D014644:Genetic Variation / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D038361:Neuronavigation / Q000379:methods; D009882:Ophthalmic Nerve / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000601:surgery; D010902:Pituitary Gland / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000601:surgery; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012658:Sella Turcica / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000601:surgery; D013101:Sphenoid Sinus / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000601:surgery; D014321:Trochlear Nerve / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000601:surgery; D055815:Young Adult