Jacques Bénigne Winslow (1669-1760) and the misnomer cavernous sinus.
Sinus cavernosi, or the cavernous sinus, was coined by Jacques Bénigne Winslow in the 18th century. Among the neurosurgeons and the modern-day neuroanatomists, Winslow is mainly known for erroneously using the term cavernous sinus. As the anatomical understanding of the parasellar space advanced during the next 200 years, it was unclear as to why Winslow compared this space in the brain with that of a male reproductive organ (corpus cavernosum). Our primary objective was to study the historical treatise on anatomy written by Winslow in the 18th century and analyze his anatomical dissections and nomenclature for the parasellar compartment. In addition, his pertinent contributions to neuroscience are highlighted in this vignette.
Department of Neurosurgery, Louisiana State University for Medical Sciences, Shreveport, Louisiana, USA.
Jai Deep
JD
Thakur
Department of Neurosurgery, Louisiana State University for Medical Sciences, Shreveport, Louisiana, USA.
Ashish
A
Sonig
Department of Neurosurgery, Louisiana State University for Medical Sciences, Shreveport, Louisiana, USA.
Imad Saeed
IS
Khan
Department of Neurosurgery, Louisiana State University for Medical Sciences, Shreveport, Louisiana, USA.
David E
DE
Connor
Department of Neurosurgery, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas, USA.
T Glenn
TG
Pait
Department of Neurosurgery, Louisiana State University for Medical Sciences, Shreveport, Louisiana, USA. Electronic address: ananda@lsuhsc.edu.
Anil
A
Nanda
D002048:Burial; D002426:Cavernous Sinus / Q000502:physiology*; D003718:Denmark; D005602:France; D049670:History, 17th Century; D049671:History, 18th Century; D009445:Neuroanatomy / Q000266:history; D009462:Neurology / Q000266:history*; D010297:Paris