title: Dural Septation on the Inner Surface of the Jugular Foramen: An Anatomical Study.
abstract: Introduction Preserving cranial nerve (CN) function during tumor removal at the jugular foramen is challenging. No anatomical study has better defined the relevant dural septations on the inner surface of the jugular foramen. This study was undertaken to elucidate this anatomy. Methods Fourteen cadaveric heads (28 sides) were dissected, and relationships of the meningeal coverings of the jugular foramen and adjacent CNs documented. A classification scheme was created to better describe the dural septations of the inner surface of the jugular foramen. Results Four types of dural septations were noted. Type I: 10 sides (36%) where a dural septation was seen between CNs IX anteriorly and X and XI posteriorly. Of these, the septum was ossified in 20%. Type II (32%) was defined as a jugular foramen with no dural septation. Type III (7%) was defined as septation between CNs IX and X anteriorly and XI posteriorly. Type IV (7 sides, 25%) or the chaotic form was defined as multiple septations within the jugular foramen that housed and divided CN rootlets. Conclusions The dural septations defined here can be used in future studies to help correlate operative strategy to meningeal morphology within the jugular foramen.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Neurosurgery, Children's Hospital, Birmingham, Alabama, United States ; Department of Anatomical Sciences, St. George's University, St. George's, Grenada.
authors.forename: R Shane
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Tubbs
authors.affiliation: Section of Neurosurgery, University of Alabama, Birmingham, Alabama, United States.
authors.forename: Christoph J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Griessenauer
authors.affiliation: Section of Neurosurgery, University of Alabama, Birmingham, Alabama, United States.
authors.forename: Muhammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bilal
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Neurosurgery, Children's Hospital, Birmingham, Alabama, United States.
authors.forename: Joel
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Raborn
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomical Sciences, St. George's University, St. George's, Grenada.
authors.forename: Marios
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Loukas
authors.affiliation: Goodman Campbell Brain and Spine, Department of Neurological Surgery, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, United States ; Indiana University Simon Cancer Center, Indianapolis, Indiana, United States.
authors.forename: Aaron A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Cohen-Gadol
keywords: anatomy; cranial anatomy; jugular foramen; meninges; posterior fossa; skull base