title: Anatomic variation of the abducens nerve in a single cadaver dissection: the "petrobasilar canal".
abstract: Anatomic variations of the petrosphenoid ligament, Dorello's canal and the course of the abducens nerve have been extensively described over the past years. In the present report of a single cadaver dissection, we describe an unusual course of the abducens nerve at the level of the petrous bone. The right abducens nerve did not enter Dorello's canal, but ran below the petrous bone through a narrow canal in the petrobasilar suture, which we called the "petrobasilar canal". No anatomic variations of the left abducens nerve were noted.
authors.affiliation: Research Department, Accademia di Osteopatia e Anatomia (A.O.A.), Via Martiri della Loggia 31, 76123, Andria BT, Italy.|Research Department, Accademia Italiana Osteopatia Tradizionale - Marche (A.I.O.T. Marche), Via Einaudi 108, 62012, Civitanoma Marche MC, Italy.
authors.forename: Felice
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pizzolorusso
authors.affiliation: Research Department, Accademia di Osteopatia e Anatomia (A.O.A.), Via Martiri della Loggia 31, 76123, Andria BT, Italy.|Research Department, Accademia Italiana Osteopatia Tradizionale - Marche (A.I.O.T. Marche), Via Einaudi 108, 62012, Civitanoma Marche MC, Italy.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cirotti
authors.affiliation: Research Department, Accademia di Osteopatia e Anatomia (A.O.A.), Via Martiri della Loggia 31, 76123, Andria BT, Italy. gianfranco.pizzolorusso@gmail.com.|Research Department, Accademia Italiana Osteopatia Tradizionale - Marche (A.I.O.T. Marche), Via Einaudi 108, 62012, Civitanoma Marche MC, Italy. gianfranco.pizzolorusso@gmail.com.|, Via Isonzo 16, 66100, Chieti CH, Italy. gianfranco.pizzolorusso@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Gianfranco
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-3143-0970
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pizzolorusso
mesh_terms: D000010:Abducens Nerve / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D063405:Anatomic Variation; D002102:Cadaver; D004210:Dissection; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010579:Petrous Bone / Q000033:anatomy & histology
keywords: Abducens nerve; Anatomic variations; Cranial nerve; Dorello’s canal; Petrosphenoid ligament