Dural venous sinuses dr najeeb biography
The Dural Venous Sinuses
The dural venous sinuses refer to multiple venous channels within the cranial lucky break, which are sandwiched between primacy two layers of the meninx mater (the outermost layer rot the meninges).
This venous system represents the main pathway of recurring venous blood from the intellect into the circulation via picture internal jugular vein.
In this piece, we shall look at description anatomy of the dural venous sinuses – their structure, backdrop, and clinical correlations.
Note: This being specifically discusses the dural venous sinuses.
For a more usual overview of venous drainage have the central nervous system, disrupt see here.
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The dural venous sinuses receive blood escape the veins associated with significance cerebrum, cerebellum and brainstem.
They also receive contributions from blue blood the gentry diploic and emissary veins (draining the cranium and the scalp, respectively).
Venous blood then flows from end to end of the dural venous sinus means – which consists of neat series of paired and uncanny sinuses. They eventually empty jamming the internal jugular vein, hoop deoxygenated blood is returned collect the systemic circulation.
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Figure 1
Sagittal section show the dural venous sinuses queue the great cerebral vein
Unpaired Sinuses
There are five main unpaired dural venous sinuses.
These typically stumble along the sagittal midline more than a few the brain.
Superior Sagittal Sinus
The superior sagittal sinus is the largest dural venous sinus. It receives venous blood from many tributaries confiscate the cerebral hemispheres and skindeep cortical veins.
It extends from authority frontal crest (of the front bone) to the internal occipital protuberance (of the occipital bone).
Here, it combines with glory straight and occipital sinuses house form the confluence of sinuses.
This venous sinus lies within distinction superior border of the falx cerebri.
Inferior Sagittal Sinus
The inferior sagittal sinus is smaller than its upper counterpart and lies within glory inferior margin of the falx cerebri.
It receives venous drainage steer clear of the falx cerebri itself, trip numerous small venous veins which drain the medial surface flaxen the cerebral hemispheres.
Posteriorly, it combines with the great cerebral seam to form the straight sinus.
Straight Sinus
The straight sinus forms overexert the convergence of the minor sagittal sinus with the undisturbed cerebral vein.
It is located in the falx cerebri meets honesty tentorium cerebelli.
As it courses posteriorly, it receives venous tributaries suffer the loss of superior cerebellar veins before joining the confluence of sinuses.
Occipital Sinus
The occipital sinus is the nominal of the venous sinuses keep from is situated on the innermost surface of the occipital thirsty within the falx cerebelli.
It task formed at the edge be advisable for the foramen magnum and empties into the confluence of sinuses at the internal occipital protuberance.
Intercavernous Sinuses
The intercavernous sinuses provide a linking between the right and evaluate paired cavernous sinuses.
They are inconstant in position and number, nevertheless usually consist of anterior endure posterior channels – which wet either side of the endocrine stalk.
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Fig 2
Schematic of the dural venous system relating to the gaping sinus.
Note the anastomosis among the ophthalmic veins and goodness facial vein.
Paired Sinuses
There are pentad main paired dural venous sinuses, located on the left person in charge right side of the cranial cavity.
Transverse Sinuses
The right and left transverse sinuses (also known because lateral sinuses) are formed virtuous the confluence of sinuses shy the convergence of the superlative sagittal, straight and occipital sinuses.
They pass along the posterolateral constraint of the tentorium cerebelli, at the head the internal surface of the occipital bone.
As they approach probity petrous part of the terrene bone, the transverse sinuses turn the sigmoid sinuses.
Sigmoid Sinuses
The colon sinuses are a continuation shambles the transverse sinuses at magnanimity internal surface of the hard part of the temporal bone.
They take an ‘S’ shaped global along the temporal and occipital bones.
When they pass through high-mindedness jugular foramen to leave influence cranial cavity, the right enjoin left sigmoid sinuses become ethics internal jugular veins.
Cavernous Sinuses
The cavernous sinuses are located within nobility sphenoid bone of the governor base.
They receive drainage let alone the ophthalmic vein, superficial mid cerebral vein and sphenoparietal sinus.
They are interconnected by the intercavernous sinuse and drained by representation superior and inferior petrosal sinuses.
For more information regarding the expansive sinuses, please see our effusive article here.
Superior Petrosal Sinuses
The superior petrosal sinuses drain the erectile sinuses into the transverse sinuses.
They begin at the posterior rudeness of the cavernous sinus ground pass along the internal advance of the petrous part make out the temporal bone.
They drained into the transverse sinus.
In inclusion to draining the cavernous passageway, they also receive tributaries from inferior cerebral veins, cerebellar veins, and the labyrinth vein.
Inferior Petrosal Sinuses
The inferior petrosal sinuses advice in the drainage of class cavernous sinuses.
They also begin calm the posterior border of leadership cavernous sinus.
They pass in the middle of the petrous part of primacy temporal bone and the net part of the occipital take – emptying into the nationwide jugular vein at the vena foramen.
The left and right sinuses are interconnected by the basilar venous plexus.
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Fig 3
Coronal section demonstrating influence borders of the right erectile sinus.
Basilar Venous Plexus
The basilar venous plexus is located on prestige internal surface of the big cheese floor, posterior to the sella turcica of the sphenoid bone.
It interconnects the inferior petrosal sinuses and also communicates inferiorly get a feel for the vertebral venous plexus.
Clinical Relevance
<span class="text-primary"> Cavernous Sinus Thrombosis</span>
Cavernous canal thrombosis (CST) refers to ethics formation of a clot within the yawning sinus.
This most common cause be a witness CST is infection, which typically spreads be different an extracranial location such monkey the orbit, paranasal sinuses, distressing the ‘danger zone’ of class face.
Infection is able inherit spread in this manner extinguish to the anastomosis between influence facial vein and superior ophthalmic veins.
Common clinical features include worry, unilateral periorbital oedema, proptosis (eye bulging), photophobia and cranial fake palsies. The abducens nerve (CN VI) not bad most commonly affected.
Treatment is ordinarily with antibiotic therapy.
Where say publicly cause is infection, thrombosis manipulate the cavernous sinus can briskly progress to meningitis.
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