Cavernous sinus

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Vein: Cavernous sinus
Oblique section through the cavernous sinus. (Cavernous sinus labeled at upper right.)
The sinuses at the base of the skull. Cavernous sinus labeled in red
Latin	sinus cavernosus
Gray's	subject #171 658
Source	middle cerebral vein, sphenoparietal sinus, superior ophthalmic vein
Dorlands / Elsevier	s_12/12738628

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Evidence Based Medicine
Cochrane Collaboration on Cavernous sinus Bandolier on Cavernous sinus TRIP on Cavernous sinus
Clinical Trials
Ongoing Trials on Cavernous sinus at Clinical Trials.gov Trial results on Cavernous sinus Clinical Trials on Cavernous sinus at Google
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US National Guidelines Clearinghouse on Cavernous sinus NICE Guidance on Cavernous sinus NHS PRODIGY Guidance FDA on Cavernous sinus CDC on Cavernous sinus
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The cavernous sinus (or lateral sellar compartment) is a large collection of thin-walled veins creating a cavity bordered by the sphenoid bone and the temporal bone of the skull.

Contents

Each cavernous sinus (one for each hemisphere of the brain) contains the following:

• vertically, from superior to inferior
  • oculomotor nerve (CN III)
  • trochlear nerve (CN IV)
  • ophthalmic nerve, the V₁ branch of the trigeminal nerve (CN V)
  • maxillary nerve, the V₂ branch of CN V

• horizontally
  • internal carotid artery (and sympathetic plexus). See also cavernous part of internal carotid artery.
  • abducens nerve (CN VI)

One mnemonic for remembering the contents is "OTOM CAT"^[1]

Venous connections

It receives tributaries from:

• Superior and inferior ophthalmic veins
• Superior parietal sinus
• Superior and middle cerebral veins

The veins of exit are to the superior and inferior petrosal sinuses as well as via the emissary veins through the foramina of the skull. There are also connections with the pterygoid plexus of veins via inferior ophthalmic vein, deep facial vein and emissary veins.

Clinical significance

It is the only anatomic location in the body in which an artery travels completely through a venous structure. If the internal carotid artery ruptures within the cavernous sinus, an arteriovenous fistula is created (more specifically, a carotid-cavernous fistula).

The pituitary gland lies directly below the cavernous sinus. An abnormally growing pituitary adenoma, surrounded on all other sides by the bony walls of the sella turcica, will expand in the direction of least resistance and eventually compress the cavernous sinus. Cavernous sinus syndrome may result from mass effect of these tumors and cause ophthalmoplegia (from compression of the oculomotor nerve, trochlear nerve, and abducens nerve), ophthalmic sensory loss (from compression of the ophthalmic nerve), and maxillary sensory loss (from compression of the maxillary nerve).

Additional images

Veins of orbit.

Pathways in the Ciliary Ganglion.

See also

• Dural venous sinuses

References

1. ↑ Mnemonic at medicalmnemonics.com 1094

External links

• MedEd at Loyola grossanatomy/h_n/cn/dvs/dvs3.htm
• SUNY Figs 28:03-06 - "Venous dural sinuses."
• MeSH Cavernous+Sinus
• Norman/Georgetown lesson2
• UMichAtlas|n3a8p1
• Cavernous+sinus at eMedicine Dictionary

v • d • e Veins (emissary, jugular and others) and sinuses of head and neck (drainage patterns can vary)
to external jugular	retromandibular: maxillary • superficial temporal (anterior auricular) posterior auricular transverse cervical - suprascapular - anterior jugular (jugular venous arch)
to internal jugular	Diploic/brain cerebral: superior • middle • inferior • great • internal (basal, superior thalamostriate) cerebellar: superior • inferior To COS: superior sagittal • straight (inferior sagittal) • occipital To CS: sphenoparietal • intercavernous superior ophthalmic (ethmoidal, central retinal, nasofrontal) • inferior ophthalmic • vorticose veins To IJV: sigmoid: transverse (petrosquamous) • superior petrosal inferior petrosal (basilar plexus, internal auditory veins) - condylar Other common facial • facial (frontal, supraorbital, angular, superior labial, inferior labial, deep facial) • pterygoid plexus lingual (dorsal lingual, deep lingual, sublingual) • pharyngeal • thyroid (superior/superior laryngeal, middle)
to vertebral vein	occipital (occipital)  • suboccipital venous plexus deep cervical
to brachiocephalic	inferior thyroid (inferior laryngeal) - thymic

v • d • e WikiDoc Research Resources for Cavernous sinus
Articles on Cavernous sinus	Most recent articles on Cavernous sinus • Most cited articles on Cavernous sinus • Review articles on Cavernous sinus • Articles on Cavernous sinus in N Eng J Med, Lancet, BMJ
Media (Slides, Video, Images, MP3) on Cavernous sinus	Powerpoint slides on Cavernous sinus • Images of Cavernous sinus • Photos of Cavernous sinus • Podcasts & MP3s on Cavernous sinus • Videos on Cavernous sinus
Evidence Based Medicine Regarding Cavernous sinus	Cochrane Collaboration on Cavernous sinus • Bandolier on Cavernous sinus • TRIP on Cavernous sinus
Cost Effectiveness of Cavernous sinus	Cost Effectiveness of Cavernous sinus
Clinical Trials Involving Cavernous sinus	Ongoing Trials on Cavernous sinus at Clinical Trials.gov • Trial results on Cavernous sinus • Clinical Trials on Cavernous sinus at Google
Guidelines / Policies / Government Resources (FDA/CDC) Regarding Cavernous sinus	US National Guidelines Clearinghouse on Cavernous sinus • NICE Guidance on Cavernous sinus • NHS PRODIGY Guidance • FDA on Cavernous sinus • CDC on Cavernous sinus
Textbook Information on Cavernous sinus	Books and Textbook Information on Cavernous sinus
Pharmacology Resources on Cavernous sinus	Dosing of Cavernous sinus • Drug interactions with Cavernous sinus • Side effects of Cavernous sinus • Allergic reactions to Cavernous sinus • Overdose information on Cavernous sinus • Carcinogenicity information on Cavernous sinus • Cavernous sinus in pregnancy • Pharmacokinetics of Cavernous sinus •
Genetics, Pharmacogenomics, and Proteinomics of Cavernous sinus	Genetics of Cavernous sinus • Pharmacogenomics of Cavernous sinus • Proteomics of Cavernous sinus
Newstories on Cavernous sinus	Cavernous sinus in the news • Be alerted to news on Cavernous sinus • News trends on Cavernous sinus
Commentary on Cavernous sinus	Blogs on Cavernous sinus
Patient Resources on Cavernous sinus	Patient resources on Cavernous sinus • Discussion groups on Cavernous sinus • Patient Handouts on Cavernous sinus • Directions to Hospitals Treating Cavernous sinus • Risk calculators and risk factors for Cavernous sinus
Healthcare Provider Resources on Cavernous sinus	Symptoms of Cavernous sinus • Causes & Risk Factors for Cavernous sinus • Diagnostic studies for Cavernous sinus • Treatment of Cavernous sinus
Continuing Medical Education (CME) Programs on Cavernous sinus	CME Programs on Cavernous sinus
International Resources on Cavernous sinus	Cavernous sinus en Espanol • Cavernous sinus en Francais
Business Resources on Cavernous sinus	Cavernous sinus in the Marketplace • Patents on Cavernous sinus
Informatics Resources on Cavernous sinus	List of terms related to Cavernous sinus

de:Sinus cavernosus