Cavernous sinus

Cavernous sinus

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Venous connections

It receives tributaries from:
*Superior and inferior ophthalmic veins
*Sphenoparietal sinus
*Superficial 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 (mostly through foramen ovale).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 between the two paired cavernous sinuses. An abnormally growing pituitary adenoma, sitting on the bony 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).

Because of its connections with the facial vein via the superior ophthalmic vein, it is possible to get infections in the cavernous sinus from an external facial injury. This is especially likely as the facial vein has no valves, allowing blood to pass in both directions. In patients with thrombophlebitis of the facial vein, pieces of the clot may break off and enter the cavernous sinus, and from there the infection may spread to the dural venous sinuses. Infections may also be introduced by facial lacerations and by bursting pimples in the areas drained by the facial vein. [Kumar, P. & Clark, M. Clinical Medicine, 6th ed. Londonn: W.B. Saunders; 2005.]


=Additional

ee also

* Dural venous sinuses

References

External links

*
* - "Venous dural sinuses."
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