Osseous anatomy of the sellar region. View from cranial and posterior of the middle cranial fossa and 2 the inner skull base. 10 5 1 1 Anterior clinoid process 4 2 Sphenoid bone 3 9 3 Posterior clinoid process 4 Sella turcica 7 6 8 5 Optic canal 6 Clivus 13 7 Pyramid apex 8 Foramen ovale 9 Foramen rotundum 11 10 Superior orbital fi ssure 12 11 Jugular foramen 12 Foramen magnum 13 Petroclival fi ssure

Osseous and venous anatomy of the sellar region. 4 Venous tributaries and drainage of the cavernous sinus. 1 2 14 1 Sphenoparietal sinus 12 2 Sylvian vein 13 3 Emissary vein of the foramen rotundum 3 5 4 Superior ophthalmic vein 5 Uncal vein 6 8 11 6 Venous plexus of the foramen ovale 7 Superior petrosal sinus 7 8 Inferior petrosal sinus (Pars verticalis) 9 Inferior petrosal sinus (Pars horizontalis) 9 10 Sigmoid sinus 11 Basilar plexus 10 12 Cavernous sinus (anterius) 13 Cavernous sinus (posterius) 14 Intercavernous sinus (circularis, coro- narius)

The complex anatomy of the cavernous sinus and its adjacent venous structures are shown. The main tributaries are the superior ophthalmic vein, sphenoparietal sinus, Sylvian Vein (Superfi cial middle cerebral vein) and the uncal vein. The Sylvian vein drains into the sphenoparietal sinus or directly into the venous plexus of the foramen ovale. The most important draining vasculature is the plexus of the forman ovale which is anastomosed with the pterygoid plexus, the inferior petrosal sinus and the superior petrosal sinus. The course of the inferior petrosal sinus to the jugular foramen within the petroclival fi ssure and the course of the superior petrosal sinus to the sigmoid sinus along the petrous ridge are well identifi able. Because of its relatively straight and short course, the inferior petrosal sinus represents the most suitable venous approach to the cavernous sinus.

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