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Cavernous sinus

The cavernous sinus is one of the dural venous sinuses. It is located on either side of the pituitary fossa and body of the sphenoid bone between the endosteal and visceral layers of the dura

Vascular connections

It receives blood from the

Drainage of the cavernous sinus is via:

Depending on relative pressures the superior ophthalmic veins either drain to or drain the cavernous sinus.

Additionally the cavernous sinuses connect to each other via the intercavernous sinuses.

Nerves

The cavernous sinus transmits multiple cranial nerves to the superior orbital fissure and foramen ovale. These are:

These can be remembered with the mnemonic OTOM CAT

Artery

The internal carotid artery enters the posterior inferior aspect of the sinus, and bends upon itself as the carotid siphon (cavernous segment - C4). Two branches arise from this segment: meningohypophyseal trunk and inferolateral trunk.

The artery is surrounded by a plexus of sympathetic nerves from the superior cervical ganglion.

See also

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