Disclosures
- updated 19 Aug 2024:
Nothing to disclose
Updates to Article Attributes
The diaphragma sellae is one of the folds (or reflections) of of the dura mater. It covers the sella turcica and forms the roof over the pituitary fossa 1.
Gross anatomy
Thediaphragma sellae consists of two horizontal leaves of dura mater on the sphenoid bone. It extends from the tuberculum sellae to the posterior clinoid processes and dorsum sellae and covers the sella turcica and pituitary gland within 1. It is the medial continuation of the superior roof of the cavernous sinus2. It is deficient centrally where the infundibulum of the pituitary gland passes to join the inferior wall of the third ventricle. It does not contain a subarachnoid space.
Relations
Variant anatomy
Radiographic features
CT
MRI
Related pathology
-<p>The<strong> diaphragma sellae</strong> is one of the folds (or reflections) of the<a href="/articles/dura-mater"> dura mater</a>. It covers the <a href="/articles/pituitary-fossa-1">sella turcica</a> and forms the roof over the pituitary fossa <sup>1</sup>.</p><h4>Gross anatomy</h4><p>The<strong> </strong>diaphragma sellae consists of two horizontal leaves of dura mater on the <a href="/articles/sphenoid-bone">sphenoid bone</a>. It extends from the <a href="/articles/tuberculum-sellae">tuberculum sellae</a> to the posterior clinoid processes and <a href="/articles/dorsum-sellae">dorsum sellae</a> and covers the sella turcica and <a href="/articles/pituitary-gland">pituitary gland</a> within <sup>1</sup>. It is the medial continuation of the superior roof of the <a href="/articles/cavernous-sinus">cavernous sinus</a> <sup>2</sup>. It is deficient centrally where the <a href="/articles/pituitary-stalk">infundibulum </a>of the pituitary gland passes to join the inferior wall of the <a href="/articles/third-ventricle">third ventricle</a>. It does not contain a <a href="/articles/subarachnoid-space">subarachnoid space</a>. </p><h5>Relations</h5><ul>-<li>superiorly: <a href="/articles/optic-chiasm">optic chiasm</a>-</li>-<li>inferiorly: pituitary gland in the sella turcica, anterior and posterior <a href="/articles/intercavernous-sinus">intercavernous sinuses</a> within the layers of the diaphragma sellae <sup>3</sup>-</li>-</ul><h4>Variant anatomy</h4><ul><li>defects of 5 mm or more in up to 40% <sup>4</sup> (resulting in <a href="/articles/empty-sella">empty sella sign</a>)</li></ul><h4>Radiographic features</h4><h5>CT</h5><ul>-<li>constriction of the diaphragma sellae causing a "<a href="/articles/snowman-sign-total-anomalous-pulmonary-venous-return-1">snowman appearance</a>" of mass lesions extending into or from the pituitary fossa</li>-<li>post contrast enhancement is a normal feature</li>- +<p>The<strong> diaphragma sellae</strong> is one of the folds (or reflections) of the<a href="/articles/dura-mater"> dura mater</a>. It covers the <a href="/articles/pituitary-fossa-1">sella turcica</a> and forms the roof over the pituitary fossa <sup>1</sup>.</p><h4>Gross anatomy</h4><p>The<strong> </strong>diaphragma sellae consists of two horizontal leaves of dura mater on the <a href="/articles/sphenoid-bone">sphenoid bone</a>. It extends from the <a href="/articles/tuberculum-sellae">tuberculum sellae</a> to the posterior clinoid processes and <a href="/articles/dorsum-sellae">dorsum sellae</a> and covers the sella turcica and <a href="/articles/pituitary-gland">pituitary gland</a> within <sup>1</sup>. It is the medial continuation of the superior roof of the <a href="/articles/cavernous-sinus">cavernous sinus</a> <sup>2</sup>. It is deficient centrally where the <a href="/articles/pituitary-stalk">infundibulum </a>of the pituitary gland passes to join the inferior wall of the <a href="/articles/third-ventricle">third ventricle</a>. It does not contain a <a href="/articles/subarachnoid-space">subarachnoid space</a>. </p><h5>Relations</h5><ul>
- +<li><p>superiorly: <a href="/articles/optic-chiasm">optic chiasm</a></p></li>
- +<li><p>inferiorly: pituitary gland in the sella turcica, anterior and posterior <a href="/articles/intercavernous-sinus">intercavernous sinuses</a> within the layers of the diaphragma sellae <sup>3</sup></p></li>
- +</ul><h4>Variant anatomy</h4><ul><li><p>defects of 5 mm or more in up to 40% <sup>4</sup> (resulting in <a href="/articles/empty-sella">empty sella sign</a>)</p></li></ul><h4>Radiographic features</h4><h5>CT</h5><ul>
- +<li><p>constriction of the diaphragma sellae causing a "<a href="/articles/snowman-sign-pituitary-macroadenoma-1" title="Snowman sign (pituitary macroadenoma)">snowman appearance</a>" of mass lesions extending into or from the pituitary fossa</p></li>
- +<li><p>post contrast enhancement is a normal feature</p></li>
-<li>more easily appreciable on MRI sequences with long TR or short TE</li>-<li>enhancement post contrast is a normal feature</li>- +<li><p>more easily appreciable on MRI sequences with long TR or short TE</p></li>
- +<li><p>enhancement post contrast is a normal feature</p></li>
-<li><a href="/articles/meningioma">meningioma</a></li>-<li>dural metasteses</li>-<li><a href="/articles/normal-intracranial-calcifications">normal intracranial calcifications</a></li>- +<li><p><a href="/articles/meningioma">meningioma</a></p></li>
- +<li><p>dural metasteses</p></li>
- +<li><p><a href="/articles/normal-intracranial-calcifications">normal intracranial calcifications</a></p></li>
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