The cavernous sinus is one of the venous sinuses of the dura mater. This is an important intracranial structure - various cranial nerves or vital blood vessels are associated with it. Usually we don't realize that we have it, or where it is. Cavernous sinus diseases are relatively rare and include, for example, cavernous sinus thrombosis or cavernous sinusitis.

Cavernous sinusbelongs to the group of venous sinuses of the dura mater, i.e. reservoirs where blood accumulates inside the human skull. Under normal conditions, every human has two cavernous sinuses - right and left.

Cavernous sinus: structure

The cavernous sinus is about 2 cm long and 1 cm wide and it is a kind of cavity which is separated by numerous trabeculae - for this reason it resembles a sponge in its cross-section. These trabeculae formed as a result of the confluence of many different veins, the walls of which eventually atrophied.

The cavernous sinus is triangular in shape and therefore has three sides:

  • upper, formed by the diaphragm of the Turkish saddle,
  • medial, which forms the dura mater projection,
  • lateral, connected with the endosseous sphenoid bone.

Cavernous sinus: location

The cavernous sinus extends anteriorly from the posterior orbital fissure (more precisely, from the superior orbital fissure) to the rocky portion of the temporal bone. Generally, this structure is located on both sides of the Turkish saddle. These sinuses are adjacent to the pituitary gland - this organ is in contact with the medial walls of the cavernous sinuses.

Cavernous sinus: content

The cavernous sinus is a special intracranial structure because of how many different important elements pass through it or in its vicinity. One of the most important cerebral vessels related to the cavernous sinus is the internal carotid artery - it enters it through the diaphragm of the Turkish saddle, runs in its lumen, and finally leaves the sinus through its upper wall.

The internal carotid artery in this case is accompanied by the sympathetic plexus that surrounds it. It is worth noting here that this is a unique place for the entire human body - there is no other such location in the human body,where the arterial vessel runs directly through the typically venous structure.

The cavernous sinus is also associated with many important nerve fibers. They have a connection with it:

  • abductor nerve in the cavernous sinus,
  • oculomotor, block, and optic and maxillary nerves (branches of the trigeminal nerve) that run within the lateral wall of the cavernous sinus.

It is also worth mentioning the trigeminal ganglion, which is located in the area of ​​the lateral wall of the cavernous sinus.

Cavernous sinus: blood vessels

One blood vessel related to the cavernous sinus - the internal carotid artery - has been mentioned earlier. The most important, however, for the function performed by this structure are the venous vessels. Many different veins enter the cavernous sinus, including:

  • superior ophthalmic vein,
  • inferior ophthalmic vein (sometimes this vein goes directly into the cavernous sinus, and sometimes into the superior ophthalmic vein),
  • central vein of the retina,
  • dural veins,
  • veins of the pituitary gland,
  • veins of the sphenoid bone.

In addition to the blood from the veins mentioned above, blood from the spheno-parietal sinus also goes to the cavernous sinus.

Blood flows into the cavernous sinus, but also drains from it - from this structure, venous blood is directed to the upper rocky sinus and to the lower rocky sinus.

It is worth mentioning here that both cavernous sinuses are also connected with themselves - this is done through the intercavernal veins.

Cavernous sinus: diseases

Hardly anyone is aware of the fact that they have such structures as cavernous sinuses - the situation changes diametrically, however, when a given person has a pathological process involving these structures. Cavernous sinus diseases are distinguished by literally a few, but most of them can be life-threatening.

One problem with cavernous sinus is the carotid cavernous fistula. It may occur when the section of the internal carotid artery running through the cavernous sinus is damaged.

The disease may develop symptoms such as swelling and congestion of the eyeball and protruding eyes, in addition - when the oculomotor, block and abductive nerves are damaged - drooping eyelids or disturbances in the mobility of the eyeball may also appear.

Another disease of the cavernous sinus may be its inflammation. This problem may arise due to inflammationparanasal sinuses, but also in connection with the squeezing of skin lesions within a special place on the face, which is referred to as the death triangle.

The symptoms of cavernous sinusitis can be varied and include less serious ailments, such as nausea, vomiting, bulging eyes and headaches, as well as definitely more serious symptoms, such as visual disturbances or disturbed consciousness.

Basically, the most dangerous disease of this structure is cavernous sinus thrombosis. Luckily, it is rarely met - according to statistics, it is responsible for less than 1% of strokes.

The risk factors for cavernous sinus thrombosis include: infections, and it can be manifested by headaches, vomiting, visual disturbances (e.g. in the form of receiving a double image) or disturbance of the mobility of the eyeball (which may result from paralysis of the nerves controlling eye movements, i.e. block nerves, abduction nerves and oculomotor nerves).

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Category:

Anatomy