Cerebral Sinus

Aka: Cerebral Sinus, Cranial Sinus, Superior Sagittal Sinus, Transverse Sinus, Straight Sinus, Sigmoid Sinus, Cerebral Venous Sinus

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II. Definitions

  1. Cerebral Sinus
    1. Cerebral Sinuses are the venous return of the Central Nervous System (CNS)
    2. Venous channels (sinuses) drain ultimately into the Jugular Vein

III. Background

  1. Images
    1. neuroVenousSinus.png
    2. cnsVenousSinus.jpg
  2. Cerebrospinal fluid drainage
    1. CSF starts in the Cerebral Ventricles (produced in Choroid plexus of Lateral Ventricles)
    2. CSF enters the sinuses via the arachnoid villi of the Superior Sagittal Sinus, Straight Sinus and occipital sinus
    3. CSF ultimately enters Transverse Sinuses and drains into the bilateral internal Jugular Veins
  3. Venous sinuses
    1. Encased in the dura matter (outer Meninges)
    2. Separated from the arteries within the pia matter (inner Meninges) by the intervening arachnoid layer
    3. .

IV. Anatomy: Major Cerebral Sinuses

  1. Superior Sagittal Sinus
    1. Drains cerebrospinal fluid
    2. Saggital sinus thrombosis may occur (presenting with severe Headache)
  2. Cavernous Sinus
    1. Drains venous blood from the eye
    2. May act as a conduit for spreading infection intracranially from Orbital Cellulitis, other serious facial infections
  3. Transverse Sinus
    1. Runs in the vicinity of the ear (with risk of contiguious spread from inner ear infections)

V. Anatomy: Other Cerebral Sinuses

  1. Inferior Sagittal Sinus
    1. Contained in the falx cerebri
  2. Straight Sinus
    1. Contained in the tentorium cerebelli

VI. Pathophysiology

  1. Venous Sinus Thrombosis
    1. As with other veins, venous thrombosis may affect cerebral veins
    2. Presents with Headache, Vision change and stroke-like symptoms
  2. Cavernous Sinus Complications
    1. Risk of infection (spread from orbital veins), compression (e.g. Pituitary Adenoma) and thrombosis
    2. Risk of neurovascular injury or compression
      1. Contains Internal Carotid Artery, Cranial Nerves 2, 4, 5 and 6 within a 1-2 cm diameter region

VII. References

  1. Goldberg (2014) Clinical Neuroanatomy, Medmaster, p. 6-15
  2. Netter (1997) Atlas Human Anatomy, ICON Learning, p. 97-98

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