Department of Neurosurgery, Istanbul Medical Faculty, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey.
World Neurosurg. 2011 Sep-Oct;76(3-4):335-41; discussion 266-7. doi: 10.1016/j.wneu.2011.03.037.
To review the microsurgical anatomy of Meckel's cave, a detailed knowledge of which is a prerequisite to devising an appropriate surgical strategy and performing successful surgery.
The microsurgical anatomy of Meckel's cave was studied under an operating microscope in 15 human cadaver heads (30 sides). To understand the meningeal architecture and the cross-sectional anatomy of Meckel's cave, serial histologic sections were made in an additional adult human cadaver specimen.
Meckel's cave is a natural mouth-shaped aperture connecting with the posterior fossa that is located in the medial portion of the middle cranial fossa. The cave extends forward similar to an open-ended three-fingered glove and provides a channel for the rootlets of the trigeminal nerve; the trigeminal ganglion; and the ophthalmic (cranial nerve V(1)), maxillary (cranial nerve V(2)), and mandibular (cranial nerve V(3)) divisions until they reach their respective foramina. The average height of this oval mouth was found to be 4.2 mm (range 3-5 mm) and the average width was 7.6 mm (range 6-8 mm). The mouth of Meckel's cave was located 12 mm (range 10-15 mm) superior and medial to the internal acoustic meatus and 6.5 mm (range 5-8 mm) superior and medial to the dural point of entrance of the nervus abducens and 20 mm (range 18-23 mm) medial to the arcuate eminence.
Detailed and sound knowledge of the microsurgical anatomy of Meckel's cave, which borders on surgically important structures, such as the internal carotid artery and cavernous sinus, is essential to performing precise microneurosurgery in this region. This study describes the complex anatomy of Meckel's cave and surrounding structures to provide the knowledge needed to devise a more complete surgical strategy and establish accurate orientation during the surgical procedure.
回顾 Meckel 氏腔的显微解剖结构，这是制定合适手术策略和成功实施手术的前提。
在 15 个人体头颅标本（30 侧）上，通过手术显微镜对 Meckel 氏腔的显微解剖结构进行了研究。为了了解脑膜结构和 Meckel 氏腔的横断解剖结构，在另一个成人尸体标本上进行了连续的组织学切片。
Meckel 氏腔是一个连接颅后窝的自然口形孔，位于中颅窝的内侧部分。该腔向前延伸，类似于一个无指端的三指手套，为三叉神经根、三叉神经节以及眼神经（颅神经 V(1)）、上颌神经（颅神经 V(2)）和下颌神经（颅神经 V(3)）提供了一个通道，直到它们到达各自的孔。该椭圆形口的平均高度为 4.2mm（范围 3-5mm），平均宽度为 7.6mm（范围 6-8mm）。 Meckel 氏腔的口位于内听道上方和内侧 12mm（范围 10-15mm）处，外展神经硬脑膜入口点上方和内侧 6.5mm（范围 5-8mm）处，弓状隆起内侧 20mm（范围 18-23mm）处。
详细而准确地了解 Meckel 氏腔的显微解剖结构毗邻重要的手术结构，如颈内动脉和海绵窦，对于在该区域进行精确的微神经外科手术至关重要。本研究描述了 Meckel 氏腔及其周围结构的复杂解剖结构，为制定更完整的手术策略和在手术过程中建立准确的定位提供了必要的知识。
