The cavernous sinus: an anatomical survey.

An anatomical survey of the cavernous sinus in 16 adult cadavera has been made, based on serial sections cut at 15 micron in the coronal and sagittal planes. Certain aspects of the survey are of particular interest: (1) the oculomotor, trochlear, and ophthalmic nerves do not run in the lateral dural wall of the cavernous sinus; (2) venous sinuses of the cavernous sinus flow freely in a medial direction both anterior and posterior to the dorsum sellae; (3) trabeculae in the form of collections of fine areolar tissue extend between the vascular and neural elements. The amount present is variable; (4) the horizontal section of the internal carotid artery within the cavernous sinus runs a variable course in relation to the hypophysis and the lateral dural wall; (5) the oculomotor nerve lies within a meningeal envelope as far anteriorly as the tip of the anterior clinoid process; (6) the ophthalmic nerve communicates with the oculomotor, trochlear, and abducent nerves in the anterior part of the cavernous sinus; (7) the abducent nerve may lie within a meningeal envelope in the posterior part of the cavernous sinus; (8) the greater part of the sympathetic nerve plexus around the vertical part of the internal carotid artery passes into the abducent and ophthalmic nerves. Sympathetic fibres pass into the sheaths surrounding the oculomotor and trochlear nerves. Sympathetic ganglia are suspended from the ophthalmic nerve.