The superficial sylvian vein in humans: with special reference to its termination.

A study of the termination of the superficial middle cerebral vein in 140 human specimens revealed that in 80 cranial cavities (51.1%) the vein drained into both the sphenoparietal sinuses, in nine cranial cavities (6.4%) into the sphenoparietal and cavernous sinuses, and in 19 cranial cavities (13.6%) into the sphenoparietal sinuses and middle meningeal veins. In 20 cranial cavities (14.3%) the vein drained into the cavernous sinuses alone and in eight cranial cavities (5.7%) it drained into the cavernous sinuses and middle meningeal veins. In one cranial cavity (0.71%) it drained into the vein in the foramen lacerum and the sphenoparietal sinus, in one cranial cavity (0.71%) into the sphenoparietal sinus and the superior petrosal sinus, in one cranial cavity (0.71%) into the middle meningeal veins on either side, and in another cranial cavity (0.71%) into the superior sagittal sinus, a finding which has not been reported in the past. The presence of an uncal vein draining the medial surface of the temporal lobe was observed occasionally (5.7%) in this study. A part of the superficial middle cerebral vein and sphenoparietal sinus in the form of a vein running a short course between the two layers of the lateral wall of the cavernous sinus is an observation previously not reported. This should be of value to neurosurgeons in the approach to the internal carotid artery through Parkinson's triangle.