The cavernous sinus is a pair of venous channels located on each side of the body of the sphenoid bone in the middle cranial fossa. It is approximately 2 cm long and 1 cm wide. Several important structures pass through or are located within the cavernous sinus, including the internal carotid artery, cranial nerves III, IV, V1, and VI, and the inferior hypophyseal arteries. The cavernous sinus drains into various venous channels including the superior and inferior petrosal sinuses, which connect to the transverse sinus and internal jugular vein. Cavernous sinus thrombosis is a potential complication caused by sepsis that can spread from the face or paranasal sinuses,

3. 2 cms long 1 cm wide
Situated in middle cranial fossa on the sides of
body
of sphenoid
Anterior – sup. Orbital fissure
Posterior - Apex of petrous temp. bone
Floor & medial wall – endosteal layer of dura
Roof & lateral Wall - meningeal layer of dura
CAVERNOUS SINUS

4. Structure passing through
1. Int. carotid surrounded by venous and
sympathetic plexuses
2. Abducent N. (Inf. lat. to carotid art.)
Structures in lateral wall
1. Oculomotor N.
2. Trcochlear N.
3. Ophthalmic N.
4. Maxillary N.

5. External relations
1. Above – Optic chiasma, backward and upward
turn of carotid – carotid siphon
2. Medial – Hypophysis cerebri
3. Lateral – Posterolateral part cavumtrigeminale
containing ganglion
4. Below - Shenoid sinus

6. Tributaries
1. Sup. Ophthalmic vein
2. Branch of Inf. Ophthalmic vein
3. Central vein of retina
4. Superficial middle cererbal vein
5. Inferior cerebral veins
6. Sphenoparietal sinus
7. Anterior / Frontal trunk of middle meningeal vein

7. Communications
1. Transverse sinus via Sup. petrosal sinus
2. Int. Jugular vein through inf. petrosal sinus
3. Pterygoid venous plexus through emissary veins
- foramen ovale, spinosum and lacerum
4. Facial vein through sup. Ophthalmic vein & angular
vein or pterygoid venous plexus and deep facial vein
5. Opp. Cavernous sinus through ant / post
intercavernous sinuses
6. Sup. Sag. Sinus through Middle cerebral vein and
vein & sup. Anastomotic vein

8. Sphenoparietal
Cavernous
Ant. intercavernous
Sup. petrosal
Inf. petrosal
Transverse
Sigmoid
Occipital

16. Pituitary gland
3
4
V.1
V.2
Sphen. Air sinus
6
Int.Car.art.
Cavern. Sinus

18. Int. carotid art.Infundibulum
Hypophysis
Oculomotor
Trochlear
Ophthalmic
Maxillary
Int. carotid
Mandibular
Abducent

20. Cavernous sinus thrombosis

21. Cavernous sinus thrombosis

22. Cavernous sinus thrombosis
Cause: Sepsis dangerous area of face,
paranasal sinuses,
nasal cavities
Neurological – severe pain eye anf forehead
Ophthalmic n.
Paralysis of ocular muscles –
- 3rd
, 4th
and 6th
n.
Venous block – oedema of eye lids, cornea, nose
exophthalmos
Injury causing communication between cavernous
sinus and carotid leads to pulsating exophthalmos

23. Sinogram

24. Carotid siphon