Corpus: Confluence of sinuses
from Latin: confluere - to flow together, sinus - bay
Synonym: torcular herophili, torcula
1. Definition
The confluence of sinuses (confluens sinuum) is a venous cavity located beneath the attachment site of the falx cerebri (internal occipital protuberance) at the occipital pole of the brain.
2. Anatomy
The confluence of sinuses is bordered by the falx cerebri and the layers of the tentorium cerebelli. It collects venous blood from the superior sagittal sinus, straight sinus, and occipital sinus. The blood then flows from the confluence through the paired transverse sinuses into the sigmoid sinuses and finally into the internal jugular veins. There are numerous normal variations in its structure.