Corpus: Cavernous sinus: Unterschied zwischen den Versionen

The cavernous sinus is a venous structure in the brain that is part of the dura mater sinuses. It is located on both sides of the sella turcica.

The cavernous sinus receives blood from the sphenoparietal sinus, the superior ophthalmic vein, and the inferior ophthalmic vein. Occasionally, it also receives blood from the superficial cerebral vein. It drains through the inferior petrosal sinus into the internal jugular vein.

The following structures run within the lateral wall of the cavernous sinus:

• Oculomotor nerve (cranial nerve III)
• Trochlear nerve (cranial nerve IV)
• Ophthalmic nerve (cranial nerve V1)
• Maxillary nerve (cranial nerve V2)

Additionally, it is clinically significant that the following structures pass through the cavernous sinus:

• Abducens nerve (cranial nerve VI)
• Internal carotid artery

The spread of bacterial pathogens through the bloodstream into the cavernous sinus (e.g., from skin injuries in the upper lip area) can result in cavernous sinus thrombosis.

An aneurysm of the internal carotid artery can cause blood to flow under high pressure into the cavernous sinus, leading to a carotid-cavernous sinus fistula. Symptoms of this condition include severely swollen eye sockets, inability to open the eyelids, and a forward-pulsating eyeball (exophthalmos).