Cranial Cavity

R. Shane Tubbs, MS, PA-C, Ph.D.

Anterior Cranial Fossa

Middle Cranial Fossa

Posterior Cranial Fossa

CRANIAL FOSSAEBones

Frontal

Ethmoid

Sphenoid

Temporal

Parietal

Occipital

Anterior

Middle

Posterior

CN I

CN III CN IV CN V1 CN VI

CN II CN V2

CN V3 CN VII CN VIII

CN IX CN X CN XI CN XII

Extracranial Diploic

Cerebral

Emissary

Dural VenousSinus

emissary v.diploic veins

Tentorium cerebelli

Cranial Venous Sinuses

DURAL VENOUS SINUSES

Cavernous

Superior Petrosal

TransverseStraight

Sigmoid

Basilar

Sphenoparietal

Superior Sagittal Sinus

Confluence

Dural SinusesSuperior Sagittal

Inferior Sagittal

Great Cerebral

Straight

Confluence

Transverse

Sigmoid

Sup/Inf Petrosal

Occipital

CAVERNOUS SINUS & CONTENTS

CN III

CN IV

CN V1

?CN V2

CN VI

Pituitary Gland

Internal Carotid

Superior ophthalmic vein

Inferior ophthalmic vein

Angular vein

Cavernous sinus

Facial vein

Retromandibular vein

Maxillary vein

Deep facial vein

Pterygoid venous plexus

Connections of facial vein

• Directly to cavernous sinus by superior ophthalmic vein or inferior ophthalmic vein

• Indirectly by pterygoid venous plexus by inferior ophthalmic vein or deep facial vein

Danger triangle of face

Normally blood drains from medial angle of the eye, nose and lips – into facial vein

Because facial veins don’t have valves blood can drain into cavernous sinus.

Cerebral Blood Supply

Cerebral Arterial Circle (of Willis)

Anterior Communicating

Anterior Cerebral

Middle Cerebral

Posterior Communicating

InternalCarotids

Posterior Cerebral

Basilar

Vertebral