The superior petrosal sinus is one of the
dural venous sinuses
The dural venous sinuses (also called dural sinuses, cerebral sinuses, or cranial sinuses) are venous channels found between the endosteal and meningeal layers of dura mater in the brain. They receive blood from the cerebral veins, receive cereb ...
located beneath the
brain
A brain is an organ that serves as the center of the nervous system in all vertebrate and most invertebrate animals. It is located in the head, usually close to the sensory organs for senses such as vision. It is the most complex organ in a v ...
. It receives blood from the
cavernous sinus
The cavernous sinus within the human head is one of the dural venous sinuses creating a cavity called the lateral sellar compartment bordered by the temporal bone of the skull and the sphenoid bone, lateral to the sella turcica.
Structure
The cave ...
and passes backward and laterally to drain into the
transverse sinus
The transverse sinuses (left and right lateral sinuses), within the human head, are two areas beneath the brain which allow blood to drain from the back of the head. They run laterally in a groove along the interior surface of the occipital bone. ...
. The sinus receives superior petrosal veins, some
cerebellar veins
The cerebellar veins are veins which drain the cerebellum. They consist of the superior cerebellar veins and the inferior cerebellar veins (dorsal cerebellar veins). The superior cerebellar veins drain to the straight sinus and the internal cere ...
, some
inferior cerebral veins
The inferior cerebral veins are veins that drain the undersurface of the cerebral hemispheres and empty into the cavernous and transverse sinuses.
Those on the orbital surface of the frontal lobe join the superior cerebral veins, and through these ...
, and veins from the
tympanic cavity
The tympanic cavity is a small cavity surrounding the bones of the middle ear. Within it sit the ossicles, three small bones that transmit vibrations used in the detection of sound.
Structure
On its lateral surface, it abuts the external auditory ...
. They may be affected by
arteriovenous malformation
Arteriovenous malformation is an abnormal connection between arteries and veins, bypassing the capillary system. This vascular anomaly is widely known because of its occurrence in the central nervous system (usually cerebral AVM), but can appea ...
or
arteriovenous fistula
An arteriovenous fistula is an abnormal connection or passageway between an artery and a vein. It may be congenital, surgically created for hemodialysis treatments, or acquired due to pathologic process, such as trauma or erosion of an arterial ...
, usually treated with
surgery
Surgery ''cheirourgikē'' (composed of χείρ, "hand", and ἔργον, "work"), via la, chirurgiae, meaning "hand work". is a medical specialty that uses operative manual and instrumental techniques on a person to investigate or treat a pat ...
.
Structure
The superior petrosal sinus is located beneath the brain. It originates from the
cavernous sinus
The cavernous sinus within the human head is one of the dural venous sinuses creating a cavity called the lateral sellar compartment bordered by the temporal bone of the skull and the sphenoid bone, lateral to the sella turcica.
Structure
The cave ...
. It passes backward and laterally to drain into the
transverse sinus
The transverse sinuses (left and right lateral sinuses), within the human head, are two areas beneath the brain which allow blood to drain from the back of the head. They run laterally in a groove along the interior surface of the occipital bone. ...
.
The sinus runs in the attached margin of the
tentorium cerebelli
The cerebellar tentorium or tentorium cerebelli (Latin for "tent of the cerebellum") is an extension of the dura mater that separates the cerebellum from the inferior portion of the occipital lobes.
Structure
The cerebellar tentorium is an arche ...
, in a groove in the petrous part of the temporal bone formed by the sinus itself - the superior petrosal sulcus.
Function
The superior petrosal sinus drains many veins of the brain, including superior petrosal veins,
some
cerebellar veins
The cerebellar veins are veins which drain the cerebellum. They consist of the superior cerebellar veins and the inferior cerebellar veins (dorsal cerebellar veins). The superior cerebellar veins drain to the straight sinus and the internal cere ...
, some
inferior cerebral veins
The inferior cerebral veins are veins that drain the undersurface of the cerebral hemispheres and empty into the cavernous and transverse sinuses.
Those on the orbital surface of the frontal lobe join the superior cerebral veins, and through these ...
, and veins from the
tympanic cavity
The tympanic cavity is a small cavity surrounding the bones of the middle ear. Within it sit the ossicles, three small bones that transmit vibrations used in the detection of sound.
Structure
On its lateral surface, it abuts the external auditory ...
.
Clinical significance
The superior petrosal sinus may be affected by an
arteriovenous malformation
Arteriovenous malformation is an abnormal connection between arteries and veins, bypassing the capillary system. This vascular anomaly is widely known because of its occurrence in the central nervous system (usually cerebral AVM), but can appea ...
or
arteriovenous fistula
An arteriovenous fistula is an abnormal connection or passageway between an artery and a vein. It may be congenital, surgically created for hemodialysis treatments, or acquired due to pathologic process, such as trauma or erosion of an arterial ...
.
Most do not resolve by themselves.
They may be treated with
endovascular surgery
Vascular surgery is a surgical subspecialty in which diseases of the vascular system, or arteries, veins and lymphatic circulation, are managed by medical therapy, minimally-invasive catheter procedures and surgical reconstruction. The specialty ...
or
open surgery
Minimally invasive procedures (also known as minimally invasive surgeries) encompass surgical techniques that limit the size of incisions needed, thereby reducing wound healing time, associated pain, and risk of infection. Surgery by definition ...
.
Additional images
File:Superior petrosal sinus.jpg, Superior petrosal sinus
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Superior Petrosal Sinus
Veins of the head and neck