Abstract
Introduction: Knowledge of the normal anatomical variations of venous sinuses is important for
clinicians and radiologist for investigations and diagnosing various pathologies of
dural venous sinuses like thrombosis, embolism and fistula etc. The detailed morphometric
study of dural venous sinuses is missing in academic literature. Although few radiological
studies have been done in the past but direct anatomical proof in the form of cadaveric
study of dural venous sinuses is not available in the literature. Methods: The present study involved the examination of superior sagittal sinus, sigmoid sinus,
transverse sinus, straight sinus and occipital sinus in 12 dura maters of formaldehyde
fixed cadavers. The length and width (at midpoint and near confluences) of these sinuses
and width of confluences were measured with venire callipers. Results: Some remarkable findings were observed in this study. It was established that the
width of torcular herophilus is directly proportional to length of superior sagittal
sinus and is also directly proportional to length of right sigmoid sinus. Torcular
herophilus is situated away from right sigmoid sinus with intervening right transverse
sinus and still its width is directly proportional to length of right sigmoid sinus.
Also it was observed that the length of straight sinus was directly proportional to
length of right transverse sinus. Right sigmoid sinus is a continuation of right transverse
sinus but its width increases with increase in width of left transverse sinus. Length
of left sigmoid sinus was directly proportional to length of right but width of left sigmoid sinus and vice a versa. Width of left sigmoid sinus is directly
proportional to the length of right and left sigmoid sinus. Conclusion: It is extrapolated that this study will be valuable to neurosurgeons for preoperative
planning and clinicians and radiologist to prevent misdiagnosis.
Keywords
dura mater - dural venous sinuses - crista galli - torcular herophilus - venography
