Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-dlnhk Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-22T23:49:37.804Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Anatomical compartments of the parasellar region: adipose tissue bodies represent intracranial continuations of extracranial spaces

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 August 1997

WOLFGANG J. WENINGER
Affiliation:
Department of Anatomy, University of Vienna, Austria
JOHANNES STREICHER
Affiliation:
Department of Anatomy, University of Vienna, Austria
GERD B. MÜLLER
Affiliation:
Department of Anatomy, University of Vienna, Austria
Get access

Abstract

The cavernous sinus is traditionally described as a single anatomical compartment that contains cranial nerves, blood vessels, and connective tissue. A detailed analysis of 45 infant and 4 fetal parasellar regions shows that this view must be modified. The spatial arrangement, the topographic relations, and the expansion of the adipose and connective tissue spaces were analysed and reconstructed 3-dimensionally on a computer. It is shown that 3 different anatomical compartments, which are strictly demarcated by connective tissue, compose the parasellar region of infants. Two represent intracranial continuations of extracranial tissue spaces. The 3rd compartment corresponds to the so-called ‘cavernous sinus’ of the adult. Each of the 3 compartments contains characteristic adipose tissue bodies. Because the cavernous sinus represents only one compartment of the area, we propose to use the term ‘parasellar region’ to designate the entire anatomical region on either side of the sella turcica.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
© Anatomical Society of Great Britain and Ireland 1997

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)