On posterior and inferior aspects of brain drain into straight, transverse, and superior petrosal sinuses
Thin-walled and valveless
Superior cerebellar veins to straight, transverse, and superior petrosal sinuses
From dural venous sinuses to internal jugular veinDural infoldings
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Created by internal meningeal layer of dura mater
Form septa that separate regions of the brain from other regions
Falx cerebri
Largest of infoldings
Lies in longitudinal fissure
Tentorium cerebelli
Second largest infolding
Crescent-shaped fold separating cerebral hemispheres from cerebellum
Attaches to
Anteriorly to clinoid processes of sphenoid
Laterally to petrous part of temporal bone
Posteriorly and laterally to internal occipital and parietal bones
Falx cerebri, which suspends tentorium
Tentorial notch
Gap in anterior border
Allows for passage of brain stem
Diaphragma sellae
Circular sheet of dura
Suspended between anterior and posterior clinoid processes
Contains gap for passage of pituitary stalk and accompanying veinsDural venous sinuses
Endothelium lined channels between periosteal and meningeal layers of the dura
Thick-walled and valveless
Formed where dura attaches
Confluence of sinuses: where superior sagittal, straight, occipital, and transverse sinuses meet at internal occipital protuberance
Superior sagittal sinus
From crista galli to confluence of sinuses
Communicates via slit-like openings with lateral venous lacunae
Inferior sagittal sinus: from crista galli to straight sinus
Straight sinus: formed by union of inferior sagittal sinus and great cerebral vein (of Galen)
Transverse sinus
Drains confluence of sinuses
Runs along posterolateral attachment of tentorium cerebelli
Becomes sigmoid sinus
Sigmoid sinus
Traverses jugular foramen
Becomes internal jugular vein
Occipital sinus: at attached border of cerebellar falx
Cavernous sinus
On either side of sella turcica
Is composed of a network of thin, valveless vein
Sinuses communicate with each other via intercavernous sinuses
Receives blood from
Superior and inferior ophthalmic veins
Superficial middle cerebral vein
Sphenoparietal sinus
Contains
Internal carotid artery
Oculomotor nerve (CN III)
Trochlear nerve (CN IV)
V 1 division of trigeminal nerve (CN V)
Abducent nerve (CN VI)
Sympathetic plexus around artery
Superior petrosal sinus: from posterior ends of cavernous sinuses to transverse sinuses
Inferior petrosal sinus: from posterior ends of cavernous sinuses to internal jugular vein
Emissary veins connect dural sinuses with veins outside the cranium