THE VENOUS SYSTEM OF THE LATERAL SELLAR COMPARTMENT (CAVERNOUS SINUS)- AN HISTOLOGICAL AND EMBRYOLOGICAL STUDY

The microanatomy of the lateral sellar or parasellar venous system (so -called cavernous sinus) is poorly understood and is still passionatel y debated. The exact nature of this venous structure is not yet clear whether it is a plexus or a sinus. In order to understand the anatomy of this area better an embryological and adult microanatomical study w as performed. Serial histological sections of human embryos and fetuse s of well determined ages (6, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12, 14, 30 weeks) were use d. The adult study was performed with microdissections and serial hist ological sections of laterosellar compartments. The analysis of this m aterial confirms that the parasellar venous system is a true sinus, on the embryological and histological point of view. They differ from tr ue veins. As other dural sinuses, it may contain different types of ch annels: from simple venous canal to complex venous plexus. The opinion s of different authors are reviewed in the introduction and discussed with the results.