ANATOMIC BASIS OF THE INFRATEMPORAL APPROACH OF THE JUGULAR FORAMEN

A description of the lateral infratemporal approach of the jugular for amen (JF) was performed according to bone data, anatomico-radiologic r elationships and microsurgical and endoscopic dissection: the jugular foramen is an anteromedial fissure of the petro-occipital fissure. The location of the exocranial facial nerve and the skeletonization of th e third portion of the facial canal represents the main obstacle. A re tro-facial dissection, then a medio-facial sub-labyrinthine dissection , while displacing the sigmoid sinus, should avoid a systematic divers ion of the nerve, which is the cause of severe paralysis. The broad ap proach of the ''pars nervosa'' of the jugular foramen demands the cont rol of the vertical part of the carotid canal. The lateral infratempor al approach of the jugular foramen is necessary for the treatment of s pecific lesions of the area (chemodectoma, neurinoma), which is invade d contiguously (carcinoma).