1.6 The Venous Drainage of the Brain

Question 1

What do the series of Veins, draining the Brain, drain into?

Answer 1

Dural Venous Sinuses

Question 2

Where are the Dural Venous Sinuses located?

Answer 2

Between the Periosteum and the Cranial Dura

Question 3

What are the 2 groups the Cerebral Veins can be divided into?

Answer 3

1. Superficial

2. Deep

Question 4

Which of the Deep group of Veins can be found on Wet Specimens?

Answer 4

The Great Cerebral Vein (of Galen)

Question 5

What are the names of the Sinuses in the Brain?

Answer 5

1. Superior Sagittal Sinus
2. Inferior Sagittal Sinus
3. Cavernous Sinus
4. Superior Petrosal Sinus
5. Inferior Petrosal Sinus
6. Straight Sinus
7. Transverse Sinus
8. Sigmoid Sinus

Question 6

What are the names of the Deep Veins in the Brain

Answer 6

1. Superior Ophthalmic Vein
2. Middle Cerebral Vein
3. Great Cerebral Vein
4. Vein of Trolard

Question 7

What does the Vein of Trolard connect?

Answer 7

1. The Superior Sagittal Sinus

2. The Inferior Sagittal Sinus

Question 8

What does the Inferior Sagittal Sinus go on to form?

Answer 8

The Straight Sinus

Question 9

What is the name of the area where the Superior Sagittal Sinus and the Straight Sinus meet?

Answer 9

The Confluence of the Sinuses

Question 10

What arises from the Confluence of the Sinuses?

Answer 10

The 2 Transverse Sinuses

Question 11

What do the Transverse Sinuses go onto form?

Answer 11

The Sigmoid Sinus

Question 12

What Veins feeds into the Cavernous Sinus?

Answer 12

1. The Superior Ophthalmic Vein

2. The Middle Cerebral Veins

Question 13

What connects the Cavernous Sinus to the Sigmoid Sinus?

Answer 13

The Superior and Inferior Petrosal Sinuses

Question 14

Where do the Veins which form the Great Cerebral Vein converge?

Answer 14

At the Intraventricular Foramina

Question 15

Where does the Great Cerebral Vein drain into?

Answer 15

The Straight Sinus

Question 16

Where is the Straight Sinus located?

Answer 16

In the Midline of the Tentorum Cerebelli

Question 17

What does the Sigmoid Sinus go on to form?

Answer 17

The Internal Jugular Vein

Question 18

Through which Foramen does the Internal Jugular Vein leave the Cranium?

Answer 18

The Jugular Foramen

Question 19

Other than the Internal Jugular Vein, are there any other connections between the Extracranial Veins and the Intracranial Venous Sinuses?
And if so, what are they?

Answer 19

Yes:

1. The Superior Ophthalmic Vein drains into the Cavernous Sinus
2. Emissary Veins are small veins connecting Cranial Venous Sinuses to the Diploe of the Skull, and these are continuous with Veins of the Scalp
3. The Basilar Sinus (which connects the 2 inferior Petrosal Sinuses) is also connected to the Internal Vertebral Sinus

Question 20

Where is the Cavernous Sinus located?

Answer 20

Directly posterior to the Superior Orbital Fissure

Question 21

What Structures of the Skull are closely related to the Cavernous Sinus?

Answer 21

1. Cranial Nerves III, IV, V1, V2, VI,
2. The Internal Carotid Artery
3. The Ophthalmic Vein
4. The Middle Cerebral Vein
5. The Sphenoid Air Sinuses
6. The Sella Turcica

Question 22

What is a Cavernous Sinus Thrombosis?

Answer 22

A clinical condition due to a spread of infection via Emissary Veins from the Nose, Sinuses, Ears and Teeth.

Question 23

What can a Cavernous Sinus Thrombosis cause?

Answer 23

1. This can cause Bulging Eyes due to an increase in the pressure behind the Eye due to the build up of blood in the Sinus
2. This can also cause Loss of Vision due to the Paralysis of the Nerves coursing through it.

Question 24

What is the Distribution Pattern of the Spinal Cord Veins similar to?

Answer 24

The Spinal Arteries

Question 25

Which orientation are the Anterior and Posterior Spinal Veins in?

Answer 25

The Longitudinal Axis

Question 26

Do the Anterior and Posterior Spinal Veins communicate freely with each other?

Answer 26

Yes

Question 27

What do the Anterior and Posterior Spinal Veins join to form?

Answer 27

The Internal Vertebral (Epidural) Venous Plexus

Question 28

Where does the Internal Vertebral (Epidural) Venous Plexus lie?

Answer 28

In the Epidural Space

Question 29

Where does the Internal Vertebral (Epidural) Venous Plexus travel?

Answer 29

Superiorly, within the Vertebral Canal, through the Foramen Magnum

Question 30

What does the Internal Vertebral (Epidural) Venous Plexus communicate with?

Answer 30

1. The Dural Sinuses and Veins within the Skull

2. The External Vertebral Venous Plexus

Question 31

Where can the External Vertebral Venous Plexus be found?

Answer 31

On the External Surface of the Vertebrae