Dural venous sinuses and ventricular systems

Question 1

What are the dural venous sinuses?

Answer 1

endothelium lined spaces between the periosteal and meningeal layers of the dura mater

Question 2

Where do the dural venous sinuses receive tributaries from?

Answer 2

• brain
• diploë of skull
• internal ear
• orbit

Question 3

What are the dural partitions?

Answer 3

• Falx cerebri (runs along midline between hemisphere)
• Tentorium cerebelli (forms roof over cerebellum)
• Falx cerebelli (between hemispheres but more inferior)
• Diaphragma sellae

Question 4

Which dural partition holds the superior sagittal sinus?

Answer 4

Falx cerebri - within the upper border

Question 5

Where will the superior sagittal sinus drain to?

Answer 5

• confluence of sinuses

- which drains into right transverse sinus

Question 6

What sinuses meet to form the confluence of sinuses?

Answer 6

• superior sagittal dinus
• straight sinus
• occipital
• transverse sinus

Question 7

Where will the inferior sagittal sinus drain to?

Answer 7

straight sinus

• then into confluence of sinuses
• then into left transverse sinus

Question 8

Which partition are the right and left transverse sinuses in?

Answer 8

Tentorium cerebelli

Question 9

What do the right and left transverse sinuses become?

Answer 9

right and left sigmoid sinuses which will then become internal jugular vein

Question 10

At what point do the sigmoid sinuses become the jugular veins?

Answer 10

Jugular foramen

Question 11

Where are the superior petrosal sinuses located ?

Answer 11

within margin of tentorium cerebelli that’s attached to superior border of petrous part of temporal bone

Question 12

Where are the inferior petrosal sinuses located ?

Answer 12

within groove between petrous part of temporal bone and occipital bone

Question 13

Where does the superior petrosal sinuses carry blood between?

Answer 13

• from cavernous sinuses

- to junction between transverse and sigmoid sinuses

Question 14

Where do the inferior petrosal sinuses carry blood between?

Answer 14

• from cavernous sinuses

- to transition point of sigmoid sinus into internal jugular vein

Question 15

Where are the cavernous sinuses located?

Answer 15

• either side of sella turcica

- connected via intercavernous sinus

Question 16

What is the danger triangle of the face?

Answer 16

• veins draining regions of danger triangle are tributaries of facial vein
• facial vein drain to cavernous sinuses via superior and inferior ophthalmic veins
• infection spreads from face into cranial cavity

Question 17

What secretes CSF?

Answer 17

• choroidal epithelial cells of choroid plexus
• choroid plexus located within lateral, third and fourth ventricles
• majority formed within lateral ventricles

Question 18

What is the function of the CSF?

Answer 18

• cushions brain within cranial cavity
• provides nutrients
• responsible for removal of waste products from brain

Question 19

Through what duct does CSF enter 4th ventricle?

Answer 19

cerebral aqueduct

Question 20

What are the ventricles that CSF flows through?

Answer 20

Lateral ventricle
Third ventricle
Cerebral aqueduct (connects 3rd and 4th ventricles)
fourth ventricle (anterior to cerebellum)

Question 21

What connects the lateral ventricles and 3rd ventricle?

Answer 21

Inter-ventricular foramen

Question 22

How does the CSF get from fourth ventricles to subarachnoid space?

Answer 22

lateral and median apetures

Question 23

What are arachnoid granulations?

Answer 23

• prolongations of arachnoid mater
• protrude through dura mater
• open into dural venous sinuses to allow for resorption of CSF

Question 24

What may the pathology be if there is an obstruction to flow of CSF within ventricular system?

Answer 24

tumours which will then lead to rise in fluid pressure causing hydrocephalus

Question 25

Symptoms of hydrocephalus?

Answer 25

• headache
• unsteadiness
• mental
• impairment

Question 26

How is hydrocephalus treated?

Answer 26

decompression of dilated ventricles may be achieved by inserting a peritoneal shunt

Question 27

What is the function of the dural partitions?

Answer 27

restrict rotary displacement if brain

Question 28

What partition holds the inferior sagittal sinus?

Answer 28

lower border of falx cerebri

Question 29

Where do the cavernous sinuses receive tributaries from?

Answer 29

• superior and inferior opthalamic veins

- spheno-parietal sinuses (located along lesser wing of sphenoid bone)