The cavernous sinus (or lateral sellar compartment) is a large collection of thin-walled veins creating a cavity bordered by the sphenoid bone and the temporal bone of the skull.

Each cavernous sinus (one for each hemisphere of the brain) contains the internal carotid artery, its sympathetic plexus, the oculomotor, trochlear, and abducens nerves.

In addition, the ophthalmic and maxillary branches of the trigeminal nerve traverses the cavernous sinus.

It is the only anatomic location in the body in which an artery travels completely through a venous structure.

See also

• Dural venous sinuses

External links

• Loyola