X CLOSE

Exploration of the meninges and brain in situ

Posterior cranial fossa, basilar and vertebral arteries, petrosal sinuses and basilar plexus of veins

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Image #4-3
Diagram Image
Legend Image
Exploration of the meninges and brain in situ
Posterior cranial fossa, basilar and vertebral arteries, petrosal sinuses and basilar plexus of veins
The left half of the brain stem has been removed and the basilar part of the pons cut away on the right to reveal the course of the basilar artery (19). The inferior petrosal sinus and basilar plexus have not been opened but their positions under the dura are identified by the blue color of the latex with which they are filled.
  1. Posterior cerebral artery left (cut across)
  2. Falx cerebri (upper pointer) and olfactory tract
  3. Optic nerve (II)
  4. Internal carotid artery left (cut across)
  5. Oculomotor nerve (III) within cavernous sinus
  6. Trochlear nerve (IV) within cavernous sinus
  7. Ophthalmic nerve (VI) within cavernous sinus
  8. Cavernous sinus
  9. Semilunar ganglion (trigeminal) and trigeminal nerve (V)
  10. Middle cranial fossa (dura removed)
  11. Facial nerve (VII) and Vestibulocochlear (VIII) entering internal acoustic meatus
  12. Superior petrosal sinus (opened)
  13. Transverse sinus
  14. Position of sigmoid portion of transverse sinus (unopened)
  15. Posterior cranial fossa
  16. Cerebral aqueduct
  17. Arteries within interpeduncular fossa
  18. Superior cerebellar arteries
  19. Basilar artery
  20. Straight sinus
  21. Cerebellar lingula
  22. Basilar part of pons (cut away)
  23. Basilar plexus (upper pointer) and abducens nerve (VI)
  24. Internal auditory artery
  25. Anterior inferior cerebellar artery
  26. Choroid plexus fourth ventricle
  27. Vertebral artery right
  28. Vagus nerve (X) and inferior petrosal sinus (upper pointer indicates position of this sinus beneath the dura)
  29. Roots hypoglossal nerve (XII)
  30. Medulla oblongata (cut across to midline)