Intracranial Venous System Overview

Petrosal vein

Anterior pontomesencephalic venous

plexus

Transverse sinus

Cavernous sinus

Superior petrosal sinus

Sphenoparietal sinus

Tentorial veins

Transverse sinus

Infundibular stalk

Superior ophthalmic vein

Intercavernous plexus (surrounding

diaphragma sellae)

Sphenoparietal sinus

Superficial middle cerebral vein

Straight sinus

Choroid plexus, veins in temporal horn of

lateral ventricle

Basal vein of Rosenthal

Insular veins

Deep middle cerebral vein, tributaries

(Top) The cavernous sinus is especially well seen on this scan. Again note prominent petrosal veins in the upper cerebellopontine angle

cisterns. The faint enhancement seen along the anterior belly of the pons is the anterior pontomesencephalic venous plexus and is

normal, should not be mistaken for meningitis or leptomeningeal carcinomatosis. (Middle) Section through the upper cavernous sinus

shows the intercavernous plexus surrounding the opening of the diaphragma sellae, which contains the infundibular stalk. Superior

ophthalmic vein drains posteriorly into the cavernous sinus. (Bottom) Section through upper vermis shows the left basal vein of

Rosenthal curving around midbrain, coursing posteriorly toward its confluence with the inner cerebral veins at the vein of Galen. The

superficial middle cerebral vein drains into the sphenoparietal sinus (shown on the lower section, above). Deep middle cerebral vein

drains into basal vein of Rosenthal and vein of Galen.

AXIAL T1 C+ MR

Brain: Pathology-Based Diagnoses: Malformations,

Trauma, and Stroke

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