Abstract
50 meningohypophyseal trunks of the intracavernous internal carotid artery were studied
in 25 human cadavers. Special attention was given to the main variations of branching
patterns of this trunk.
The dorsal meningeal arteries were found in all cases and three typical variations
were observed in their origins and courses: a prominent medial branch (52%), a bifurcating
type (38%) or a single lateral branch was present (10%). The tentorial artery of Bernasconi-Cassinari
arised as a single branch in 64% of the cases, while in 36% two or more branches took
a direct origin from the main trunk. The inferior hypophyseal artery was prominent
in 82% of the cases. The inferolateral trunk had a common origin with the meningohypophyseal
trunk in 8% of our dissections. A large number of anastomoses between these vessels
was observed.
As a number of tumorous and vascular pathologies, which can be treated with microsurgical
techniques, take their origin from the cavernous sinus, the knowledge of the smaller
vessels arising from the intracavernous internal carotid artery as well as their main
variations is important.
Key words
Cavernous sinus - Inferolateral trunk - Internal carotid artery - Meningohypophyseal
trunk - Microanatomy
