What is Torcular Herophili?
The torcular Herophili (confluence of sinuses) is a highly variable structure that constitutes a vital part of the network of dural venous sinuses. The torcular Herophili is defined historically as the intersection of the superior sagittal sinus, the straight sinus, the occipital sinus, and the two transverse sinuses.
What does the superior sagittal sinus do?
Function. The purpose of the superior sagittal sinus is to carry waste and fluids away from the brain as veins do throughout the rest of the body.
What does the transverse sinus do?
The function of the transverse sinus is to collect the blood from the veins of the cerebellum and inferior surface of the brain. Delivering this blood to the sigmoid sinus, the transverse sinus belongs to the system of the internal jugular vein.
Where is the Torcula in the brain?
The confluence of sinuses (torcular of Herophilus or torcula) is a dural venous sinus that appears as a dilation at the posterior end of the superior sagittal sinus. It is located on the caudal aspect of the brain, around the internal occipital protuberance of the occipital bone.
What sinuses meet at the confluence of sinuses?
The confluence of sinuses (Latin: confluens sinuum), torcular Herophili, or torcula is the connecting point of the superior sagittal sinus, straight sinus, and occipital sinus. It is below the internal occipital protuberance of the skull.
Where does occipital sinus drain?
The occipital sinus is the smallest of all dural venous sinuses. It lies in the base of the falx cerebelli on the inner side of the occipital bone. The occipital sinus drains the blood from the marginal sinus, which is a venous vessel situated along the rim of the foramen magnum.
Does superior sagittal sinus drain into straight sinus?
The SSS lies in the attached border of the falx cerebri. It starts at the foramen cecum and runs back toward the occipital protuberance, where it joins with the straight sinus (SS) and the LS to form the torcular herophili.
Where does the superior sagittal sinus drain into?
The superior sagittal sinus drains blood from cortical veins of the cerebral hemispheres, veins of the falx cerebri and meninges, diploic veins of the skull and emissary veins from the scalp. It empties into the confluence of sinuses in the occipital region.
Where is the transverse sinus in the brain?
The transverse sinuses (left and right lateral sinuses), within the human head, are two areas beneath the brain which allow blood to drain from the back of the head. They run laterally in a groove along the interior surface of the occipital bone.
What causes narrowing of the transverse sinus?
From my experience with hundreds of patients, one of the most common cause of venous sinus stenosis is enlargement of arachnoid granulations. The arachnoid granulations are valves that normally occur in the wall of the venous sinuses and facilitate from of CSF from the brain to the bloodstream.
What is the meaning of Torcular?
Definition of torcular : the point at which the four great cranial venous sinuses meet.
What is Torcular meningioma?
Torcular meningiomas arise from the wall of the torcular Herophili, the site of confluence of the superior sagittal, straight, occipital, and both transverse sinuses.