{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,27]],"date-time":"2026-06-27T23:36:23Z","timestamp":1782603383696,"version":"3.54.5"},"reference-count":28,"publisher":"Journal of Neurosurgery Publishing Group (JNSPG)","issue":"2","content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":[],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2003,8]]},"abstract":"<jats:p content-type=\"fine-print\"><jats:italic>Object.<\/jats:italic> The sphenopetroclival area is the border zone between the middle and posterior cranial fossa. Several authors have studied the microsurgical anatomy of this region and have furnished sometimes contradictory descriptions of this area, which still represents a great challenge for the neurosurgeon. On the basis of previous anatomical data reported in the literature, the authors undertook a new microanatomical analysis of the sphenopetroclival region and report their findings.<\/jats:p>\n<jats:p content-type=\"fine-print\"><jats:italic>Methods.<\/jats:italic> Twenty human cadaveric heads were used to reproduce, in the laboratory, different skull base approaches to expose the petroclival area. Measurements were taken in 40 specimens.<\/jats:p>\n<jats:p content-type=\"fine-print\">From this study has emerged the finding that the sphenopetroclival area is a venous space, which the authors have named the \u201csphenopetroclival venous gulf\u201d (SPCVG). The SPCVG is filled anteriorly by blood from the cavernous sinus (lateral sellar compartment [LSC], medially by blood from the basilar plexus, and laterally by blood from the superior petrosal sinus; this venous gulf is drained by the inferior petrosal sinus. The SPCVG is comparable in shape to an irregular hedron figure. It contains the Dorello canal, the venous segment of the abducent nerve, and the superior sphenopetrosal (Gruber) ligament, the fibers of which are in anatomical continuity with those of the inferior sphenopetrosal (petrolingual) ligament, forming a \u201cfalciform ligament.\u201d<\/jats:p>\n<jats:p content-type=\"fine-print\"><jats:italic>Conclusions.<\/jats:italic> The structures defining the posterior surface of the SPCVG may represent a helpful surgical corridor through which it is possible to approach the LSC via the posterior fossa. This conceptualization of the SPCVG is an attempt to define univocally the microanatomy of the sphenopetroclival region in its entirety.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3171\/jns.2003.99.2.0366","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2009,5,13]],"date-time":"2009-05-13T17:53:44Z","timestamp":1242237224000},"page":"366-375","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":45,"title":["The sphenopetroclival venous gulf: a microanatomical study"],"prefix":"10.3171","volume":"99","author":[{"given":"Giorgio","family":"Iaconetta","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Mario","family":"Fusco","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Madjid","family":"Samii","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1754","reference":[{"key":"b1","series-title":"Neurosurgery","first-page":"474","article-title":"Supraorbital-pterional approach to skull base lesions.","volume":"21","author":"Al-Mefty","year":"1987"},{"key":"b2","series-title":"Neurosurgery","first-page":"425","article-title":"Segments of the internal carotid artery: a new classification.","volume":"38","author":"Bouthillier","year":"1996"},{"key":"b3","series-title":"Neurosurgery","first-page":"1009","article-title":"Microanatomical study of the extradural middle fossa approach to the petroclival and posterior cavernous sinus region: description of the rhomboid construct.","volume":"34","author":"Day","year":"1994"},{"key":"b4","series-title":"J Neurosurg","first-page":"67","article-title":"A new concept in Dorello's canal microanatomy: the petro-clival venous confluence.","volume":"87","author":"Destrieux","year":"1997"},{"key":"b5","series-title":"Anatomy and Surgery of the Cavernous Sinus.","first-page":"68","author":"Dolenc","year":"1989"},{"key":"b6","series-title":"Atti della Clinica Oto-Rino-Laringoiatrica.","first-page":"14","article-title":"Considerazioni sopra la causa della paralisi transitoria dell'abducente nelle flogosi dell'orecchio medio","author":"Dorello","year":"1905"},{"key":"b7","series-title":"Cerebrovasc Dis","first-page":"169","article-title":"Direct operative approach to the vascular lesions in the cavernous sinus: summary of 27 cases. 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