Inferior petrosal sinus

The inferior petrosal sinus, within the human head, is an area beneath the brain, which allows blood veins to span the area, from the center of the head downward. It drains from the cavernous sinus (beneath the brain) to the sigmoid sinuses above the internal jugular vein. See diagram (at right): labeled under the brain as "S. PETROS. INF." (for Latin: sinus petrosus inferior).

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The inferior petrosal sinus is situated in the inferior petrosal sulcus, formed by the junction of the petrous part of the temporal with the basilar part of the occipital.

It begins in the postero-inferior part of the cavernous sinus and, passing through the anterior part of the jugular foramen, ends in the superior bulb of the internal jugular vein.

The inferior petrosal sinus receives the internal auditory veins and also veins from the medulla oblongata, pons, and under surface of the cerebellum.

Additional images

See also

• Dural venous sinuses

References

• This article was originally based on an entry from a public domain edition of Gray's Anatomy. As such, some of the information contained herein may be outdated. Please edit the article if this is the case, and feel free to remove this notice when it is no longer relevant.