Revisiting the Tentorial Venous Sinuses: Anatomical and Histological Study

Background: Anatomical studies of the tentorial sinuses (TS) are scant, and to our knowledge, histological studies of this structure have not been reported. Therefore, we aim to better elucidate this anatomy.

Methods: In 15 fresh frozen, latex injected, adult cadaveric specimens, the TS were evaluated with microsurgical dissection and histology.

Results: The superior layer had a mean thickness of 0.22 mm, and the inferior layer had a mean thickness of 0.26 mm. Two types of TS were identified. Type 1 was a small intrinsic plexiform sinus with no obvious connections to the draining veins with gross examination. Type 2 was a larger tentorial sinus with direct connections to the bridging veins from the cerebral and cerebellar hemispheres. In general, type 1 sinuses were located more medially than type 2 sinuses. The inferior tentorial bridging veins drained directly into the TS along with connections to the straight and transverse sinuses. In 53.3% of specimens, superficial and deep sinuses were seen, with superior and inferior groups draining the cerebrum and cerebellum, respectively.

Conclusions: We identified novel findings for the TS which can be considered surgically and when diagnosing pathology involves these venous sinuses.