Anatomy of cerebral veins and dural sinuses

Abstract

The intracranial venous system of human has unique anatomical and histological characteristics and includes variations for each individual. Cerebral veins are very thin because of absence of muscular layer and do not have valves unlike other part of body. They are investigated in three systems, which are superficial and deep venous systems, and veins of posterior fossa. All cortical and deep veins drain into the internal jugular veins via special collecting system called dural venous sinuses. Dural sinuses are large, endothelial-lined trabeculated channels. They are placed between periosteal and meningeal layer of dura mater and includes less variations unlike cortical venous system of brain. Even though occlusion of cerebral veins is very rare entity, thrombosis or traumatic/iatrogenic damage of main cerebral venous structures may lead to severe clinical outcomes. Therefore, the anatomical structure should be well understood by the physicians.