Microsurgical Anatomy of the petrosal vein / 西安交通大学学报(医学版)

ABSTRACT

The authors observed fifty petrosal veins in twenty five adult specimens with surgical microscope under ten times magnification.Special attentionwas paid to the microsurgical anatomical features of the petrosal vein andthe relations between these features and some aspects of the posterior rhi-zotomy of the trigeminal nerve. There is only one petrosal vein in each half of the specimen in themajority of the cases observed. All petrosal veins can be subdivided into three types 1 ) single-trunk type; 2 ) two-trunk type; 3 ) three-trunktype. The micro-anatomical features of the vein are as follows 1 ) in adeep position; 2 ) with a thinnest wall; 3 ) with a thicker and shortertrunk; 4 ) in a free and suspended manner during traversing the subarachnoidspace. During operation, the petrosal vein covered with a thin layer ofarachnoid can be seen. The method of how to sever the vein is different because the formationof it is different. Most of petrosal veins are located at a position superiorlateral to the teminal root, so they can be used as a guidance of looking for the nerve root.