Dorello's canal
Dorello's canal[1] is a bow-shaped bony enclosure at the tip of the temporal bone. It contains the abducens nerve (CN VI), inferior petrosal sinus, and the dorsal meningeal artery (a branch of the meningohypophyseal trunk).
| Dorello's canal | |
|---|---|
| Details | |
| Part of | Petrous part of temporal bone |
| Anatomical terminology | |
Structure
Dorello's canal is a bow-shaped bony enclosure at the tip of the petrous part of the temporal bone.[2] It is fairly short.[3] Dura mater forms a sleeve within Dorello's canal, forming an outer wall.[3] There may also be arachnoid mater.[3] This contains the abducens nerve (VI) and the inferior petrosal sinus.[2][3]
The petrosphenoidal ligament (Gruber's ligament, or petroclinoidal ligament) forms the roof of Dorello's canal.[2]
Function
Dorello's canal allows for passage of the abducens nerve (CN VI) and the inferior petrosal sinus as they travel to merge with the cavernous sinus.[2]
Clinical significance
Dorello's canal can entrap the abducens nerve (CN VI) after cranial trauma.[3]
History
Dorello's canal is named after the Italian anatomist Primo Dorello, who proved the existence of this canal after a series of dissections.[4] Gruber's ligament, which forms part of Dorello's canal, is named after the anatomist Wenzel Leopold Gruber.[4]
See also
References
- Ezer, Haim; Banerjee, Anirban Deep; Thakur, Jai Deep; Nanda, Anil (June 2012). "Dorello's Canal for Laymen: A Lego-Like Presentation". Journal of Neurological Surgery. Part B, Skull Base. 73 (3): 183–189. doi:10.1055/s-0032-1311753. ISSN 2193-6331. PMC 3424015. PMID 23730547.
- Umansky, Felix; Elidan, Josef; Valarezo, Alberto (August 1991). "Dorello's canal: a microanatomical study". Journal of Neurosurgery. 75 (2): 294–298. doi:10.3171/jns.1991.75.2.0294. PMID 2072168.
- Özveren, Mehmet Faik; Erol, Fatih Serhat; Alkan, Alpay; Kocak, Ayhan; Önal, Cagatay; Türe, Uğur (1 February 2007). "Microanatomical Architecture of Dorello's Canal and Its Clinical Implications". Operative Neurosurgery. 60 (suppl_2): ONS1-7, discussion ONS7-8. doi:10.1227/01.neu.0000249229.89988.4d. ISSN 2332-4252. PMID 17297359. S2CID 36731926.
- Ambekar, Sudheer; Sonig, Ashish; Nanda, Anil (December 2012). "Dorello's Canal and Gruber's Ligament: Historical Perspective". Journal of Neurological Surgery Part B: Skull Base. 73 (6): 430–433. doi:10.1055/s-0032-1329628. ISSN 2193-6331. PMC 3578596. PMID 24294562.