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Anat Cell Biol 2023; 56(4): 435-440
Published online December 31, 2023
https://doi.org/10.5115/acb.23.171
Copyright © Korean Association of ANATOMISTS.
Trabeculae in the basilar venous plexus: anatomical and histological study with application to intravascular procedures
Viktoriya S. Grayson1 
, Mitchell Couldwell1 , Arada Chaiyamoon2 , Juan J. Cardona3 , Francisco Reina4 , Ana Carrera4 , Erin P. McCormack3 , Kendrick Johnson3 , Sassan Keshavarzi3 , Joe Iwanaga3,5,6 , Aaron S. Dumont3 , R. Shane Tubbs3,5,6,7,8,9,10
1Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA, USA, 2Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand, 3Department of Neurosurgery, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA, USA, 4Department of Medical Sciences, Clinical Anatomy, Embryology and Neurosciences Research Group, University of Girona, Girona, Spain, 5Department of Neurology, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA, 6Department of Structural & Cellular Biology, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA, 7Department of Surgery, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA, USA, 8Department of Anatomical Sciences, St. George’s University, St. George’s, Grenada, 9Department of Neurosurgery and Ochsner Neuroscience Institute, Ochsner Health System, New Orleans, LA, USA, 10University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
Correspondence to:Arada Chaiyamoon
Department of Anatomy, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand
E-mail: aradch@kku.ac.th
This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/) which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Few studies have examined the basilar venous plexus (BVP) and to our knowledge, no previous study has described its histology. The present anatomical study was performed to better elucidate these structures. In ten cadavers, the BVP was dissected. The anatomical and histological evaluation of the intraluminal trabeculae within this sinus were evaluated. Once all gross measurements were made, the clivus and overlying BVP were harvested and submitted for histological analysis. A BVP was identified in all specimens and in each of these, intraluminal trabeculae were identified. The mean number of trabeculae per plexus was five. These were most concentrated in the upper half of the clivus and were more often centrally located. These septations traveled in a posterior to anterior direction and usually, from inferiorly to superiorly however some were noted to travel horizontally. In a few specimens the trabeculae had wider bases, especially on the posterior attachment to the meningeal layer of dura mater. More commonly, the trabeculae ended in a denticulate form at their two terminal ends. The trabeculae were on average were 0.85 mm in length. The mean width of the trabeculae was 0.35 mm. These septations were consistent with the cords of Willis as are found in the lumen of some of the other intradural venous sinuses. An understanding of the internal anatomy of the BVP can aid in our understanding of venous pathology. Furthermore, this knowledge will benefit patients undergoing interventional treatments that involve the BVP.
Keywords: Plexus, Intravascular procedures, Sinus, Anatomy, Clivus
