Dural arteries of the dorsoclival area

• Published in: Surgical and radiologic anatomy (English ed.) Vol. 42; no. 2; pp. 179 - 187
• Main Authors: Salaud, Céline, Decante, Cyrille, Ploteau, Stéphane, Hamel, Antoine
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Paris Springer Paris 01.02.2020; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Anatomy; Cardiovascular system; Carotid arteries; Carotid artery; Imaging; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Original Article; Orthopedics; Pharynx; Radiology; Silicones; Skull; Surgery; Tumors; Veins & arteries; Vertebrae; Vertebral artery; Dorsal meningeal artery; Dura mater; Ascending pharyngeal artery; Dorsoclival area; Anatomy
• ISSN: 0930-1038; 1279-8517
• DOI: 10.1007/s00276-019-02320-w

Objective In the literature, there is a lack of complete description of dural arteries of the dorsoclival area with contradictory data. However, dorsoclival area is a site of tumors and vascular malformation or the skull base. That is why, the knowledge of dural arteries is very important. Methods Using a colored silicone mix preparation, fifteen sides of eight cranial bases were studied using 4–20× magnification of the surgical microscope. Results Dorsoclival area is supplying by three arterial complexes, internal carotid artery complex with always the dorsal meningeal artery for the superior two-third of the clivus, medial clival artery for the dorsum sellae, the external carotid artery complex with the hypoglossal and jugular branches of the ascending pharyngeal artery for the inferior one-third of the clivus, and the vertebral artery complex with the anterior meningeal artery for the most inferior part of the clivus and the anterior edge of the foramen magnum. Moreover, there are many anastomoses between those three arterial complexes at this area. Conclusion Dural arterial supply of the dorsoclival area is very opulent. Its knowledge is important for surgical approaches and endovascular procedures.