sinus cavernosus

[TA] cavernous sinus either of two sinuses of the dura mater, irregularly shaped and located at either side of the body of the sphenoid bone, extending from the medial end of the superior orbital fissure in front to the apex of the petrous temporal bone behind. Each sinus receives the corresponding superior ophthalmic vein, superficial middle cerebral vein, and the sphenoparietal sinus, and communicates with the opposite cavernous sinus by the anterior and posterior cavernous sinuses and with the transverse sinuses and internal jugular vein by way of the superior and inferior petrosal sinuses, respectively. Each cavernous sinus commonly comprises one or more main venous channels and contains the internal carotid artery and abducent nerve and, in the lateral wall of the sinus, the oculomotor, trochlear, ophthalmic, and maxillary nerves.