Petrosal sinus

Definition

The petrosal sinus is one of the dural venous sinuses in the brain, which drains blood from the cavernous sinus into the internal jugular vein. It plays a critical role in circulating cerebrospinal fluid and deoxygenated blood away from the brain.

Related terms

Cavernous Sinus: A large collection of thin-walled veins located at the base of the brain that receives blood from multiple brain areas.

Internal Jugular Vein: A major vein that carries deoxygenated blood from the head and brain back to the heart.

Dural Venous Sinuses:

A series of channels between layers of dura mater in the brain that drain venous blood from the brain and cerebrospinal fluid from subarachnoid space into the internal jugular vein