2. To Understand The Anatomy of
Sellar Region
Below Sella Above
Nasal Cavity
Sphenoid Bone
Pituitary Fossa
Pituitary Gland
Suprasellar &
Ventricular Relations
Sphenoid Sinus Diaphragma
Inter Cav. Conn.
4. Nasal Septum is formed by
Anteriorly And Superiorly : perpendicular plate of the ethmoid.
Inferiorly And Posteriorly : vomer.
Posterior Nasal Aperture is boardered by
Above : anterior aspect of the sphenoid body,
Below : posterior margin of the hard palate.
Medially : nasal septum formed by the vomer.
Laterally : medial pterygoid plate.
Nasal Cavity
10. Sphenoid Sinus
It is present as minute cavities at birth, but its main development takes place after puberty.
There are three types :
Conchal
Presellar
Sellar
12. Sphenoid Sinus Septae
Vary greatly in size, shape, thickness, location, and relation to sellar floor.
The cavities within the sinus are seldom symmetrical from side to side.
Role of imaging : CT Paranasal Sinuses + MRI
13. Carotid Prominence
The carotid prominences are seen lateral to the anterior wall of the sella
3 parts
Retrosellar segment posterolateral part of the sinus. ( Sellar Type )
Infrasellar segment below the sellar floor.
Presellar segment anterolateral to the anterior sellar wall.
The bone separating the artery and the sphenoid sinus is thinner over the anterior than the
posterior parts
The shortest distance between both carotid bulges into the sphenoid sinus is usually located at
the level of the tuberculum sellae .
14.
15.
16.
17.
18. • Superolateral portion of the sinus optic canal protrusion
• Midlateral wall below the optic canal superior orbital fissure prominence
• Inferolateral part maxillary nerve protrudes
NOTE
Lateral Wall Of The Sphenoid Sinus
21. Opticocarotid Recess
A pneumatized diverticulum of the sinus extends laterally into the optic strut.
This pneumatization may extend into the anterior clinoid process
This explains CSF can leak into the sinus after an anterior clinoidectomy with resulting rhinorrhea.
24. Anterior Lobe + Posterior Lobe + Stalk
The anterior lobe wraps around the lower part of the pituitary stalk to form the pars tuberalis
Pituitary Gland
25.
26. Roof of the sella
Covers the pituitary gland, except for A small central opening in its center (stalk)
Rectangular
Convex/concave
A deficiency of the diaphragm sellae is assumed to be A precondition to empty sella
Central opening in diaphragm > diameter of stalk
Outpouching of the arachnoid through the central opening >> CSF LEAK
Diaphragma Sellae
27.
28. The distance separating the medial margin of the carotid artery and the lateral surface of the pituitary
gland is an important consideration in trans sphenoidal surgery
The proximity of the carotid arteries to the midline is extremely important in pituitary surgery
Arterial bleeding during transsphenoidal surgery has been reported as due to
o Carotid artery injury,
o Tear in inferior hypophyseal artery
o Avulsion of a small capsular artery from the carotid artery
Pituitary Gland and Carotid Arteries
29. Six sagittal sections of the sellar region
showing variations in the intercavernous
connections within the dura.
The variations shown include combinations of
anterior, posterior, and inferior intercavernous
connections and the frequent presence of a
basilar sinus posterior to the dorsum.
Intercavernous Venous Connections
31. SUPRASELLAR & 3RD VENTRICULAR REGION
Ventricular &
Cisternal
Relationships
Cranial
Nerves
Arterial
Relationships
Venous
Relationships
Anterior
Incisural
Space
Optic Chiasm
Occulomotor N
ICA
P. CoA
Ant. Choroidal A
ACA
Basilar Bif.
Small Tributaries
Basal Vein
Internal Cer. V
Great Vein
32. Anterior Incisural Space = Suprasellar Area
Superior Part of Anterior Incisural Space above chiasm
- Superiorly rostrum of the corpus callosum
- Posteriorly lamina terminalis
- laterally medial surfaces of the frontal lobes
Laterally, the anterior incisural space opens into the part of the sylvian fissure
Posterior Part of The Anterior Incisural Space Interpeduncular Cistern
Between cerebral peduncles and the dorsum sellae
Separated from the chiasmatic cistern by liliquest membrane.
Chiasmatic Cistern communicates with Cisterna Laminae Terminalis.
Ventricular & Cisternal Relationships
33. The optic chiasm is situated at the junction of the
anterior wall and floor of the third ventricle
ABOVE
ACA, A-CoA
Lamina terminalis
3rd Ventricle
BEHIND
Tuber cinereum
Infundibulum
LATERALLY
The internal carotid arteries
BELOW
Diaphragma sellae
Pituitary gland
OPTIC CHIASM
NEURAL RELATIONSHIPS
35. The relationship of the chiasm to the sella
The normal chiasm overlies the diaphragm
The prefixed chiasm overlies the tuberculum.
The postfixed chiasm overlies the dorsum.
36. NOTE
If the chiasm is prefixed and the tumor is seen through a thin, stretched
arterial wall of the third ventricle, the lamina terminalis may be opened to
expose the tumor, but this exposure is infrequently used for pituitary
adenomas, and they more commonly form craniopharyngiomas and
gliomas involving the third ventricle.
If the space between the carotid artery and the optic nerve has been
enlarged, by a lateral or parasellar extension of tumor, the tumor may be
removed through this space
37. Arises in the interpeduncular cistern from the midbrain on the medial side of the cerebral peduncle
and courses between the posterior cerebral and superior cerebellar arteries .
Courses in the lateral wall of the interpeduncular cistern and forms the pillars to which Liliquist’s
membrane attaches.
Liliquist’s membrane arises from the arachnoid membrane covering the dorsum sellae and separates
the chiasmatic and interpeduncular cisterns.
The uncus of the temporal lobe is situated lateral to the oculomotor nerve.
The oculomotor nerve pierces the roof of the cavernous sinus and slopes downward in the
superolateral corner of the cavernous sinus.
OCULOMOTOR NERVE
NEURAL RELATIONSHIPS
40. Superiorview of the Suprasellar Region
The carotid arteries course along the lateral margin of
the chiasmatic cistern.
The basilar bifurcation is located above and behind the
sella.
The posterior communicating arteries travel backward
across the dorsum to join the posterior cerebral
arteries.
The posterior communicating arteries usually course
above and medial to the oculomotor nerves.
44. REFRENCES
Rhoton, Albert L., Jr. 2002. “The Sellar Region.” Neurosurgery 51 (4 Suppl): S335–74
Hiremath, Shivaprakash B., Amol A. Gautam, Keerthy Sheeja, and Geena Benjamin. 2018. “Assessment
of Variations in Sphenoid Sinus Pneumatization in Indian Population: A Multidetector Computed
Tomography Study.” The Indian Journal of Radiology & Imaging 28 (3): 273–79.