Keywords:
Neuroradiology brain, CT, MR, Education, Pathology
Authors:
M. Prenc, M. Mestrovic, M. Smoljan
DOI:
10.26044/ecr2022/C-11962
Methods and materials
Meckel's cave (MC) or trigeminal cavity (TC) is situated on the anterior side of the petrous temporal bone near its apex. It is a cerebrospinal fluid-filled structure wedged between meningeal and periostal dural layers and represents extension of the posterior fossa meningeal dura into the middle fossa. With its shape resembling open-ended three-fingered glove, Meckel's cave accompanies trigeminal nerve (CN V) into the middle cranial fossa and contains trigeminal (Gasserian) ganglion with its postganglionic trigeminal rootlets (ophthalmic (V1), maxillary (V2) and mandibular (V3) nerve) that break through dural sheath of the cave before entering their foramina. Trigeminal cistern inside this dural pouch communicates with cerebellopontine cistern through trigeminal porus located halfway between the back of the dorsum sellae and the porus of the internal auditory meatus. Roof and medial wall of the cavity are additionaly reinforced by fibrous tissue arising from the tentorium. Meckel's cave is an important passage to other regions of the skull base and due to its close relation with cavernous sinus they constitute a unique entity called parasellar compartment. Nerves that innervate ocular muscles are also in close proximity. The abducens nerve is the closest and courses along the medial wall of the cavity while the farther oculomotor (c III) and trochlear (c IV) nerves are found superior to the TC. Precavernous segment of the internal carotid artery (ICA) runs inferomedially while superior and inferior petrous sinus border mouth of the cave. Trigeminal ganglion is supplied by middle meningeal artery (MMA) (Figure 1).