Anterior condylar confluence
The anterior condylar confluence is an extracranial venous structure at the base of skull that communicates extensively with regional veins and dural venous sinuses.
It is located immediately anterior to the hypoglossal canal and medial to the jugular vein, just inferior to the jugular bulb and inferior petrosal sinus .
It is formed by the confluence of the anterior, lateral and posterior condylar veins and communicates with many of the nearby venous structures:
- anterosuperiorly: internal carotid artery venous plexus of Rektorzik via the inferior petro-occipital vein
- medially: clival diploic veins
- posterolaterally: jugular bulb and inferior petrosal sinus
History and etymology
The anterior condylar confluence was first described by Jean Baptiste Paulin Trolard (1842–1910), a French anatomist, in 1868 .
