superior sagittal sinus

The superior sagittal sinus (SSS) is the largest dural venous sinus. As the name suggests, it runs in a sagittal plane in the superior aspect of the falx cerebri. It extends from the foramen cecum anteriorly to its termination at the confluence of sinuses at the internal occipital protuberance posteriorly, where it usually proceeds rightward and into the right transverse sinus. It receives venous blood from many and varied veins of the superficial cortical veins of the cerebral hemispheres.

Normal variants

Anatomic variations of the superior sagittal sinus are frequent. This includes:

  • variations in the anterior (rostral) superior sagittal sinus (most frequent)
  • hypoplasia of the middle part of the superior sagittal sinus

Four types of variations of the anterior (rostral) superior sagittal sinus may be identified:

  • classic anatomy with a fully developed rostral superior sagittal sinus
  • duplication of the rostral superior sagittal sinus
  • unilateral hypoplastic rostral superior sagittal sinus
  • complete or bilateral hypoplastic rostral superior sagittal sinus: in those cases of complete hypoplastic rostral superior sagittal sinus, the absent portion is replaced by a pair of large parasagittal superior frontal cortical veins that run dorsally to join the origin of the superior sagittal sinus close to the coronal suture
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