Skip to content

Superior sagittal sinus

Location & Structure

  • The superior sagittal sinus is an unpaired dural venous sinus.
  • It runs in the midline, in the attached margin of the falx cerebri, which is a dural fold between the two cerebral hemispheres.
  • The sinus starts near the foramen cecum at the frontal bone and runs posteriorly to the internal occipital protuberance.

Function

  • Cerebral cortical vein drain into the superior sagittal sinus.
  • The superior sagittal sinus drains into the transverse sinuses at the confluence of the sinuses (a.k.a. torcula herophili).

Clinical Significance

  • As a structure formed by two layers of dura, meningiomas can arise from or invade the superior sagittal sinus.
  • Thrombosis of the superior sagittal sinus can cause edema, venous infarction and hemorrhage within the cerebral hemispheres.
  • Subdural hematomas do not pass across the superior sagittal sinus (as they are limited by the falx cerebri). Epidural hematomas can cross the midline, depressing the superior sagittal sinus inferiorly.