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.