Trigeminal cave


The trigeminal cave is a dura mater pouch containing cerebrospinal fluid.

Structure

The trigeminal cave is formed by the two layers of dura mater which are part of an evagination of the cerebellar tentorium near the apex of the petrous part of the temporal bone. It envelops the trigeminal ganglion. It is bounded by the dura overlying four structures:
  1. cerebellar tentorium superolaterally
  2. lateral wall of the cavernous sinus superomedially
  3. clivus medially
  4. posterior petrous face inferolaterally
Within the dural confines of the trigeminal cave, there is a continuation of subarachnoid space along the posterior aspect of the cave, representing a continuation of the cerebral basal cisterns.

History

Etymology

It is named for Johann Friedrich Meckel, the Elder.