Table 1.
The Blood Supply of Intracavernous Cranial Nerves: Microscopic and Endoscopic perspective.
| Cranial nerve | Blood supply | Frequency | Transcranial perspective | Endoscopic endonasal perspective | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oculomotor nerve | Proximal segment | Proximal superior branch (ILT) | 85% | Lateral wall of the CS | No visible |
| Tentorial artery (MHT) | 15% | No visible | Posterior compartment of the CS | ||
| Superior lateral trunk | 10% | Lateral wall of the CS | No visible | ||
| Distal segment | Superior orbital branch (ILT) | 85% | Lateral wall of the CS | No visible | |
| Trochlear nerve | Proximal segment | Proximal superior branch (ILT) | 75% | Lateral wall of the CS | No visible |
| Tentorial artery (MHT) | 25% | Lateral wall of the CS | Superior compartment of the CS | ||
| Distal segment | Superior orbital branch (ILT) | 85% | Lateral wall of the CS | No visible | |
| Abducens nerve | Proximal third | Dorsal meningeal artery (MHT) | 100% | Posterior wall of the CS | Posterior compartment of the CS |
| Middle third | ILT branches | 85% | Lateral wall of the CS | Inferior and lateral compartment of the CS | |
| Distal third | Superior orbital branch (ILT) | 85% | Lateral wall of the CS | No visible | |
| Ophthalmic branch | Proximal segment | ILT branches | 85% | Lateral wall of the CS | No visible |
| Distal segment | Superior orbital branch. (ILT) | 85% | Lateral wall of the CS | ||
| Maxillary branch | Proximal segment | ILT branches | 85% | Lateral wall of the CS | Lateral compartment of the CS |
| Distal segment | Foramen rotundum artery (ILT) | 80% | Lateral wall of the CS | ||
| Gasserian ganglion | Medial half | ILT and/or Tentorial artery (MHT) | 100% | ||
| Lateral half | ILT and/or Dorsal branches (MMA) | 100% | |||
CS, cavernous sinus; MHT, meningohypophyseal trunk; MMA, medial meningeal artery; ILT, inferolateral trunk.