Superior sagittal sinus

Of the Superior sagittal sinus is a bloodstream in the human brain. It is an important blood conductor in the supply of the brain. Venous blood flows in it.

What is the superior sagittal sinus?

There are various blood vessels that ensure an adequate blood supply in the human brain. They are part of the central nervous system. In addition to the cerebral arteries, these include the sinus durae matris and several superficial and deep veins.

Venous blood flows in the dural sinuses and various veins. The most important sinus durae matris are the sinus sagittalis superior, the sinus sagittalis inferiores, the sinus transversus, the sinus sigmoideus and the sinus cavernosus. Together they cover the entire area below the base of the skull and between the hemispheres. The superior sagittal sinus is the largest blood conductor in the human brain. It is located in the front to middle area below the skull.

Various veins flow from it and carry the blood to the upper layers of the brain tissue. These are the superficial veins called the superior cerebral veins. A rapid transport of various messenger substances and other substances takes place in them. Within a few seconds or minutes, nutrients can reach a site of action via the sinus sagitalles superiores. Brain water can be removed just as quickly through it.

Anatomy & structure

The hard meninges are located under the skullcap. This is called the dura mater. It forms duplications and thereby creates cavities in the tissue through which various venous blood conductors run.

The blood conductors are known as the durae matris or dural sinus. They contain all of the blood from the brain area, the eye sockets and the meninges. The blood conductors transport the blood almost completely to the inter jugular vein. This is located in the jugular foramen of the posterior fossa. The superior sagittal sinus is the largest blood conductor. It runs along the upper edge of the cranial sickle. It is known as the falx cerebri. The sinus sagitalles inferiores must be distinguished from it. This is located at the lower edge of the cerebral sickle.

Several superficial veins branch off from the superior sagittal sinus. They are called the cerebral veins. Their task is to ensure the blood supply in the superficial area of ​​the brain tissue. They include the temporal, frontal, central, parietal, and superior occipital veins. The superior sagittal sinus merges into the transverse sinus and this subsequently into the sigmoid sinus.

Function & tasks

The superior sagittal sinus is responsible for supplying the brain tissue in the anterior and central areas of the brain. It supplies the meninges and the surrounding tissue. In addition, it provides the blood for all superficial cerebral veins in the frontal area. Vital messenger substances are transported through the blood. The function of the various blood conductors is to transfer the various active substances in their blood vessels within a short period of time.

The transport substances include cells, oxygen, blood plasma or hormones. With them the individual functions of the organs are activated and regulated. In addition, the so-called cerebrospinal fluid is transported away via the superior sagittal sinus. This is brain water, which forms in the cerebral ventricles or internal spaces in the brain tissue. In addition, the blood conductors in the human organism have the task of regulating heat within the body. The superior sagittal sinus ensures that the frontal areas of the brain maintain the correct temperature in order to be able to carry out their activities sufficiently. Venous blood flows in the superior sagittal sinus.

All venous blood conductors in the body are characterized by the fact that their vessel wall is thinner than that of arteries. For this reason, they are often used for the supply of messenger substances as well as for blood collection. During a surgical procedure, the surgeon uses the superior sagittal sinus for this purpose, so that changes can be checked quickly. In addition, its size makes it a blood vessel that allows quick access and is therefore popular.

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Diseases

In the event of damage to the superior sagittal sinus as a result of accidents, falls or during surgical interventions, it is important to act quickly. As the largest blood conductor in the human brain, it flows a lot of blood. This means that bleeding quickly occurs in lesions of the vascular wall, which is difficult to stop.

Impairment of consciousness or loss of consciousness are the consequences. If there are drainage problems in the area of ​​the blood duct, blood clots can be the trigger. They block the superior sagittal sinus and cause blood congestion. Sinus thrombosis is likely to develop. Headaches, epileptic seizures or a delayed psychomotor system are then diagnosed. Brain swelling occurs and, in severe cases, symptoms of failure in the affected brain areas.

A thrombosis in the brain is considered particularly dangerous as it can trigger strokes. These in turn can trigger a life-threatening condition in addition to lifelong failure symptoms. This occurs within a very short time for affected patients. The superior sagittal sinus is particularly susceptible to meningiomas. These are tumors whose origin can be found in the meninges. This condition is mainly diagnosed in adults. Since cancer cells from other tumor diseases are also transported via the blood vessels in the organism, the formation of further metastases in the brain is also possible.