Sinus cavernosus has been an interesting structure for researchers from past to present. The purpose of this study is to explain how our knowledge about sinus cavernosus has changed since the discovery of this structure.
Claudius Galen (130-200) was the first person to describe the anatomical entity of the sinus cavernosus. Galen described the parasellar carotid artery as `a parasellar carotid retia bathed in venous blood`. This definition was accepted for 15 centuries. Raymond de Vieussens (1641-1715) described a pair of dural sinuses on both sides of sella turcica. He showed that sinuses were connected via anastomoses. He named this area a `receptacle`. Humphrey Ridley (1653-1708) described the connection of sinuses in his book `The Anatomy of the Brain Containing its Mechanism and Physiology`. He called this structure the ‘`Ridley Sinus``. For the first time in 1732, Jacques Benigne Winslow noticed trabeculae in the sinus cavernosus. He stated that internal structure of sinus cavernosus is similar to corpus cavernosum penis. The term `sinus cavernosus` has been used since then. In 1933, Campbell reported that the trabeculae in sinus cavernosus slowed down the blood flow. Hollinshead supported this view and stated that this trabecular structure facilitated thrombus formation. Bonnet claimed that the trabeculae are actually sections of numerous small vessels. Balo could not find trabeculae in his histological study. Bedford defended the existence of the trabecular structure in his work. Parkinson`s microanatomical studies gave opportunity to explain sinus cavernosus anatomy in a more detailed aspect.
Owning to technological developments and the progress of dissection techniques we now are able to understand the anatomical structure of sinus cavernosus. Future studies may increase our knowledge about it.
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