Venous plexus of hypoglossal canal

The venous plexus of hypoglossal canal[Note 1] is a small venous plexus surrounding the hypoglossal nerve (cranial nerve XII)[1] as it passes through the hypoglossal canal.[3][4][5][better source needed] The plexus connects with the occipital sinus (intercranially), inferior petrosal sinus (intercranially), internal jugular vein (extracranially),[1] condylar vein, and paravertebral venous plexus.[5][better source needed]

Venous plexus of hypoglossal canal
Details
Identifiers
Latinplexus venosus canalis nervi hypoglossi,[1][Note 1]
circellus venosus hypoglossi,[1]
rete canalis hypoglossi[1]
TA98A12.3.05.306
TA24877
FMA50795
Anatomical terminology

Anatomy

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Anatomical studies have demonstrated that the venous plexus is the dominant structure of the hypoglossal canal. Research has shown that the size of the hypoglossal canal varies in relation to an individual's skull size, suggesting that the venous plexus functions as an essential emissary veinous structure.[4]

Variation

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Occasionally, it may be a single vein rather than a venous plexus.[6]

Clinical significance

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A case report described an instance of a dilated venous plexus of hypoglossal canal portruding into the cerebellomedullary cistern and thus mimicking a pathological mass upon MRI imaging.[7]

Notes

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  1. ^ a b (TA) denotes this is the official international terminology as listed in the Terminologia Anatomica.[2]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e "venous plexus of hypoglossal canal". TheFreeDictionary.com. Retrieved 2023-07-31.
  2. ^ Federative Committee of Anatomical Terminology (FCAT) (1998). Terminologia anatomica. Thieme. p. 94. ISBN 3131143614. Retrieved 7 March 2014.
  3. ^ Tatagiba, M.; Koerbel, A.; Roser, F. (September 2006). "The midline suboccipital subtonsillar approach to the hypoglossal canal: surgical anatomy and clinical application". Acta Neurochirurgica. 148 (9): 965–969. doi:10.1007/s00701-006-0816-3. ISSN 0001-6268.
  4. ^ a b Wysocki, Jarosław; Kobryń, Henryk; Bubrowski, Mariusz; Kwiatkowski, Jan; Reymond, Jerzy; Skarzyńska, Bozena (February 2004). "The morphology of the hypoglossal canal and its size in relation to skull capacity in man and other mammal species". Folia Morphologica. 63 (1): 11–17. ISSN 0015-5659. PMID 15039894.
  5. ^ a b Okahara, M.; Kiyosue, H.; Tanoue, S.; Sagara, Y.; Hori, Y.; Kashiwagi, J.; Mori, H. (March 2007). "Selective transvenous embolization of dural arteriovenous fistulas involving the hypoglossal canal". Interventional Neuroradiology: Journal of Peritherapeutic Neuroradiology, Surgical Procedures and Related Neurosciences. 13 (1): 59–66. doi:10.1177/159101990701300108. ISSN 1591-0199. PMC 3329168. PMID 20566131.
  6. ^ Elliott L. Mancall; David G. Brock, eds. (2011). Gray's Clinical Neuroanatomy: The Anatomic Basis for Clinical Neuroscience. Saunders (Elsevier). p. 76. ISBN 978-1416047056. Retrieved 7 March 2014.
  7. ^ Stuckey, Stephen L. (1999-01-01). "Dilated Venous Plexus of the Hypoglossal Canal Mimicking Disease". American Journal of Neuroradiology. 20 (1): 157–158. ISSN 0195-6108. PMID 9974073.