Anat Cell Biol.  2017 Sep;50(3):163-170. 10.5115/acb.2017.50.3.163.

Anatomical study of petrous and cavernous parts of internal carotid artery

• Vijaywargiya M
• Deopujari
• Athavale S

• KMID: 2390476
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5115/acb.2017.50.3.163

Abstract

The petrous and cavernous parts of internal carotid artery (ICA) are obscure and are not readily accessible to observation/imaging. These parts have broad biological and medical interest because of their peculiar shape. Given the their clinical importance and the scarce data available based mostly on imaging, the present study was aimed at studying these parts of ICA by dissection. The study was carried out on 56 ICAs obtained from embalmed adult cadavers and 10 ICAs from five fetuses. The foetal ICAs were studied in situ. The morphometric analysis of the adult ICA was done after its removal from cranial cavity to gain an insight into the geometry of the vessel, i.e., length, various bends, and diameters at various locations. ICAs in fetuses ran a relatively straighter course taking gentle curves at three positions (two intrapetrous, one cavernous). Adult ICAs were more tortuous and exhibited greater variability in length and angulations. The length of respective portions of the ICA correlate negatively with the measure of angles. The angles in the petrous and cavernous parts were positively correlated to each other. The carotid siphon was positively, highly significantly correlated to other angles. Longer vessels are more tortuous with acute bends. An acute carotid siphon is an indication of more tortuous ICA. The findings of the present study have created a reference data of unsuspected adult population and has potential implications for studying cause/effect relationship of vessel geometry and hemodynamic factors.

Keyword

Angles; Cavernous segment; Length; Petrous segment

MeSH Terms

Adult
Cadaver
Carotid Artery, Internal*
Decompression Sickness
Fetus
Hemodynamics
Humans

Figure

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  Fig. 1 In-situ exposed internal carotid artery. The petrous temporal bone has been opened to expose the carotid canal and the petrous part of the internal carotid artery (ICA). The lateral wall of cavernous sinus has also been opened and retracted to expose the cavernous ICA. The white arrowheads point the demarcations of different parts of ICA.

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  Fig. 2 Fetal internal carotid artery (ICA) exposed in the cavernous sinus. Note the gentle curvature that the artery takes as it courses through the sinus.

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  Fig. 3 Type 1 angulation. Note the gentle curve the cavernous ICA takes; specially the first bend of C-ICA (i.e., A3). The black bands demarcate different parts of ICA. ICA, internal carotid artery; P-ICA, petrous part of ICA; C-ICA; cavernous part of ICA; A1, first angle of petrous segment; A2, second angle of petrous segment; A3, first angle of cavernous segment; A4, second angle of cavernous segment.

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  Fig. 4 Type 2 of angulation in A3. The A1 and A2 bends are right angle and obtuse respectively. Note that the A3 is slightly obtuse where as A4 is highly acute. The black bands demarcate different parts of ICA. ICA, internal carotid artery; P-ICA, petrous part of ICA; C-ICA, cavernous part of ICA; A1, first angle of petrous segment; A2, second angle of petrous segment; A3, first angle of cavernous segment; A4, second angle of cavernous segment.

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  Fig. 5 Type 3 angulation in A3. Note a near right angle bend at A3. Also notice that increase in acuty of A3 results in increase in vertical segment of C-ICA (i.e., between A3 and A4). The black bands demarcate different parts of ICA. ICA, internal carotid artery; P-ICA, petrous part of ICA; C-ICA, cavernous part of ICA; A1, first angle of petrous segment; A2, second angle of petrous segment; A3, first angle of cavernous segment; A4, second angle of cavernous segment.

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  Fig. 6 Type 4 angulation of A3. Note that the angle A3 is an acute bend and is almost at the level of A4. The black bands demarcate different parts of ICA. The black bands demarcate different parts of ICA. ICA, internal carotid artery; P-ICA, petrous part of ICA; C-ICA, cavernous part of ICA; A1, first angle of petrous segment; A2, second angle of petrous segment; A3, first angle of cavernous segment; A4, second angle of cavernous segment.

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  Fig. 7 Type 5 angulation of A3. Note an acute hairpin bend of A3 which is at a higher level than that of A4 angle. The black bands demarcate different parts of ICA. ICA, internal carotid artery; P-ICA, petrous part of ICA; C-ICA, cavernous part of ICA; A1, first angle of petrous segment; A2, second angle of petrous segment; A3, first angle of cavernous segment; A4, second angle of cavernous segment.

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