Walsh & Hoyt: Dural Sinuses

The sinuses of the dura mater are venous channels that drain blood from the brain, dura, and diploe. Situated between the two layers of the dura mater, they are devoid of valves and are lined by endothelial cells and by connective tissue that is continuous with that of the veins that drain into them. They are often divided into two groups: (a) the posterosuperior group, located at the upper and back parts of the skull; and (b) the anteroinferior group, located at the base of the skull. The posterosuperior group of dural sinuses is composed of the superior sagittal sinuses (SSS), inferior sagittal, straight, transverse, sigmoid, tentorial, and occipital sinuses. The SSS, inferior sagittal, straight, and occipital sinuses are single, unpaired structures, whereas the transverse, sigmoid, and tentorial sinuses are paired structures.