Background and Objectives : Sphenoid sinus faces the cavernous sinuses in which neurovascular structures such as the cavernous segment of the internal carotid arteries (ICA), optic nerve, and trigerminal nerve are located. In addition, it
separates
the
pituitary gland from the nasal cavity. Therefore, surgeons are required to understand its detailed anatomy for transsphenoidal approach (TSA) or optic nerve decompression. This study is aimed to investigate the surgical anatomy of the sphenoid
sinus and
its clinical application using Korean adult cadaveric heads. Material and methods : One hundred sagittally-divided adult cadaveric heads were used. After removing the sinus mucosa meticulously, careful examination and photodocumentation were done
serially. The analysed items were the pneumatization type of the sphenoid sinus, the relationship between the pneumatization type of the sphenoid sinus and the incidence of bulging of the optic canal, segment 1 and 3 of ICA, maxillary nerve, and
pterygoid nerve, and the incidence of bony dehiscence and thickness of bone at the bulging site of various neurovascular structures. Result : The sellar type was found in 90% of the subjects. The incidence of bulging of neurovascular structures
were
from 34% to 65%, and the incidence of bony dehiscence at the bulging site were from 0% to 9.6%. The more pnermatized the sphenoid bone was, the higher the prevalence of bulging became. The average thickness of bone was less than 0.5 mm. In the
complete
sellar type, the distances from the anterior wall of the sphenoid sinus to the bulging site at the optic canal, and to segment 1 and 3 of ICA were about 1.9 mm, 19.3 mm, and 9.5 mm, respectively. The distances from the superior wall of the
sphenoid
sinus to the bulging site at the optic canal and to the maxillary nerve were about 3.7 mm and 17.3 mm, respectively. Bulging of the optic canal attached to the anterior and the superior walls of the sphenoid sinus was 45% and 34%, respectively.
Conclusion : By elucidating the relationship betw
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