Anatomical evaluation of parasellar middle cranial fossa triangles

Introduction: various surgical approaches to parasellar region have been developed, necessitating a thorough understanding of the microsurgical anatomy. The objectives of this study were to delineate the borders of parasellar middle cranial fossa triangles and to morphometrically evaluate of these triangles.

Methodology: in a cross-sectional observational study design, conducted in Department of Anatomy from May 2021 to August 2022, borders, morphometry and contents of parasellar middle cranial fossa triangles were delineated in fifteen cranial fossa specimens.

Results: the medial border of clinoid triangle formed by optic nerve was the shortest with average length of 7.64 mm (± 0.59 mm) and lateral border formed by oculomotor nerve was the longest with average measurement of 14.5 mm (± 1.46 mm). The medial border of oculomotor triangle formed by interclinoid dural fold had average length of 9.05 mm (±1.07 mm) and lateral border formed by anterior petroclinoid dural fold had average measurement of 14.38 mm (±2.61 mm). The oculomotor nerve forming the medial limit of supratrochlear triangle measured 10.81 mm (±1.25 mm) and lateral trochlear nerve border measured 14.94 (±1.08 mm).

Conclusion: morphometric measurements of parasellar middle cranial fossa triangles, namely, clinoid triangle, oculomotor triangle, supratrochlear and infratrochlear triangle are presented.

Keywords: parasellar region; clinoid triangle, oculomotor triangle, supratrochlear and infratrochlear triangle, morphometry
Conflicts of interest. The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.
Funding. There was no funding for this study