Anatomic characteristics of the dural sheath of the trigeminal nerve

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to clarify the anatomic characteristics and discuss the clinical implications of the dural sheath of the trigeminal nerve, especially its compartmentalization. METHODS: The dural sheath of the trigeminal nerve was microsurgically dissected in 8 formalin-fixed adult cadaver heads (16 sides). RESULTS: The dural sheath of the trigeminal nerve is meningeal dura in origin and composed of Meckel's cave and the peripheral sheaths. The peripheral sheath is a direct continuation of Meckel's cave, but separated from the latter by a cribriform area from where the nerve rootlets pass through. Within the peripheral sheaths, there are a few septa, which are frequently interrupted by connections among nerve rootlets. CONCLUSION: The cribriform area of Meckel's cave, which divides the dural sheath of the trigeminal nerve into 2 distinct compartments, may play an important role in tumor growth and surgical planning. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 38: E185-E188, 2016.