Abstract:

Objective　To provide the evidence of applied anatomy for creating a new operative route about ventral of pons through sphenoid-skull area with improved celloidin embedding technique.　Methods  Firstly，we obtained the anterior skull bases from 30 adult head specimens fixed by Faure Marin. Then, we made three-dimensional continued thin sections of 0.25 mm after series of processes including decalcification and dehydration. Besides, we observed and measured 10 decalcification heads of adult cadaver，100 sides dry bone skull specimens and 50 specimens of MRI.　Results　The sphenoid sinuses were various in morphology and could be wedge-like, elliptical, rectangular, broad-bean-shaped, saddle-shaped and “λ” -shaped. The sphenoid sinuses could be divided into 4 types according to the bulged optic canal, including no-bulge-type, hill-like-bulge-type, half-canal-bulge-type and whole-canal-bulge-type. The distance from anterior to posterior wall of sphenoid sinus was（10.7±5.8）mm on the left, and（14.0±4.9）mm on the right. The MRI median sagittal plane of posterior wall of the sphenoid sinus type Ⅰ(posterior wall of a membrane like structure or thin bone plate) accounted for 64%; posterior wall of sphenoid sinus type Ⅱ (posterior wall as a part of the slope) accounted for 36%.　Conclusion　With the new approach of the operation, the nasal endoscope can go into sphenoid sinuses through the middle nasal meatus. Then it can pass through the posterior walls of sphenoid sinus vertically and have an operation on ventral of pons. Our outcome will supply reliable anatomical evidence for the new route.

Key words: Sphenoid-skull area, 　Ventral of pons, 　Sectional anatomy, 　Applied anatomy