Occipital sinus

Occipital sinus
Dural veins
The sinuses at the base of the skull. (Occipial sinus visible at bottom center, below the Foramen Magnum on image.)
Details
Drains to	confluence of sinuses
Identifiers
Latin	sinus occipitalis
TA98	A12.3.05.105
TA2	4855
FMA	50781
Anatomical terminology [edit on Wikidata]

The occipital sinus is the smallest of the dural venous sinuses. It is usually unpaired, and is sometimes altogether absent. It is situated in the attached margin of the falx cerebelli. It commences near the foramen magnum, and ends by draining into the confluence of sinuses.

Occipital sinuses were discovered by Guichard Joseph Duverney.^{[citation needed]}

Anatomy

The occipital sinus is present in around 65% of individuals.^[1] It is usually single, but occasionally paired.^[2]

It is situated in the attached margin of the falx cerebelli.^[2]

Course

The occipital sinus commences around the margin of the foramen magnum^[2] by several small venous channels (one of which joins the terminal part of the sigmoid sinus). It terminates by draining into the confluence of the sinuses.^[3]

Communications

The occipital sinus communicates with the marginal sinus,^[3] and posterior internal vertebral venous plexuses.^[2]

Additional images

• 
  Base of the skull. Upper surface.

References