The cavernous nerve plexus (also called the Walther plexus
) is situated below and medial to that part of the
internal carotid artery which is placed by the side of the
sella turcica
The sella turcica (Latin for 'Turkish saddle') is a saddle-shaped depression in the body of the sphenoid bone of the human skull and of the skulls of other hominids including chimpanzees, gorillas and orangutans. It serves as a cephalometric ...
in the
cavernous sinus
The cavernous sinus within the human head is one of the dural venous sinuses creating a cavity called the lateral sellar compartment bordered by the temporal bone of the skull and the sphenoid bone, lateral to the sella turcica.
Structure
The c ...
, and is formed chiefly by the
medial division of the
internal carotid nerve.
It communicates with the
oculomotor, the
trochlear
Trochlea (Latin for pulley) is a term in anatomy. It refers to a grooved structure reminiscent of a pulley's wheel.
Related to joints
Most commonly, trochleae bear the articular surface of saddle and other joints:
* Trochlea of humerus (part of t ...
, the
ophthalmic and the
abducent nerves, and with the
ciliary ganglion, and distributes filaments to the wall of the
internal carotid artery.
The branch of communication with the oculomotor nerve joins that nerve at its point of division; the branch to the trochlear nerve joins it as it lies on the lateral wall of the cavernous sinus; other filaments are connected with the under surface of the ophthalmic nerve; and a second filament joins the abducent nerve.
Additional images
Image:Gray775.png, Plan of oculomotor nerve.
References
Nerve plexus
{{Neuroanatomy-stub