The middle meningeal vein accompanies the middle meningeal artery in the epidural space and within the meningeal grooves on the inner surface of the temporal and parietal bones. Anteriorly it drains to the sphenoparietal sinus and thence to the cavernous sinus; posteriorly it may drain to the pterygoid venous plexus via emissary veins. It drains the dura mater and the epidural space of the middle cranial fossa.
The middle meningeal vein and artery travel together and are both at risk in temporal bone fractures. While the middle meningeal artery is the primary source of extradural haematoma, venous bleeding from the middle meningeal vein also contributes. The vein forms the venous component of the dural arteriovenous fistulae that can develop in the middle cranial fossa, supplied by middle meningeal artery branches and draining to cortical veins. Emissary connections from the middle meningeal vein to the pterygoid plexus explain why dental or masticatory infections can spread intracranially.
Slower-growing venous epidural haematoma from middle meningeal vein injury, compared to the classic arterial haematoma, may present without a lucid interval and with gradual neurological deterioration, recognised on CT by the biconvex epidural collection and managed by evacuation through temporal craniotomy.
This website uses cookies to enhance your experience. Some are essential for site functionality, while others help us analyze and improve your usage experience. Please review your options and make your choice.
If you are under 16 years old, please ensure that you have received consent from your parent or guardian for any non-essential cookies.
Your privacy is important to us. You can adjust your cookie settings at any time. For more information about how we use data, please read our privacy policy. You may change your preferences at any time by clicking on the settings button below.
Note that if you choose to disable some types of cookies, it may impact your experience of the site and the services we are able to offer.
Some required resources have been blocked, which can affect third-party services and may cause the site to not function properly.
This website uses cookies to enhance your browsing experience and ensure the site functions properly. By continuing to use this site, you acknowledge and accept our use of cookies.
