SKULL BASE ANATOMY IN NEUROSURGICAL APPROACHES
Keywords:
Skull base anatomy; neurosurgical approaches; cranial fossae; cavernous sinus; internal carotid artery; cranial nerves; transpetrosal approach; endoscopic skull base surgery; posterior fossa.Abstract
The skull base is one of the most complex anatomical regions of the human body, containing critical neurovascular structures and forming the main corridor for intracranial neurosurgical procedures. A thorough understanding of its anatomy is fundamental to ensuring surgical precision, minimizing complications, and optimizing patient outcomes. This article provides a comprehensive overview of skull base anatomy, focusing on the relationships of cranial fossae, foramina, major blood vessels, and cranial nerves, and highlights their relevance in modern neurosurgical approaches such as endoscopic endonasal surgery, pterional craniotomy, suboccipital approaches, and transpetrosal routes. The integration of advanced imaging, microsurgical techniques, and endoscopic methods is also discussed to emphasize the evolution of neurosurgical access to the skull base.
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