ANATOMICAL FEATURES OF THE SPHENOID SINUS

Abstract The sphenoid sinus is in a particularly close topographic relationship with the pituitary gland, cavernous sinus, optic nerve, and other cranial nerves. The article discusses the current state of the study of the morphological features of the sphenoid sinus, the degree of pneumatization, and the relationship with closely spaced anatomical structures. The sphenoid sinus is formed as a result of pneumatization of the sphenoid bone, located in the center of the base of the skull. Being a self-developing cavity, it is formed in a 3-month-old fetus as a result of a weak protrusion of the epithelium and mesenchyme of the nasal cavity. The anatomical formations surrounding this sinus include parts of the brain, nerves, and blood vessels. Therefore, in cases of purulent-inflammatory processes in the sinus, as well as during surgical interventions performed through the sphenoid sinus (transsphenoidal transition), it is necessary to have a complete picture of its clinical and anatomical variants. A close acquaintance with the literature proves once again that the development of pathologies of the respiratory system, especially viral etiologies, every year, the possibility of their transition to epidemics and pandemics with a fatal outcome, encourage morphologists to more in-depth study structural options, their frequency of occurrence, and relationships with neighboring anatomical formations of the nasal cavity and its additional air cavities, which are considered the natural gates of this system.References: 1. Aujla JS, Curragh DS, Patel S, Selva D. Orbital apex anatomy: relationship between the optic foramen and anterior face of sphenoid sinus - a radiological study. Eye (Lond). 2021 Sep;35(9):2613-2618. 2. Ramakrishnan VR, Suh JD, Lee JY, O'Malley BW Jr, Grady MS, Palmer JN. Sphenoid sinus anatomy and suprasellar extension of pituitary tumors. J Neurosurg. 2013 Sep;119(3):669-74. 3. Sethi DS, Stanley RE, Pillay PK. Endoscopic anatomy of the sphenoid sinus and sella turcica. J.Laryngol Otol., 1995, Oct: 109(10): 951-5. 4. Unal B, Bademci G, Bilgili YK, et all. Risky anatomic variations of sphenoid sinus surgery. Surg. Radiol Anat., 2006., May: 28(2): 195-201. 5. Unlu A, Meco C, Ugur HC, et all. Endoscopic anatomy of sphenoid sinus for pituitary surgery. Clin Anat., 2008, Oct:21(7): 627-632. 6. Andronescu A. Anatomy of a child. Bucharest, Meridian, 1970, 364 p. 7. Neiman L.V. The significance of morphological features in the pathology and surgery of the sphenoid sinus. Bulletin of otorhinolaryngology, 1948, No. 3, 29-39. 8. Lang J, Bressel S, Pahnke J. The sphenoid sinus, clinical anatomy of approaches to the pituitary region. Gegenbaurs Morphol Jahrb., 1988: 134(3): 291-307. 9. Ouaknine GE, Hardy J. Microsurgical anatomy of the pituitary gland and the sellar region. 2. The bony structures. Am.Surg. 1987, May: 53(5):291-7. 10. Goldberg B.E. Some questions of X-ray anatomy of the main sinuses. Journal of ears, nose, and throat diseases. 1963, No. 2, 43-47. 11. Kariev I.U. Determination of the distance from the anterior nasal spine and root of the nose to the middle of the anterior wall of the sphenoid sinus with various forms of the skull. Journal of ears, nose, and throat diseases. 1990, No. 6, pp. 33-34. 12. Kazkayasi M, Karadeniz Y, Arikan OK. Anatomic variations of the sphenoid sinus on computed tomography. Rhinology, 2005, Jun:43(2):109-14