Meningeal Branch of the Meningohypophyseal Trunk in the Male Skull

Description

Sectioned male skull in intracranial view exposes the cranial cavity and skull base, with the meningohypophyseal trunk arising from the cavernous segment of the internal carotid artery near the sella turcica. From that short trunk, a meningeal branch courses posteriorly and laterally along the dura of the posterior cranial fossa, tracking toward the petroclival region adjacent to the petrous temporal bone. Nearby landmarks expected in this cut include the clivus, dorsum sellae, optic canals and orbital cavities anteriorly, and key basal foramina such as the foramen lacerum and foramen ovale in the sphenoid. Attention to this branch matters because it supplies dura at the central skull base where surgical corridors are tight and venous structures are unforgiving. During transsphenoidal or endoscopic endonasal approaches, and in exposure of the cavernous sinus, unrecognized dural feeders from the meningohypophyseal trunk can drive persistent bleeding and obscure the internal carotid artery, cranial nerves, and pituitary region. A frequent teaching point. Hypertrophy of these dural branches also appears in vascular tumors or dural arteriovenous fistulas of the petroclival and tentorial region, where arterial supply can come from both internal and external carotid systems. Use this artwork for neuroanatomy and head and neck anatomy curricula when explaining dural blood supply, cavernous carotid branches, and skull base relationships in cross section, and for neurosurgical or interventional radiology publications discussing cavernous sinus, petroclival, and tentorial dural pathology. It also supports patient-facing diagrams in pituitary surgery counseling when you need a clean arterial roadmap against bony landmarks. Anatomical accuracy verified by SciePro's Medical Advisory Board.