Confluence of sinuses

Confluence of sinuses
Dural veins. (Labeled with "confluens sinuum")
Sagittal section of the skull, showing the sinuses of the dura. (Labeled with "torcula herophili".)
Details
SourceSuperior sagittal sinus, straight sinus, occipital sinus
Drains toTransverse sinuses
Identifiers
Latinconfluens sinuum, torcula herophili
TA98A12.3.05.103
TA24852
FMA50784
Anatomical terminology

The confluence of sinuses (Latin: confluens sinuum), torcular Herophili, or torcula is the connecting point of the superior sagittal sinus, straight sinus, and occipital sinus. It is below the internal occipital protuberance of the skull. It drains venous blood from the brain into the transverse sinuses. It may be affected by arteriovenous fistulas, a thrombus, major trauma, or surgical damage, and may be imaged with many radiology techniques.